Reply to What are the odds of them eliminating neighborhood elementary schools in favor of controlled choice?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The WOTP resources are highly educated families and their kids that reap the benefits of these parents.

How could DCPS export that across the park?
[/quote]

That's exactly what they're trying to do with "controlled choice." They're in for the shock of their lives if they think WOTP families will agree to export their kids out of neighborhood schools.[/quote]

There is no scenario under which WOTP elementary school kids will be bussed out of their neighborhoods. Each of the choice sets is comprised of schools close to home.[/quote]

A choice set that is without a bus system is ridiculous. A few miles away and not metro accessible? How can that work!

[b]Build your neighborhood schools people[/b].[/quote]

This! I know families in schools in DC, MD and VA. The one thing the successful schools have in common is that families are involved, parents volunteer time, and if they can, money to make sure the school is a success. One poster on another thread said that he/she shouldn't have to do anything at her school. It should work on it's own. It's precisely that attitude that keeps schools from succeeding. Any success takes work.[/quote]

This is a lovely idea but it won't work. Involved parents, fundraising, volunteering, etc. great stuff but it will not eliminate the effects of poverty on academic achievement, as much as we would like to believe this fairy tale, it will not turn red into green.[/quote]

I don't think one can eliminate all the effects of poverty, but the things you mentioned can help make schools places where children can learn. Poor doesn't mean unable to learn.[/quote]

Yes, and these are worthwhile endeavors. But what makes you think that students at the so-called "failing schools" schools aren't learning?[/quote]

Their test scores suggest that they aren't learning what they need or at a level that gives them basic understanding of the material presented . If they were learning the material on grade level, the schools test scores should be higher, and the school wouldn't be deemed 'failing'. If they are learning (as you suggest), then why are we bothering with all these reforms? Shouldn't things stay the way they are?[/quote]

but what we know know, or should, after years of reform, is that having good teachers is not enough to get kids to read.  They need a lot of help at home, that they  aren't getting.  So the schools can do a lot, but some schools will do a lot better than others because of the SES of their parents.  There will be exceptions, but the rule will be sustained.

In my mind the only way a school is "failing" is if it isn't addressing the educational needs of the kids in that school.

Alas, the current school administrators are hellbent on getting the scores up so they will look good.  They now know the only way to do that is to get more high SES kids into "failing" schools, so they are trying to upset the whole system to achieve their goal, which does nothing to help kids.[/quote]

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