Can anyone provide nuts & bolts advice how parents have gotten together to improve their local DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who homeschooled - Can you give specific examples of how the DCPS curriculum, even at the JKLM schools, is inadequate? I truly don't see this (so far), so I'm interested in your view.

DCPS standards are incredibly weak in science, history, geography, literature, art history, and music appreciation and at the elementary level. To get an idea of a strong curriculum, take a look at the Core Knowledge Sequence, (free download at http://www.coreknowledge.org/)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent parent here - first thing (and this is key) you need at least 5 or 6 professional parents to form a base. This needs to be a solid group of commited parents (AA, white, blue, purple...but they need to be commited to going to the school no matter what). Once it appears that real, deadicated professional parents are going to be going to the school - and leading an effort - people will follow.

Why I fought to get my kid into Brent? On the backs of the hard work of the few parents who met regularly and started the change at that school. It wasn't the greatest...but now people choose to go there. People were commited to go there.

If you want to make WJ a better a school (which appears OP to be your intent) - get a few other families from your neighborhood and start meeting. Meet regularly. Get to know each other...know the school. Know the principal, know the teachers, visit, know the parents of students.

Ask the school "what do you need" - and then see if there are things that you as professionals can bring to the school to make it better.

THanks how you fix a school.

Okay, I know you mean well, but this is like so much smoke being blown up our asses. Honestly? Those Capitol Hill law partners who are willing to throw tens of thousands of dollars at Brent for their annual fundraiser, so that they have a viable elementary option before going private or charter aren't really the example the rest of the city can rely upon for a school turn-around.

That seems a bit caustic. From what I can tell, this is the same model that Maury, and every other "good" Capitol Hill school has followed. Do you really think it all boils down to $30k or $40k from a yearly fundraiser?

That seems a bit naive.

No, it seems like you've managed to misunderstand the obvious (either willfully because of a personal agenda or mistakenly because the map from Point A to Point C was too complicated on account of its failure to mention Point B.

First of all:

Brent is only a good school in the Pre-K years. First and onward is all downhill. By the time you hit the testing grades: the time, interest, and money of the wealthy portion of the inbounds community has moved on.

Secondly:

Maury isn't a good school yet. It aspires. The performance-boosting families that Brent looses in 1st to 3rd? Maury will lose by K to 2nd. If you think the psychological effects of "The Exodus" are somehow inapplicable to your model, you're deluded. Even in upper NW, DCPS doesn't have a good formula for retaining families once the great escape begins.

Thirdly:

Deal M.S.'s facelift is supposed to help, but that only fools the already blind. When they're being outscored by Washington Latin (charter, which is what - 2 YEARS OLD?) that should tell you that a DCPS middle school - EVEN IN WARD 3 - has taken on too big a job to actually provide an EXCEPTIONAL education for their exceptional students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent parent here - first thing (and this is key) you need at least 5 or 6 professional parents to form a base. This needs to be a solid group of commited parents (AA, white, blue, purple...but they need to be commited to going to the school no matter what). Once it appears that real, deadicated professional parents are going to be going to the school - and leading an effort - people will follow.

Why I fought to get my kid into Brent? On the backs of the hard work of the few parents who met regularly and started the change at that school. It wasn't the greatest...but now people choose to go there. People were commited to go there.

If you want to make WJ a better a school (which appears OP to be your intent) - get a few other families from your neighborhood and start meeting. Meet regularly. Get to know each other...know the school. Know the principal, know the teachers, visit, know the parents of students.

Ask the school "what do you need" - and then see if there are things that you as professionals can bring to the school to make it better.

THanks how you fix a school.

Okay, I know you mean well, but this is like so much smoke being blown up our asses. Honestly? Those Capitol Hill law partners who are willing to throw tens of thousands of dollars at Brent for their annual fundraiser, so that they have a viable elementary option before going private or charter aren't really the example the rest of the city can rely upon for a school turn-around.

That seems a bit caustic. From what I can tell, this is the same model that Maury, and every other "good" Capitol Hill school has followed. Do you really think it all boils down to $30k or $40k from a yearly fundraiser?

That seems a bit naive.

I love people who just spew negativity and offer no suggestions. See title of post, this was not "complaining about DCPS and Capitol Hill schools with money"

No, it seems like you've managed to misunderstand the obvious (either willfully because of a personal agenda or mistakenly because the map from Point A to Point C was too complicated on account of its failure to mention Point B.

First of all:

Brent is only a good school in the Pre-K years. First and onward is all downhill. By the time you hit the testing grades: the time, interest, and money of the wealthy portion of the inbounds community has moved on.

