When are boundary changes being announced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one is going to be shipping poor black kids over to your schools. The more likely scenario is a lottery with preferences that will crowd out most OOB students.

Anonymous wrote: maybe did not get what he/she meant: we want school choices, not school chances. High chances to go to Wilson are not enough. If school choice will be removed, I also will do what my parents would have done for me: move 4 miles north, to Montgomery County.

Integration, social justice are all fundamental values for me, and I have devoted my professional career to helping the poorest from the SE of the world, while with my qualifications (PhD economics, fully achieved in the public school/college system of my European home country) I could have landed into much higher paying jobs. I do believe in public schools, and I am renting a tiny apartment in a building in Wesley Heights to have my kids attending what I think is the best public ES for them (Mann). I volunteer and donate a lot of $$ to the causes/charities I believe into. However when it comes to my kids, I need to put what I think is best for them if front of everything. Especially in front of nonsense proposals such as the social experiments we are reading about on these days (controlled-choice city-lottery types).

You might not agree with what I am about to say, but we will be greatly missed by DCPS. I volunteer to school several hrs a month, and pay about $2,500 in voluntary contributions to the PTA each year. My kids (I know this is not granted in the future) are extremely smart, top scores, generous and helpful to the others (teachers say this, not me). We bring diversity to the school as Europeans (language, culture, history, perspectives).

In 2 years I would definetly send my kids to Hardy MS if MS school choice will still be in place (as long as Pride - who came to visit our school will stay).

All of this is laudable but as I read this thread and its growing hysteria, I'm getting more and more convinced that not much will change for families west of the park. People are calling the idea nonsense and ridiculous and social experimentation because that's exactly what it is. I keep looking for evidence that controlled choice is anything more than an idea here in DC. We don't have the same population, the same history the same anything as San Francisco and the idea of kids leaving Glover Park to go to school on the Hill is just downright laughable. It's not happening. Forget lawsuits, the mere logistics make it impossible.

If there's evidence anywhere that this is being seriously considered--evidence beyond that stupid Washington Post opinion piece and a blog post written on Greater Greater Washington--would someone please link it? The only thing I can find are some Capitol Hill parents meetings where it's discussed (as an idea), some Chevy Chase community meetings and a Kaya Henderson speech in which she gave half of one sentence over to the idea of city-wide magnet schools.

What is more probable than city-wide lottery for MS and HS is that everyone EOTP will be forced to stay EOTP. That's the part of town that's going to scream the loudest. That's where there's potential for lawsuit. Those are the people who should be griping and complaining and threatening to run off to Montgomery County. (As if!)

Who is it you Ward 3 people think you're threatening? If you move out of your house, the value will go up and there will be another family moving in before it's time to cut the lawn again.

This link to a discussion about controlled choice was just posted on my neighborhood list serve. So far just an idea, but it could grow legs. These people talk about starting it in strategic areas of the city. From the twitter reactions is seems that Rhee's organization Student First is itching to get this idea implemented. And if you don't think the people who back Rhee don't have influence over what happens in the Petri dish of Washington DC you are mistaken.

http://www.edexcellence.net/events/encouraging-integrated-schools-in-the-district-of-columbia

[Anonymous]

Controlled choice will be on the presented menu of options at the upcoming Working Group sessions. Attend one and make your voice heard before this wacko experiment is imposed upon the District of Columbia.

Civil rights attorneys and experimental education think-tankers are completely oblivious to the realities of what it actually takes to achieve performing schools. You CAN create a high-performing low-SES-populated school. But the methods necessary to get there are likely very, very different that what is beneficial for middle class kids coming from middle class homes. Ignoring that reality does a disservice to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get how this is even an argument. Good public schools, schools with high test scores, high SAT scores, low to non-existent crime and low truancy rates are highly, HIGHLY correlated with students from higher SES families and highly educated parents. There is no myth here. It is not

+1000. The reality is that if Wilson's served all low income students, it would not be desirable. Income directly correlates to school performance. Making the city's schools all lottery and offering equitable access for all does not eliminate poverty and the problems students face when coming from a poor background. That's the real problem and it starts way before HS.

if Deal and/or Wilson become all lottery admission, I believe that preference levels would still come into play, just like for PK. I bet there would be preference for proximity or those living in the historic Wilson boundaries...at least for several years, while other middle and high schools across the district are made more desirable. It won't be a free for all. Plus DCPS has said several times that there would be "significant grandfathering" and parents will have to hold the Chancellor to that. I think commenters like those above, while making what I think are reasonable points, are going to lose if they keep articulating arguments that feel like they're waging war on the poor. I feel as if I can almost see the spittle forming from the corners of your mouth. It's all in the messaging, folks.

