Post article about gifted/enrichment programs

[Anonymous]

Nice piece about offering enrichment programs in DCPS. Go Hardy!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/district-introduces-gifted-programs-to-push-talented-students-keep-families/2015/06/06/4132f25e-ffc8-11e4-833c-a2de05b6b2a4_story.html?hpid=z3

[Anonymous]

Glad to hear they're finally exploring enrichment in DCPS--seems this will appeal to many high SES families if it expands, but I also like the focus on providing enrichment for bright kids from less advantaged backgrounds. Although, I couldn't tell whether there's a central curriculum for enrichment programs, or whether each school is doing their own thing. From the article:

"Kelly Miller, along with Hardy Middle School, were the first D.C. schools to get a full-time enrichment teacher. The program has since spread to three other middle schools and a preschool-through-eighth-grade education campus. A handful of elementary schools also have invested funds in enrichment training."

Does anyone know where the list of all schools that have received enrichment funding can be found?

[Anonymous]

I am a bit skeptical. Is there actually a new program or was this just some press release? What elementaries received funding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit skeptical. Is there actually a new program or was this just some press release? What elementaries received funding?

How about you read the article and then come back to join the conversation? We'll wait while you read.

[Anonymous]

I read --thanks for the snark. My point: I am skeptical anything will be different in the coming school year.

[Anonymous]

The article does not name which schools are new, Hardy already had SEM.

The question stands: what will be concretely different next year and at which schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glad to hear they're finally exploring enrichment in DCPS--seems this will appeal to many high SES families if it expands, but I also like the focus on providing enrichment for bright kids from less advantaged backgrounds. Although, I couldn't tell whether there's a central curriculum for enrichment programs, or whether each school is doing their own thing. From the article:

"Kelly Miller, along with Hardy Middle School, were the first D.C. schools to get a full-time enrichment teacher. The program has since spread to three other middle schools and a preschool-through-eighth-grade education campus. A handful of elementary schools also have invested funds in enrichment training."

Does anyone know where the list of all schools that have received enrichment funding can be found?

from http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Learn+About+Schools/Academic+Offerings/SEM+FAQ

Eaton ES
Hardy MS
Johnson MS
Kelly Miller MS
Murch ES
Ross ES
Sousa MS
Stoddert ES
Stuart-Hobson MS
West Education Campus

[Anonymous]

Wonder how those schools were chosen for enrichment funds? Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the selections, at least at first glance.

[Anonymous]

This was either a badly written article or DCPS does not have a clearly defined "gifted" program based on what I read, the section about the "interest survey" at Kelly Miller was the most confusing. I'm assuming that the interest survey helps the resource teacher design "gifted" activities to stimulate and interest the child rather than an actual program, but who knows.

[Anonymous]

I have a sincere, no-snark question that will probably sound snarky: Is this material described below considered "enrichment" or "advanced" at a DCPS middle school? Is it atypical? What grade would you guess they are talking about, for those of you with middle schoolers?

On a spring afternoon, [HARDY SEM] students in a science elective class worked in small groups on projects. Some were using a kit to make electrical circuits with wires, tinfoil and Play-Doh. One student was programming a toy-sized robot to go through a maze, and a pair of students were on a laptop using modern forensic tools to collect evidence from a 19th-century crime scene in a virtual reality sleuthing game.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster who was accused of not reading the article above. It was a poorly written article and about a not well defined program in dcps. I don't think anything is new for next year unless they provide a list of more schools getting enrichment/SEM extra funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a sincere, no-snark question that will probably sound snarky: Is this material described below considered "enrichment" or "advanced" at a DCPS middle school? Is it atypical? What grade would you guess they are talking about, for those of you with middle schoolers?

On a spring afternoon, [HARDY SEM] students in a science elective class worked in small groups on projects. Some were using a kit to make electrical circuits with wires, tinfoil and Play-Doh. One student was programming a toy-sized robot to go through a maze, and a pair of students were on a laptop using modern forensic tools to collect evidence from a 19th-century crime scene in a virtual reality sleuthing game.

I would say it is enrichment going by what the article describes.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like what is baseline in other districts and not for gifted/talented. It never will be until there is testing.

[Anonymous]

It is not an advanced academic program. It is an enrichment program that allows student a very small opportunity to explore and experience their particular, self-identified areas of interest and/or talent--either something they wouldn't experience in the regular curriculum, or in a different/more in depth way, or a way that would be too expensive to do class-wide but can be managed with small group of students who are actually interested in the activity, etc.

The way I see it, this last part is a big deal with small budgets and huge numbers of students. Cost is a problem when you spread it across 110 students in the grade. If you find only 10 are interested a given topic, SEM allows the enrichment teacher to make a difference with those kids while spending far less. Targeted spending.

The program is going through some growing pains, but my kids enjoyed the few days they had of it. If nothing else, the experience of one adult dedicated to such a small group of like-interested students is worth the small amount of time they get to do it.

It is worthwhile for what it it is, but is not an advanced academic program. Advanced academic kids at our school are able to stretch in the classroom based on the progressive design of the curriculum, differentiation, pull outs, push ins, etc. At least at the elementary level, I prefer this to the crazy testing, appealing, and competition we read about in surrounding jurisdictions. Different jurisdiction, but this is a good description of what I am seeing in our DCPS:

https://www.winnetka36.org/sites/default/files/5/Differentiation_FAQs.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the poster who was accused of not reading the article above. It was a poorly written article and about a not well defined program in dcps. I don't think anything is new for next year unless they provide a list of more schools getting enrichment/SEM extra funds.

The new schools adding it next year are JO Wilson Elementary School and Burrville Elementary School.