Secondly:

Maury isn't a good school yet. It aspires. The performance-boosting families that Brent looses in 1st to 3rd? Maury will lose by K to 2nd. If you think the psychological effects of "The Exodus" are somehow inapplicable to your model, you're deluded. Even in upper NW, DCPS doesn't have a good formula for retaining families once the great escape begins.

Thirdly:

Deal M.S.'s facelift is supposed to help, but that only fools the already blind. When they're being outscored by Washington Latin (charter, which is what - 2 YEARS OLD?) that should tell you that a DCPS middle school - EVEN IN WARD 3 - has taken on too big a job to actually provide an EXCEPTIONAL education for their exceptional students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent parent here - first thing (and this is key) you need at least 5 or 6 professional parents to form a base. This needs to be a solid group of commited parents (AA, white, blue, purple...but they need to be commited to going to the school no matter what). Once it appears that real, deadicated professional parents are going to be going to the school - and leading an effort - people will follow.

Why I fought to get my kid into Brent? On the backs of the hard work of the few parents who met regularly and started the change at that school. It wasn't the greatest...but now people choose to go there. People were commited to go there.

If you want to make WJ a better a school (which appears OP to be your intent) - get a few other families from your neighborhood and start meeting. Meet regularly. Get to know each other...know the school. Know the principal, know the teachers, visit, know the parents of students.

Ask the school "what do you need" - and then see if there are things that you as professionals can bring to the school to make it better.

THanks how you fix a school.

Okay, I know you mean well, but this is like so much smoke being blown up our asses. Honestly? Those Capitol Hill law partners who are willing to throw tens of thousands of dollars at Brent for their annual fundraiser, so that they have a viable elementary option before going private or charter aren't really the example the rest of the city can rely upon for a school turn-around.

That seems a bit caustic. From what I can tell, this is the same model that Maury, and every other "good" Capitol Hill school has followed. Do you really think it all boils down to $30k or $40k from a yearly fundraiser?

That seems a bit naive.

I love people who just spew negativity and offer no suggestions. See title of post, this was not "complaining about DCPS and Capitol Hill schools with money"

No, it seems like you've managed to misunderstand the obvious (either willfully because of a personal agenda or mistakenly because the map from Point A to Point C was too complicated on account of its failure to mention Point B.

First of all:

Brent is only a good school in the Pre-K years. First and onward is all downhill. By the time you hit the testing grades: the time, interest, and money of the wealthy portion of the inbounds community has moved on.

Secondly:

Maury isn't a good school yet. It aspires. The performance-boosting families that Brent looses in 1st to 3rd? Maury will lose by K to 2nd. If you think the psychological effects of "The Exodus" are somehow inapplicable to your model, you're deluded. Even in upper NW, DCPS doesn't have a good formula for retaining families once the great escape begins.

Thirdly:

Deal M.S.'s facelift is supposed to help, but that only fools the already blind. When they're being outscored by Washington Latin (charter, which is what - 2 YEARS OLD?) that should tell you that a DCPS middle school - EVEN IN WARD 3 - has taken on too big a job to actually provide an EXCEPTIONAL education for their exceptional students.

I love people who just spew negativity and offer no suggestions. See title of post, this was not "complaining about DCPS and Capitol Hill schools with money"

[Anonymous]

Professionals run the schools and the need to secure professional parents as a criteria, scares me. I am guessing you can be diverse but as long as you are employed and/or degree, you cleared the first hurdle. May I ask, does professional out-weigh productive? To the OP there's not one single recipe in improving a school but your ingredients will have to show more variety and collaboration. Just don't substitute the main ingredient of an "ounce of caring."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professionals run the schools and the need to secure professional parents as a criteria, scares me. I am guessing you can be diverse but as long as you are employed and/or degree, you cleared the first hurdle. May I ask, does professional out-weigh productive? quote] I am just a little scared that if I send my kid to DCPS he will end up thinking that statement is grammatically correct or even comprehensible. For me, it is important that there are at least some other parents with the same concern. Diverse and productive are very important characteristics, but in the end, I need my child to be able to read and write well too. And, I would like my child to be prepared to pursue higher education if he so chooses. I understand that there are many parents that do not hold professional degrees that have that same goal. However, it is a nearly ubiquitous primary goal in professional communities, and therefore - without knowing all of the other parents personally prior to my child beginning in a school - I would be more comfortable if there were a group of similarly-situated parents making the same decision.

[Anonymous]

You know what I wish we had? A forum that was only open to actual parents of east of the park DCPS and charter parents. Perhaps there we could have a civil conversation about improving our school, without someone just jumping in to badmouth any school that is not a JKLM or to imply that parents who send their kids to the these schools are damaging their kids permanently and dooming them to never go to college.