No one is waging a war on the poor here. It is ignorant to think that just going to school choice for all will eliminate the issues that children face when they come from poor backgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Controlled choice will be on the presented menu of options at the upcoming Working Group sessions. Attend one and make your voice heard before this wacko experiment is imposed upon the District of Columbia.

Civil rights attorneys and experimental education think-tankers are completely oblivious to the realities of what it actually takes to achieve performing schools. You CAN create a high-performing low-SES-populated school. But the methods necessary to get there are likely very, very different that what is beneficial for middle class kids coming from middle class homes. Ignoring that reality does a disservice to all.

+ 1000!

[Anonymous]

"Who is it you Ward 3 people think you're threatening? If you move out of your house, the value will go up and there will be another family moving in before it's time to cut the lawn again."

[18:54] here. As I said, I hold a PhD in economics and let me tell you that your reasoning is totally wrong from an economic point of view.

If I move out of my house, and together with me other DC families unhappy of the "controlled choice" , this will INCREASE the SUPPLY on the market of houses for sale/rent and thus value will go DOWN in DC (not UP as you were saying). On the contrary, the areas which will received this inflow of families from DC (say Montgomery County) will experience an INCREASE IN DEMAND of housing , which will drive prices UP. To sum up, increase in supply in DC from fleeing families = housing prices down in DC. Increase in demand from families moving to Montgomery Ct. = housing prices up in MC.

[Anonymous]

This link to a discussion about controlled choice was just posted on my neighborhood list serve. So far just an idea, but it could grow legs. These people talk about starting it in strategic areas of the city. From the twitter reactions is seems that Rhee's organization Student First is itching to get this idea implemented. And if you don't think the people who back Rhee don't have influence over what happens in the Petri dish of Washington DC you are mistaken.

http://www.edexcellence.net/events/encouraging-integrated-schools-in-the-district-of-columbia

Thank you! In this context, let me also point you to this article on the Washington Post:

"...Michelle Rhee — is leading a new wave of “education reform” organizations, funded largely by wealthy donors, that are challenging teachers’ unions and supporting mostly conservative candidates up and down the ticket in dozens of states.
These groups promote charter schools, voucher programs and weakening of employment safeguards like teacher tenure.....""


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/11/how-billionaire-funded-ed-reform-groups-push-charters-vouchers/?tid=up_next

[Anonymous]

Oh, come on. Really?

A think tank forum featuring the same blowhards that got you all excited in the first place? Michelle Rhee is just waiting in the wings, ready to hire defunct Metrobuses to shuttle your eager-to-learn kids over to SE?

This would be a hilarious article in The Onion if it weren't tragic privileged paranoia sucking up all semblance if coining sense.

[Anonymous]

^^common sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Who is it you Ward 3 people think you're threatening? If you move out of your house, the value will go up and there will be another family moving in before it's time to cut the lawn again."

[18:54] here. As I said, I hold a PhD in economics and let me tell you that your reasoning is totally wrong from an economic point of view.

If I move out of my house, and together with me other DC families unhappy of the "controlled choice" , this will INCREASE the SUPPLY on the market of houses for sale/rent and thus value will go DOWN in DC (not UP as you were saying). On the contrary, the areas which will received this inflow of families from DC (say Montgomery County) will experience an INCREASE IN DEMAND of housing , which will drive prices UP. To sum up, increase in supply in DC from fleeing families = housing prices down in DC. Increase in demand from families moving to Montgomery Ct. = housing prices up in MC.

Just because you use CAPITAL letters doesn't mean you know what you are talking about. If you actually did have a background in economics, you would know that the market is much more complex than that---and we are only talking in theory.

The reality is that there is no inventory in DC as it is, so the movement you are starting better be quite large to actually IMPACT housing prices. Also, given that the DEMAND of people wanting to send their kids to private schools far exceeds the SUPPLY available, I think the housing market will do fine without you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Who is it you Ward 3 people think you're threatening? If you move out of your house, the value will go up and there will be another family moving in before it's time to cut the lawn again."

[18:54] here. As I said, I hold a PhD in economics and let me tell you that your reasoning is totally wrong from an economic point of view.

