Reply to San Francisco: a good model for DC?

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "San Francisco: a good model for DC?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DME is looking at SF because diversity and equality is what. They are aiming for.  So what city's model do you propose?[/quote]

We don't need to duplicate any other city's model -- but I see what you're getting at in terms of thinking about alternatives.  The "21st Century School Fund" policy document also discusses the fact that local jurisdictions are having some success with magnet schools.  I would note that DC's magnet schools are also very, very good, to the limited extent that we have them.  So, I think DC could be doing much more in the area of magnet schools, especially at the elementary and middle school levels.  Plus, DC has a growing number of Charter Schools that provide school choice and access throughout the entire City, which is something other cities do not have to the degree that we have it.

I believe more magnet schools could do a better job than the SF model of providing "diversity and equality" as a goal -- what the new magnet schools would do is roll diversity as well as neighborhood and income, into their admissions criteria.  "Diversity and Equality," of course, should not be the only or even the primary goals of any education system.

What magnet schools leave out is better education to under-performing kids.  This is an intractable problem that changing boundaries would do very little to fix.  As found by the SF model.  But the DC Charter schools are having some success in helping under-performing kids, and should be encouraged to continue that good work.

I'll also note that there's no proof that DC is seriously considering the "21st Century School Fund's" reference to the SF model -- DME is simply linking to the document without any kind of approval.  The City Council would never let it happen anyway, the idea is so bad.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics