What are the odds of them eliminating neighborhood elementary schools in favor of controlled choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

Build your neighborhood schools people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

Build your neighborhood schools people.

This! I know families in schools in DC, MD and VA. The one thing the successful schools have in common is that families are involved, parents volunteer time, and if they can, money to make sure the school is a success. One poster on another thread said that he/she shouldn't have to do anything at her school. It should work on it's own. It's precisely that attitude that keeps schools from succeeding. Any success takes work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the purpose of the controlled choice sets when the choices are basically the neighborhood schools closest to you. I am fortunate to live in ward 3 and my "choices" are Murch, Janney or Lafayette. What is accomplished by allowing families to lottery in to one of these schools. It does not increase the OOB or EOTP % at those schools. It's not like someone in Ward 8 is getting a WOTP school in his or her "choice set."

Seems like this goal can be achieved with neighborhood schools and OOB set asides.

They will probably apply different scenarios to different parts of the city. i.e. Northwest and East of the River stick with one neighborhood school, Center City gets choice sets,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the purpose of the controlled choice sets when the choices are basically the neighborhood schools closest to you. I am fortunate to live in ward 3 and my "choices" are Murch, Janney or Lafayette. What is accomplished by allowing families to lottery in to one of these schools. It does not increase the OOB or EOTP % at those schools. It's not like someone in Ward 8 is getting a WOTP school in his or her "choice set."

Seems like this goal can be achieved with neighborhood schools and OOB set asides.

They will probably apply different scenarios to different parts of the city. i.e. Northwest and East of the River stick with one neighborhood school, Center City gets choice sets,

True, that was the Bethesda dude's idea, a mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the purpose of the controlled choice sets when the choices are basically the neighborhood schools closest to you. I am fortunate to live in ward 3 and my "choices" are Murch, Janney or Lafayette. What is accomplished by allowing families to lottery in to one of these schools. It does not increase the OOB or EOTP % at those schools. It's not like someone in Ward 8 is getting a WOTP school in his or her "choice set."

Seems like this goal can be achieved with neighborhood schools and OOB set asides.

They will probably apply different scenarios to different parts of the city. i.e. Northwest and East of the River stick with one neighborhood school, Center City gets choice sets,

Thereby reinforcing "Fortress Northwest" and exacerbating inequality EOTP. Good job DME!

[Anonymous]

A choice set of three similar schools -- like Murch, Janney and Lafayette -- doesn't make a whole lot of sense right now, but I believe the idea is to create some specializations so schools can have focuses of interest in a city of limited resources. So let's say Murch takes on a world languages focus, Janney becomes more of a STEM school and Lafayette remains a traditional elementary. In theory, families in that area will have more choices then.

If you live inbounds for Bancroft but don't believe Spanish immersion is a good fit for your child, right now you are SOL. With the choice sets, you have preference for another option. Presumably the same kind of variety of schools could be created in Ward 8 too. The challenge outside of upper NW, though, is you may be stuck with a set of three poor performing schools. I think this is where the OOB preferences kick in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the purpose of the controlled choice sets when the choices are basically the neighborhood schools closest to you. I am fortunate to live in ward 3 and my "choices" are Murch, Janney or Lafayette. What is accomplished by allowing families to lottery in to one of these schools. It does not increase the OOB or EOTP % at those schools. It's not like someone in Ward 8 is getting a WOTP school in his or her "choice set."

Seems like this goal can be achieved with neighborhood schools and OOB set asides.

They will probably apply different scenarios to different parts of the city. i.e. Northwest and East of the River stick with one neighborhood school, Center City gets choice sets,

Actually, if you look at the 'how does set asides work' thread, it can increase the OOB/EOTP % by 10-20%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

Build your neighborhood schools people.

This! I know families in schools in DC, MD and VA. The one thing the successful schools have in common is that families are involved, parents volunteer time, and if they can, money to make sure the school is a success. One poster on another thread said that he/she shouldn't have to do anything at her school. It should work on it's own. It's precisely that attitude that keeps schools from succeeding. Any success takes work.

This is a lovely idea but it won't work. Involved parents, fundraising, volunteering, etc. great stuff but it will not eliminate the effects of poverty on academic achievement, as much as we would like to believe this fairy tale, it will not turn red into green.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A choice set of three similar schools -- like Murch, Janney and Lafayette -- doesn't make a whole lot of sense right now, but I believe the idea is to create some specializations so schools can have focuses of interest in a city of limited resources. So let's say Murch takes on a world languages focus, Janney becomes more of a STEM school and Lafayette remains a traditional elementary. In theory, families in that area will have more choices then.

