Data indicate worsening early literacy progress and widening achievement gap among District students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is more to education than the classroom. Think of the trauma students have experienced this year: a global pandemic, murders of Black and Brown people across the country, environmental disasters for those with family in different states or countries, increased crime across the city, death of family members for some, etc. Distance learning is one more drop in the overflowing bucket our children are carrying. You all hate on the “lazy” teachers but their influence is minimal in circumstances like these.

Repeat after me: global pandemic

are you actually trying to minimize the school closures? wow. talk about giving up on kids.

Thank you! I’m so sick of people mouthing off nonsense. Poor black kids aren’t learning! This will affect them FOREVER. One lost year compounds and puts them at a greater & greater disadvantage. Don’t you see?? This is an f’ing crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In person school also creates inequitable outcomes for blacks and hispanics.

Yes, so let's do something worse!

....go back in person and potentially kill their teachers while we're at it?

Just get a tiny bit of understanding that there's a massive space between "getting at risk kids back into classrooms" and "killing teachers."

This line is so tiring at this point.

Fairly certain the teachers who have died of COVID (yes, Virginia, they do exist) would disagree. Oh, wait, they can't.

What's tiresome is the minimizing and the me-me-me selfishness of people demanding in person during a pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

I'm so sick of this argument. This isn't true, speak for yourself. I don't like the current plan but support it because it's getting some at-risk kids back in school, and that's progress to me. My kids will not benefit and will likely be impacted by a teacher or class change, but I'm okay with that if another kid who needs in-person more gets it. Having kids fall through the cracks hurts all of us. This is a critical time for learning and will have long-term effects.

[Anonymous]

https://twitter.com/codybnorton/status/1322278985477357573?s=21

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

that’s completely absurd. Nobody believes you.

[Anonymous]

well, denying the actual research and statistics seems to be WTUs MO, so I’m not surprised they are also denying the facts in front of their faces about learning loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

I mean, better I “use” poor black kids as argument to get them adequate schooling in person, then use them to support an argument for not going to school for years, like WTU is. There is one side neglecting and exploiting poor black families here, and it is NOT the side that wants schools to reopen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, duh. It's a pandemic. It will take a few years to right the ship.

For some teh ship won't ever be righted - too much time lost. Ships in most of the country, including NYC, are being righted, just not here.

Let’s not overstate the case for New York - they’re doing better than we are but only about 25% of their public school students are back to in person school, which does not capture the percentage of kids who are at risk. And PG County, much of which has many of the same demographics as the less affluent parts of DC, is virtual until the end of January. It’s pretty hard to point to reading test results and tell a family that may have lost one or more members to COVID19, in communities with vastly disproportionate deaths from COVID19, that their first priority is putting their children back into school buildings that are hazardous or, at a minimum, utterly lacking in cleaning supplies long before the pandemic. It is a very real educational crisis, but I can’t blame parents for wondering if their kids are going to be exposed to and bring home a disease that will kill their family members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In person school also creates inequitable outcomes for blacks and hispanics.

Yes, so let's do something worse!

....go back in person and potentially kill their teachers while we're at it?

Just get a tiny bit of understanding that there's a massive space between "getting at risk kids back into classrooms" and "killing teachers."

This line is so tiring at this point.

Fairly certain the teachers who have died of COVID (yes, Virginia, they do exist) would disagree. Oh, wait, they can't.

What's tiresome is the minimizing and the me-me-me selfishness of people demanding in person during a pandemic.

Oh. You’re one of those “a single death is too many” people. It’s a useless argument. Show me anything that demonstrates that teachers die at a rate which is unusually high compared to their communities. Because they don’t. It even appears from your argument that you’re aware that the total number is low enough that people wonder if it’s happening at all.

If you think a single death is too many, I hope you don’t eat food, shop online, use electricity, etc. Because people have to be at work in person to do those tons of jobs related to a functioning economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

I mean, better I “use” poor black kids as argument to get them adequate schooling in person, then use them to support an argument for not going to school for years, like WTU is. There is one side neglecting and exploiting poor black families here, and it is NOT the side that wants schools to reopen.

Ah, the old canard: Expressing care about poor kids is evidence you don't care about poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

I mean, better I “use” poor black kids as argument to get them adequate schooling in person, then use them to support an argument for not going to school for years, like WTU is. There is one side neglecting and exploiting poor black families here, and it is NOT the side that wants schools to reopen.

Ah, the old canard: Expressing care about poor kids is evidence you don't care about poor kids.

