Congratulations Washington Latin!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I am sure you only posted this to congratulate the school. But it might be a good idea to provide more details to put these questions to rest. As you probably know DCUMers don't take information at face value.

Putting in an application and getting funding is great. But I think folks would like to know how the funding will be used and how it will enhance the school.

Surely WLS put all that information in its grant application to the feds. And the feds must have been satisfied with it -- more than satisfied with it -- to make the award. So I just don't get all the suspicion. In any case, if it matters so much to you, it's your job to call WLS or the feds to see if they will make their grant application public. I don't guess that OP (not me BTW) is privy to every detail of the school's activities, and any way I don't think she signed on for the role of general defender of the school.

I'm with 10:18 -- I don't get this hostility at all. Congrats to Washington Latin!

[Anonymous]

why is everyone getting so defensive - where is there hostility? Just asking questions.

And yes I did my homework and got more information and it is as someone else had posted. This is a collaborative effort with several other charter schools. here is the application abstract from the Dept of Ed website:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpsafeschools/fy2009awards.html

Washington Latin Public Charter School
Washington, DC
Martha Cutts, Head of School
Q184L090374
$721,102

Washington Latin Public Charter School (WLPCS) was selected to receive a 2009 SS/HS grant award. The WLPCS SS/HS project is a consortium of six DC charter schools that include Howard Road Academy, Eagle Academy, NIA Community, KAMIT Institute for Magnificent Achievers and KIPP DC. The SS/HS consortia will serve approximately 1800 students ranging from preschool through high school. Some of the proposed activities, curricula, programs and services include safety audits, Second Step, Safe Dates, Botvin’s LifeSkills Program, Guiding Good Choices, and Incredible Years. Supporting the WLPCS consortia SS/HS project are Metropolitan Police Department, DC Court Social Services, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, and Department of Mental Health.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 18:52! That makes sense, that such a large grant would be going to a consortium and not a single school. I didn't detect hate or hostility in the questions, either!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:22:41 Of course. But for a school this size, with such a small at-risk population, this grant seems extravagant.

This and the posts about not wanting to take it at "face value" -- what the heck does that mean? Snarky!

[Anonymous]

21:15 Actually the posts wondering about the size of the grant were spot on since turned out to be a grant for a consortium of schools.

[Anonymous]

OK--but the gist of 'justifying' a pretty straightforward grant is snarky. Let's be happy and hope for more for all our kids!!

[Anonymous]

You can be happy for a school and ask questions, too! Congratulations to all the schools that will benefit from this grant, including Washington Latin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can be happy for a school and ask questions, too! Congratulations to all the schools that will benefit from this grant, including Washington Latin.

Agreed, but in a lot of the early questions there was a tone of suspicion, as if Washington Latin was up to something untoward or had pulled the wool over the eyes of the grant committee or something. It was just a little odd and unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

As a prospective parent I think am justified in wanting to know why a relatively small school like WLS would need a grant for 700K, per year to support sustance abuse prevention, violence prevention, and mental health services.

There has to be a demonstrated need in order to get a grant like this meaning that students, parents and the community need these services and that there is evidence/data to support that need. (high rate of school deliquency, low parent involvement, high rate of substance abuse, students with behavioral problems, etc)

The fact that this is a collaborative makes me have even more respect for Washington Latin because the school is willing to partner with others to make a lasting impact.

[Anonymous]

You are justified in wanting to know everything about everything about a prospective school. But I think you were reading too much into the 'type of grant' saying something about WL. These grants are fairly pedestrian; what is awesome is to score one. It is great news for WL, and the other schools in the collaborative. Keep asking questions, but take the time to congratulate them on their initiative, and encourage the govt. to keep supporting all schools--charter and public--so that kids and parents have real choices.

[Anonymous]

fyi--substance abuse grants often cover nicotine and caffeine (as well as alcohol and drugs, of course)

[Anonymous]

I sure as heck want someone reinforcing the message....and teaching kids that to be 'uncool' IS cool.

[Anonymous]

No hate in this thread. Just critical thinking. Something that WL and all good schools teach! Again, it would be a big grant for a school the size of WL. It makes sense that the grant is for a consortium of schools. Now we know the facts. And now the questions have stopped.

The Post didn't report this well. May I suggest we blame the media and call it a day?

[Anonymous]

OK And to those considering WL, your thoughts, enthusiasm and critical thinking are welcome in our community --WL parent