Brent parents: Give me the lowdown on the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't quite true, only a few of the elementary schools in Upper NW have ever been granted "autonomous," status over the years, e.g. Murch but not Lafayette. Brent hasn't. But the distinction isn't very meaningful. Leadership and quality of instruction are much more important.

I think you are ill informed about DCPS's autonomous schools. They include schools all around DC, not just some upper northwest schools that were "granted" that status. Brent was part of it some years ago but no longer is. Here is more on DC's autonomous schools:
https://sites.google.com/a/dc.gov/together-dc3/home

Your link is to the the DC Collaborative. That is totally different from autonomous status.

I don't believe it is (but prove me wrong, then who are the truly autonomous schools I'm missing?). These schools have budgetary and curricular autonomy. And, yes, it does mean something, although more autonomy could be granted and DCPS could do much, much more to support that autonomy. For example, curricular autonomy doesn't mean much if the PTA then has to foot the bill for alternative math textbooks. Likewise, the staffing model is imposed on these schools pretty rigidly still.

I agree that autonomy would be better with the changes you suggest. But please clarify .... are you saying that autonomous schools that are not among the nine in the Collaborative (e.g., Murch) are not really autonomous even though they have budgetary and curricular autonomy? Also, are you saying the Collaborative schools do not have to follow DC's staffing model and have a source of funding outside of DCPS and the PTAs?