OSSE thinks no kids are turned away from public preschool and prekindergarten...

[archerovi]

...when we all have direct experience that that's simply untrue. OSSE's auditor of pre-K capacity confirmed to GreaterGreaterWashington.com that, in fact, OSSE's claim of universal pre-K is false. From ward 3 to ward 8, kids still languish on waiting lists while OSSE and Mayor Gray claim this doesn't happen.

Read the article here.

Then email your elected representative to the Board of Education (which advises OSSE) asking that OSSE halt its current audit, and audit unmet demand in the Fall instead of available spaces in May.

Ken Archer
GreaterGreaterWashington.com

[Anonymous]

I'm skeptical. I saw bulletins on neighborhood listservs about PreS/PreK programs that had open spaces, very late in the summer if not after school had already started. Here's the thing: they're not the popular schools. I'm sure there will be open slots this fall too - it's just that they're in neighborhoods that DCUMers are disinclined to go to. And DCPS could do a much better job of advertising its available slots.


They were probably posted here too, but I find the Search tool to be not particularly sophisticated in the results it returns.

[Anonymous]

I happen to believe that there are available PS and PK spots available. I also happen to believe that the waitlist for the popular schools exist and that many PS and PK spots go unfilled at the unpopular schools. So technically, OSSE's claim is correct. Universal PS and PK is available to all who want the service.

[Anonymous]

I also believe OSSE is correct. Many just want to go to the unpopular schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm skeptical. I saw bulletins on neighborhood listservs about PreS/PreK programs that had open spaces, very late in the summer if not after school had already started. Here's the thing: they're not the popular schools. I'm sure there will be open slots this fall too - it's just that they're in neighborhoods that DCUMers are disinclined to go to. And DCPS could do a much better job of advertising its available slots.


They were probably posted here too, but I find the Search tool to be not particularly sophisticated in the results it returns.

Well, I tried it anyway and here's what I got: This list was linked at the end of July.

Searching my neighborhood listserv archives I found a message sent on September 15th of last year. It had an attachment (which is not saved in the archives) that was sent by DCPS with a list of available slots. The moderator does provide this snippet:

"FYI, per the attached Langley (formerly Emory) shows 1 PK and 6 PS spots available..."

The first paragraph of the bulletin the moderator is forwarding reads:

"Greetings from DC Public Schools,

You are receiving this brief message because we have record that you applied for a preschool or pre-kindergarten seat through the Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten lottery last winter, and were placed on the waitlist at one or more of your school selections. We understand that the school year is underway and you may have already made other arrangements for your child, but wanted to let you know that there are still several preschool and pre-k seats available within several of our schools!"

So, on September 15th, well after school started, seats were available. Is the problem really more like, "parents in gentrifying neigborhoods don't like their available options for free PS/PK?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm skeptical. I saw bulletins on neighborhood listservs about PreS/PreK programs that had open spaces, very late in the summer if not after school had already started. Here's the thing: they're not the popular schools. I'm sure there will be open slots this fall too - it's just that they're in neighborhoods that DCUMers are disinclined to go to. And DCPS could do a much better job of advertising its available slots.


They were probably posted here too, but I find the Search tool to be not particularly sophisticated in the results it returns.

Well, I tried it anyway and here's what I got: This list was linked at the end of July.

Searching my neighborhood listserv archives I found a message sent on September 15th of last year. It had an attachment (which is not saved in the archives) that was sent by DCPS with a list of available slots. The moderator does provide this snippet:

"FYI, per the attached Langley (formerly Emory) shows 1 PK and 6 PS spots available..."

The first paragraph of the bulletin the moderator is forwarding reads:

"Greetings from DC Public Schools,

You are receiving this brief message because we have record that you applied for a preschool or pre-kindergarten seat through the Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten lottery last winter, and were placed on the waitlist at one or more of your school selections. We understand that the school year is underway and you may have already made other arrangements for your child, but wanted to let you know that there are still several preschool and pre-k seats available within several of our schools!"

So, on September 15th, well after school started, seats were available. Is the problem really more like, "parents in gentrifying neigborhoods don't like their available options for free PS/PK?"

I meant to mention that the 1PK and 6PS slots at Emery/Langley which the moderator mentioned on 9/15 match up perfectly with the DCPS list posted on 7/25. Those free slots apparently went unclaimed for over two months. If they continued to languish until count day (10/05 IIRC), then yes OSSE is completely correct.

[Anonymous]

archerovi wrote:...when we all have direct experience that that's simply untrue. OSSE's auditor of pre-K capacity confirmed to GreaterGreaterWashington.com that, in fact, OSSE's claim of universal pre-K is false. From ward 3 to ward 8, kids still languish on waiting lists while OSSE and Mayor Gray claim this doesn't happen.

Read the article here.

Then email your elected representative to the Board of Education (which advises OSSE) asking that OSSE halt its current audit, and audit unmet demand in the Fall instead of available spaces in May.

Ken Archer
GreaterGreaterWashington.com

Actually, I know of absolutely no one that was left without a spot last year. I do know some who chose to remain in daycare/private instead of taking the slot. Do you really know someone who was completely shut out?

[Anonymous]

Last year AppleTree CH had spots in late Septemeber.

[Anonymous]

[quote=AnonymousSearching my neighborhood listserv archives I found a message sent on September 15th of last year. It had an attachment (which is not saved in the archives) that was sent by DCPS with a list of available slots. The moderator does provide this snippet:

"FYI, per the attached Langley (formerly Emory) shows 1 PK and 6 PS spots available..."

"I meant to mention that the 1PK and 6PS slots at Emery/Langley which the moderator mentioned on 9/15 match up perfectly with the DCPS list posted on 7/25. Those free slots apparently went unclaimed for over two months. If they continued to languish until count day (10/05 IIRC), then yes OSSE is completely correct.

A lot of times what that means is that the DCPS posting has not been properly updated, not that the slots were unclaimed for two months. Central office does a horrible job of collecting real time data from schools and publicizing it in a consolidated list.

I'm not saying that all slots were taken at all schools, just I doubt that the July and Sept central lists were an accurate reflection of change at all schools.

[Anonymous]

There is, for example, universal access to 6th grade. Just many families elect not to use the inbounds MS, and when the charter and OOB options do not pan out, students go to parochial, private, or families move out of DC.

[Anonymous]

Much ado about nothing. There are spaces just not at MLJK etc. This thread was started by the same person who a few years ago was complaining that he could not take his oversized infant pram onto a bus in the open orientation.

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4604/circulator-starts-banning-unfolded-strollers/

Someone is a bit self-entitled.