I think we can let 'poor black families' decide and not white ones. YOU feel your children should go but not all of use feel the same when we have disproportionately been dying from covid-19.

Yes there is a huge issue with distance learning, that cannot be denied. What we need is a solution that helps the neediest children but then is able to segway to all children whose parents want to come in.

I think the plan DCPS came up with is innovative and is great to help the teachers who want to teach DL, the issue is this isn't a long term solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

I mean, better I “use” poor black kids as argument to get them adequate schooling in person, then use them to support an argument for not going to school for years, like WTU is. There is one side neglecting and exploiting poor black families here, and it is NOT the side that wants schools to reopen.

Ah, the old canard: Expressing care about poor kids is evidence you don't care about poor kids.

I think we can let 'poor black families' decide and not white ones. YOU feel your children should go but not all of use feel the same when we have disproportionately been dying from covid-19.

Yes there is a huge issue with distance learning, that cannot be denied. What we need is a solution that helps the neediest children but then is able to segway to all children whose parents want to come in.

I think the plan DCPS came up with is innovative and is great to help the teachers who want to teach DL, the issue is this isn't a long term solution.

It would be cool if we let them decide by actually giving them the chance to decide if they wanted to go in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse case manager at one of the DC Medicaid MCO health plans.
I call and see (in person via home visits) Medicaid members (i.e. their parents) all day and connect them with healthcare providers, resources etc.

People, this is a crisis situation for the poor kids in our city.

There are thousands of kids who are not getting any education. They are logging in maybe once every 2 weeks. If that. Many have never logged in once. Their last
instruction was in March 2019.

The thing is, no one really cares. The kids are poor and most are black and no one cares. Their teachers say they do, but they don't.
The mayor says she does but ultimately she doesn't. The upper NW white people (I am one) say they do but they certainly don't really care.

This is a massive tragedy.

+1000

I am a white parent and I am not worried about my child's literacy. I am unsure if I would send her to in-person school -- we have the resources to not have to if we don't feel it is safe. So no, this isn't about my kid, it's not about childcare, and I'm not using disadvantaged kids to push my personal agenda.

I also spent a decade tutoring DCPS students in reading before having my child. I am extremely worried about what is going to happen to literacy rates for poor black students in this city. We already were not serving these students. We already were not serving their families in ways that would help these kids get an education. And now we have abandoned them.

If we were serious, really serious, about helping these children, we would not be having endless arguments over in-person schools. We would go into these communities and ask families "What do you need to get your child to school?" We would prioritize in person school for these kids and we would find a way to make it happen safely, whatever it took. Outdoor classes in tents set up on fields. Classes in schools where the windows open. Half days, alternate days, everything on the table. We would work with the charters, with private schools, with every education outlet in this city and say "We have to help these members of our community with this essential need. What can you contribute?"

The city has pulled together to feed hungry people, to get money to laid of restaurant staff, to help local businesses and to protect tenants. Well let's do that for the thousands of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who are being robbed of one of the most essential skills needed to function in society. Let's make sure these kids learn to read, that they have access to teachers and books and a safe place to do it.

If we don't, many of these kids will never make it back. And it will be our fault.

Exactly, but this won't work for these posters, because it's not really about the "poor black and brown kids." It's about using the poor black and brown kids as tools to get their OWN kids into buildings.

I mean, better I “use” poor black kids as argument to get them adequate schooling in person, then use them to support an argument for not going to school for years, like WTU is. There is one side neglecting and exploiting poor black families here, and it is NOT the side that wants schools to reopen.

Ah, the old canard: Expressing care about poor kids is evidence you don't care about poor kids.

I think we can let 'poor black families' decide and not white ones. YOU feel your children should go but not all of use feel the same when we have disproportionately been dying from covid-19.

Yes there is a huge issue with distance learning, that cannot be denied. What we need is a solution that helps the neediest children but then is able to segway to all children whose parents want to come in.

I think the plan DCPS came up with is innovative and is great to help the teachers who want to teach DL, the issue is this isn't a long term solution.

It would be cool if we let them decide by actually giving them the chance to decide if they wanted to go in person.

I fear the well has already been poisoned by WTU convincing black families that school is unsafe. Truly unconscionable.

[Anonymous]

This is the basis of a modern DCPS ELA lesson. Focus on a specific social justice issue. Have students watch videos with only a specific point of view, hold discussions with prompts that match the discussion. Make sure the students are emotionally worked up, a bonus even upset by the videos and texts. Maybe add writing task. The teacher focuses on 1-2 students to produce some type of written word speech. Post this to Instagram. Repeat.