FAQ

[Anonymous]

Would people here consider writing up a decent FAQ on the frequently covered subjects on this DCPS/PCS Board? I have seen a similar FAQ on the private schools board and believe a summary of frequently expressed wisdom or opinions would make this board more useful for all. I don't think anyone has to agree to any of this, but it could drive a higher level of discussion. It could also help ease transition into a school system we want to encourage DC parents and residents to get involved in.

Possible topics:

1. insider terms/slang used in discussing DCPS/PCS schools here;
2. highly-rated DCPS elementary schools frequently discussed here;
3. highly-rated DC PCS elementary schools frequently discussed here;
4. middle schools' reputations;
5. middle school feeder system;
6. middle school headaches;
7. high school considerations;
8. new PCS options coming down the pipeline;
9. school location information;
10. How the lotteries work,
11. Good lottery decisionmaking;
12. Deadlines;
13. PTAs and parental involvement;
14. Testing and test results;
14. sources of school data;
15. summaries of OSSE and other test result data for popular schools;
16. DCPS and PCS administration issues, such as central office, testing changes or teacher evaluation issues;

How could this be drafted up collaboratively so that it actually contains generally received wisdom?

is there any way to put together graphics or tables for some of this stuff? Some of the best things to help people decide on schools come from comparison charts.

Does anyone know how the FAQ could be automatically at the top once completed? Administrative intervention of some kind?

[Anonymous]

This issues are all being addressed on "the ultimate DCUM thread"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would people here consider writing up a decent FAQ on the frequently covered subjects on this DCPS/PCS Board? I have seen a similar FAQ on the private schools board and believe a summary of frequently expressed wisdom or opinions would make this board more useful for all. I don't think anyone has to agree to any of this, but it could drive a higher level of discussion. It could also help ease transition into a school system we want to encourage DC parents and residents to get involved in.

Possible topics:

1. insider terms/slang used in discussing DCPS/PCS schools here;
2. highly-rated DCPS elementary schools frequently discussed here;
3. highly-rated DC PCS elementary schools frequently discussed here;
4. middle schools' reputations;
5. middle school feeder system;
6. middle school headaches;
7. high school considerations;
8. new PCS options coming down the pipeline;
9. school location information;
10. How the lotteries work,
11. Good lottery decisionmaking;
12. Deadlines;
13. PTAs and parental involvement;
14. Testing and test results;
14. sources of school data;
15. summaries of OSSE and other test result data for popular schools;
16. DCPS and PCS administration issues, such as central office, testing changes or teacher evaluation issues;

How could this be drafted up collaboratively so that it actually contains generally received wisdom?

is there any way to put together graphics or tables for some of this stuff? Some of the best things to help people decide on schools come from comparison charts.

Does anyone know how the FAQ could be automatically at the top once completed? Administrative intervention of some kind?

Set up a wiki

[Anonymous]

is there a way to do a wiki within DCUM?

[Anonymous]

The only problem I see is that half or more of the topics suggested above as appropriate FAQs are not subjects that we, as a community, have a united opinion about. For example, a FAQ that shares application deadlines, lottery processes, and such, sure. A FAQ on the reputation of middle schools, or any highly rated schools, not so much.

[Anonymous]

The recent discussions on PTAs and parental involvement would be good for #13.

[Anonymous]

set up a wiki elsewhere and link to it here.

[Anonymous]

Where is elsewhere? If it's only relevant to DCUM, where would make sense?

[Anonymous]

I think the point is that it does have relevance outside of DCUM. There are a lot of free wiki spaces out there. The problem with making it a FAQ is what a PP mentioned. You ask a lot questions in the initial post that are opinion questions and I doubt you could get the kind of agreement needed to come to real answers. A wiki lets everybody weigh in.

[Anonymous]

http://downtowndckids.org/charters-which-are-the-best

http://downtowndckids.org/charter-schools-introduction

http://downtowndckids.org/introduction-to-dcps-the-process