Every time someone wants to have a constructive conversation about schools the same posters pipe up with their "can't be done" "Cooke sucks" "charters are a scam" "if you don't move to the 'burbs or west of the park you hate your kids" comments. You know what, you people are a big part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

hear, hear. It doesn't help, it doesn't move the discussion forward, and no one learns anything from it except what a jerk the poster(s) is (are).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what I wish we had? A forum that was only open to actual parents of east of the park DCPS and charter parents. Perhaps there we could have a civil conversation about improving our school, without someone just jumping in to badmouth any school that is not a JKLM or to imply that parents who send their kids to the these schools are damaging their kids permanently and dooming them to never go to college.

Every time someone wants to have a constructive conversation about schools the same posters pipe up with their "can't be done" "Cooke sucks" "charters are a scam" "if you don't move to the 'burbs or west of the park you hate your kids" comments. You know what, you people are a big part of the problem.

This is the most intellegent thing I've read on DCUM in my several months of reading this site. AMEN! Seriously, if you don't go (or plan to go) to DCPS/Charter schools, or you are afraid of the schools...why post about how horrible they are? We are parents who plan to go here (not spend the 40,000+ to go private or move to the 'burbs). Can you please either post constructively or just leave our thread alone?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of the closed attitude a lot of people had about Gray. Without knowing anything about the man or ever listening to him speak, they decided he was Marion Barry incarnate and closed their supposedly highly-educated minds to him.

Now I've heard some of these same people - who are finally listening because he's going to be mayor -- marvel that he is intelligent and in favor of school reform!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what I wish we had? A forum that was only open to actual parents of east of the park DCPS and charter parents. Perhaps there we could have a civil conversation about improving our school, without someone just jumping in to badmouth any school that is not a JKLM or to imply that parents who send their kids to the these schools are damaging their kids permanently and dooming them to never go to college.

Every time someone wants to have a constructive conversation about schools the same posters pipe up with their "can't be done" "Cooke sucks" "charters are a scam" "if you don't move to the 'burbs or west of the park you hate your kids" comments. You know what, you people are a big part of the problem.

This would be great!

[Anonymous]

This poster is so misinformed it is scary. I hope all readers realize he/she doesn't have a clue:


"No, it seems like you've managed to misunderstand the obvious (either willfully because of a personal agenda or mistakenly because the map from Point A to Point C was too complicated on account of its failure to mention Point B.

First of all:

Brent is only a good school in the Pre-K years. First and onward is all downhill. By the time you hit the testing grades: the time, interest, and money of the wealthy portion of the inbounds community has moved on.
Secondly:

Maury isn't a good school yet. It aspires. The performance-boosting families that Brent looses in 1st to 3rd? Maury will lose by K to 2nd. If you think the psychological effects of "The Exodus" are somehow inapplicable to your model, you're deluded. Even in upper NW, DCPS doesn't have a good formula for retaining families once the great escape begins.

Thirdly:

Deal M.S.'s facelift is supposed to help, but that only fools the already blind. When they're being outscored by Washington Latin (charter, which is what - 2 YEARS OLD?) that should tell you that a DCPS middle school - EVEN IN WARD 3 - has taken on too big a job to actually provide an EXCEPTIONAL education for their exceptional students. "

[Anonymous]

We are really happy with Brent first grade and plan on staying through 5th. 1st grade population is very similar to K and preK populations - kids and parents are very happy. Both first grade teachers are PASSIONATE about teaching. They are always still at school planning at 5:30-6pm. I'm sure we'll lose some families in the next few years, but we'll gain other ones. The negative poster is very misinformed about Brent and Maury which is also a great school.
DH adds: "Go ahead and move on, we don't miss you, and it's good to have more room for our younger kids."

[Anonymous]

Another Brent parent happy with kids in 4th, 2nd and prek. Where to go AFTER 5th is a tricky question but Brent itself shines when taken in the context of DCPS options.

Don't know too much about Maury, but know of very motivated families there who won't be going anywhere...

Got to say that Deal looks GREAT given other middle school options on this side of town. I'll take your spot.

[Anonymous]

"To the PP who homeschooled - Can you give specific examples of how the DCPS curriculum, even at the JKLM schools, is inadequate? I truly don't see this (so far), so I'm interested in your view.

DCPS standards are incredibly weak in science, history, geography, literature, art history, and music appreciation and at the elementary level. To get an idea of a strong curriculum, take a look at the Core Knowledge Sequence, (free download at http://www.coreknowledge.org/)"

So are you saying that, in your experience, the teachers only teach to the standards and no more? And if so, which JKLM school is that?