Breakaway school district

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again: Another thing I just thought of that those whining about more independence may not know is that DCPS offers opportunities for schools to become autonomous. Here is more info for those who'd like to press their schools about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_Public_Schools (see chapter on Schools and Locations)
Read page 20-21 of this document (also interesting re budgeting): http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/ABOUT%20DCPS/Budget%20-%20Finance/FY13%20documents/FY2013%20Budget%20Guide.pdf
For those who don't like web pages, here is a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdfOlE6r4Z8
And if you really insist, there is also a DCUM thread on it: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/93750.page

Our children are at one of the autonomous schools and it's really benefited them I think because deviations from the standard staffing model has allowed our school to hire another specials teacher, we've slowly introduced a new math curriculum, which now happens to be better aligned with the Common Core Standards than the prescribed Everyday Math, etc.

+1,000 This makes the most sense. Individual schools should have more flexibility to build sustainable programs that don't fit into the inflexible and often unpredictable DCPS staffing models. What's the point in creating more bureaucracy via more school "districts"? Reward schools with autonomy. No need to pile on top of school challenges with politics of "breakaway" strategy. OSSE and DME can barely oversee DCPS and the charter LEAs we have now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's how you do this people:

1. Start a charter school based on testing and student accountability;
2. Site your school near Chain Bridge;
3. No bus or other transportation assistance;
3. Mandatory language immersion in first year, bilingual after that;
4. IB-type curriculum from the first year;
5. Mandatory Kumon-style training after school;
6. No sports, no activities;
7. One strike-style disciplinary methods;
Other ideas?

You can create whatever elitist barriers you want to set up the school you want with a charter system and avoid allowing the rest of the city to participate, if you want to try hard enough. Should you?

I gather you're being facetious, but I'll respond anyway. There are two key problems with the charter approach: (1) it doesn't allow a mechanism for extra school funding, and (2) it doesn't allow the school to focus on high-achieving students.

According to the School Reform Act (Sec 38-1802.06), enrollment in public charter schools is open to all students who are residents of the District of Columbia, and if space is available, to non-resident students who pay tuition at the rate established by the State Education Agency. A public charter school may not limit enrollment based on student's race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability. http://www.dcpubliccharter.com/Enrolling-Your-Child/Enrollment-and-Lottery-Guidelines.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Although very inartfully put, the OP raises a serious issue. Unfortunately on this board (and in the DCPS administration), the prevailing opinion seems to be that no non-poor student should be a priority until all poor students' needs are met.


It's almost as if people think this is a founding principle of our country.

+1. Sounds like the entitled have forgotten what's really important.

[Anonymous]

Thank you 17:36 and 18:39

As a parent who spends a lot of time meeting with DCPS officials I can say that this seems to be one of the biggest problems There seems to be a lack of interest or ideas for creating schools that are able to meet the needs of diverse student populations in one building. However, I can say that sometimes DCPS does make an effort to meet the needs of families in mixed (economically) neighborhoods--Eastern is a perfect example. But residents don't seem to interested in meeting DCPS halfway.

As for the OP who wants to start your own district (apparently only for the affluent because your children are smarter, better prepared, better behaved or whatever else you think they are) I ditto the comments regarding Prince Edward County- though they weren't the only place to do this. I grew up in the Midwest and when forced busing was used as a way to desegregate the schools many white families left and started private 'academies' for their children. (1970's and 80's) While I understand your frustration with a school system that appears to ignore the needs of children that aren't poor, your suggestion is not the way to go. If you arent interested in getting involved (meetings, letters, phone calls) then private school or moving to a less diverse district is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it be possible for schools in say ward 2,3 and maybe 4 to break away and form their own district away from dcps? Lets face it dcps is not set up to further education in these areas. The dcps structure is set up to be a social safety net system for under privileged kids and this is a bit unfair to other wards.

The massive duplication of administration and central offices to form "Western DC Public Schools District" is not a worthwhile use of tax dollars. Spinning off as a charter, I could understand, it's been done in California - public schools electing to go charter. But... creating an entirely new school district just west of the park? In a word, NO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would rather see DCPS incorporated into Momtgomery County school system so the school system could do a better job economically integrating the schools.

Hah, good one. First of all, it would be a separate county, not part of MoCo (just as Arlington is a separate county from FFX). Second - and more importantly - why in the hell would Maryland want DC?? They've got enough trouble with Baltimore & PG County.