If I move out of my house, and together with me other DC families unhappy of the "controlled choice" , this will INCREASE the SUPPLY on the market of houses for sale/rent and thus value will go DOWN in DC (not UP as you were saying). On the contrary, the areas which will received this inflow of families from DC (say Montgomery County) will experience an INCREASE IN DEMAND of housing , which will drive prices UP. To sum up, increase in supply in DC from fleeing families = housing prices down in DC. Increase in demand from families moving to Montgomery Ct. = housing prices up in MC.

Just because you use CAPITAL letters doesn't mean you know what you are talking about. If you actually did have a background in economics, you would know that the market is much more complex than that---and we are only talking in theory.

The reality is that there is no inventory in DC as it is, so the movement you are starting better be quite large to actually IMPACT housing prices. Also, given that the DEMAND of people wanting to send their kids to private schools far exceeds the SUPPLY available, I think the housing market will do fine without you.

Your message sounds nasty and unpleasant.

DEMAND exceeding SUPPLY of private education in DC is a legend. It holds only if you count each single application as demand, while we all know that each kid applies to multiple schools. I have first-hand reports of parents-school meetings where parents have been recommended to "disseminate" about the school in order to keep demand by good applicants high. Of course, not talking about Sidwell, NC/St Albans.

By the way, I know well that the housing market level and fluctuations depend from many factors and will not be affected by my migration. However, it is a fact that houses on the MD side of Western Avenue cost per sq feet more than the house of the DC side (all other factors equal), and that this higher value can be reasonably attributed to families discounting/valuing public school quality and predictability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, come on. Really?

A think tank forum featuring the same blowhards that got you all excited in the first place? Michelle Rhee is just waiting in the wings, ready to hire defunct Metrobuses to shuttle your eager-to-learn kids over to SE?

This would be a hilarious article in The Onion if it weren't tragic privileged paranoia sucking up all semblance if coining sense.

So lobbying, corruption and politically-driven nonsense decisions do not exist in DCPS, right?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Those are blowhard think tank types. But you will see some version of controlled choice brought up by the Boundary Committee. Paranoia isn't necessary, you are right. But being informed and knowledgeable about it enough to weigh benefits vs. drawbacks is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Those are blowhard think tank types. But you will see some version of controlled choice brought up by the Boundary Committee. Paranoia isn't necessary, you are right. But being informed and knowledgeable about it enough to weigh benefits vs. drawbacks is a good idea.

I thought someone HAD actually brought up the possibility of making all high schools, including Wilson, become admission by lottery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Those are blowhard think tank types. But you will see some version of controlled choice brought up by the Boundary Committee. Paranoia isn't necessary, you are right. But being informed and knowledgeable about it enough to weigh benefits vs. drawbacks is a good idea.

I thought someone HAD actually brought up the possibility of making all high schools, including Wilson, become admission by lottery

That is correct. In community meetings, the DME raised that as a possibility but did not propose that as a definite outcome, just like she has raised "choice sets". Supposedly nothing was decided at that stage. We will find out by next weekend (April 5) what the scenarios are, and by scenarios I mean some detailed options (probably 3-4) that folks can comment on, not that any one of them will be the exact plan that the city follows. But those who say that city-wide lotteries or choice sets couldn't happen or are just a consultant's fantasy are not paying attention. They are real proposals, and some elements of them could very well end up in the final recommendation of the DME and the advisory committee. Whether they will likely will depend on lobbying, political pressure, and hopefully some reasoned discourse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a parent who has attended one of these meetings on boundary changes too and can provide my input. Nobody seems to care about the rights of those who are in bound for Wilson, even though they bought a house west of rock creek précisely for that reason. They have in mind vague ideas about controlled choice sets, full lottery and other crap and they have not even thought how long it takes to drive from palisades to Columbia heights (yes, they are thinking of making Cardozo the hs of choice for those who live in palisades). They seem oblivious to the idea that families with kids could go to Montgomery county or Virginia and just leave dc. When you tell them that public schools in NW dc improved not by chance but because of the investment of time and resources by so many ib families who cared about the local community and the nearby public school, thy tell you that everybody should get a chance. They are thinking of building 200 million dollar schools in plots of faraway empty land, call it a magnet and they tell you that if you care you can send your kid there. If I were the administrator of a dc private school I could not be more hopeful about the seeds of the disaster they are planting. If you are a family in the district who cares about the quality of dc public schools either make yourself heard or flee the city now. These people have no clue about what they are doing. Honestly, I can only think they are serving political interests or are working secretly for some private school lobbyist

it is happening