If you live inbounds for Bancroft but don't believe Spanish immersion is a good fit for your child, right now you are SOL. With the choice sets, you have preference for another option. Presumably the same kind of variety of schools could be created in Ward 8 too. The challenge outside of upper NW, though, is you may be stuck with a set of three poor performing schools. I think this is where the OOB preferences kick in.

Yes, but these schools work well as is. Why throw in a whole bunch of new changes and programs when school staff can barely keep up with the changes that are already underway from the last 5 years of reform? School staffs won't stay, and many families won't stay if their neighborhood school is randomly ordered to undergo a major shift in its programs in spite of being successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

Build your neighborhood schools people.

This! I know families in schools in DC, MD and VA. The one thing the successful schools have in common is that families are involved, parents volunteer time, and if they can, money to make sure the school is a success. One poster on another thread said that he/she shouldn't have to do anything at her school. It should work on it's own. It's precisely that attitude that keeps schools from succeeding. Any success takes work.

This is a lovely idea but it won't work. Involved parents, fundraising, volunteering, etc. great stuff but it will not eliminate the effects of poverty on academic achievement, as much as we would like to believe this fairy tale, it will not turn red into green.

I don't think one can eliminate all the effects of poverty, but the things you mentioned can help make schools places where children can learn. Poor doesn't mean unable to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

Build your neighborhood schools people.

This! I know families in schools in DC, MD and VA. The one thing the successful schools have in common is that families are involved, parents volunteer time, and if they can, money to make sure the school is a success. One poster on another thread said that he/she shouldn't have to do anything at her school. It should work on it's own. It's precisely that attitude that keeps schools from succeeding. Any success takes work.

This is a lovely idea but it won't work. Involved parents, fundraising, volunteering, etc. great stuff but it will not eliminate the effects of poverty on academic achievement, as much as we would like to believe this fairy tale, it will not turn red into green.

I don't think one can eliminate all the effects of poverty, but the things you mentioned can help make schools places where children can learn. Poor doesn't mean unable to learn.

Yes, and these are worthwhile endeavors. But what makes you think that students at the so-called "failing schools" schools aren't learning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

Build your neighborhood schools people.

This! I know families in schools in DC, MD and VA. The one thing the successful schools have in common is that families are involved, parents volunteer time, and if they can, money to make sure the school is a success. One poster on another thread said that he/she shouldn't have to do anything at her school. It should work on it's own. It's precisely that attitude that keeps schools from succeeding. Any success takes work.

This is a lovely idea but it won't work. Involved parents, fundraising, volunteering, etc. great stuff but it will not eliminate the effects of poverty on academic achievement, as much as we would like to believe this fairy tale, it will not turn red into green.

I don't think one can eliminate all the effects of poverty, but the things you mentioned can help make schools places where children can learn. Poor doesn't mean unable to learn.

Yes, and these are worthwhile endeavors. But what makes you think that students at the so-called "failing schools" schools aren't learning?

Their test scores suggest that they aren't learning what they need or at a level that gives them basic understanding of the material presented . If they were learning the material on grade level, the schools test scores should be higher, and the school wouldn't be deemed 'failing'. If they are learning (as you suggest), then why are we bothering with all these reforms? Shouldn't things stay the way they are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Their test scores suggest that they aren't learning what they need or at a level that gives them basic understanding of the material presented . If they were learning the material on grade level, the schools test scores should be higher, and the school wouldn't be deemed 'failing'. If they are learning (as you suggest), then why are we bothering with all these reforms? Shouldn't things stay the way they are?

No. That is not what the test scores suggest. The test scores only tell us whether students are advanced, proficient, basic, or below basic at grade level according to benchmarks and cut scores that are set by OSSE. This doesn't mean that students don't understand at a basic level.

Students come to DCPS at different levels. Is it logical to think that the schools will be able to get every student at grade level every year? For some students, that would mean accomplishing 2 or 3 years of growth in one year? Is that a reasonable expectation for every student that comes to DCPS?

Students are learning, they just aren't all learning at the same level or at the same rate.

As for your question, I would argue that we DO need to re-examine our reforms, but first we need to re-examine our GOALS, and ask ourselves whether these are reasonable or even desirable goals.

[Anonymous]

In other words, one size fits few.