Reply to Revised Boundary Recommendations to be released on or about June 13

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Reply to "Revised Boundary Recommendations to be released on or about June 13"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]Actually, we do know what works: refurbished facilities + large numbers of high SES families. Sadly, we can't easily replicate the second ingredient of the formula.[/quote]

Well there are more high-SES families in my cluster (Brightwood, Crestwood, Petworth) than there were even five years ago.  And they are more interested in going to their neighborhood schools than trekking across town.  The school boundary and assignment process is aimed at redirecting them to those schools and the very first recommendation in the report referenced above is to "invest in facilities and programs to accelerate performance in Tier 2 schools - especially in Clusters 2, 18, 22, and 31 that have high concentrations of Tier schools."  These are the clusters with the highest demand for performing seats.

It goes on to say, "Moreover, several of the neighborhoods dominated by Tier 2 schools are undergoing a demographic shift accompanied by a decline in demand for public schools.  The ensuing change in demand for public schools suggests that focusing on[i] improving Tier 2 schools to increase performing capacity, [b]as opposed to authorizing new charter schools[/b][/i] or turnarounds for Tier 4 schools, will be a more sustainable long term strategy."

It sounds like the report that the DME put forward is talking about exactly what so many here say they want.  But wait, there's more:

"Accelerating performance in Tier 2 schools in Top Ten clusters, especially Clusters 2 and 18, [i]will relieve overcrowding elsewhere[/i]e; currently up to 50 percent of the students in the most overcrowded Tier 1 schools in the northwest and central parts of the city [i]commute from priority neighborhoods[/i], as their parents seek a better education for their children. Providing local options for students in the northest will shift current commute patterns."

http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/IFF_Final_Report.pdf

If you look on page 42, it does suggest ways to improve performance, including "extending learning time, reforming academic programs, professional development for teachers or school leadership effectiveness coaching.  In implementing the plan, provide operational flexibility and sustained support."

I'm in agreement with those suggestions as are most of the people who've commented in this forum.  The hat trick is getting the funding to improve those schools and, thanks to NCLB,[u] that means getting more students [i]into [/i]those schools.[/u]  I see that as the primary objective of the DME policy examples floated thus far.  Apart from suggested policies for school assignment (choice sets, etc.) the boundary proposals seem to have been an entirely separate process, NOT involving community input. I agree, those have been a distraction, but there's been credible buzz that they will not move forward.  But getting parents to choose their neighborhood schools outside of Ward 3?  That must move forward.

The report says that DCPS needs to work with charter schools to increase the number of performing seats, and that makes sense.  The charters aren't going anywhere, nor should they, but they cannot alone meet the demand.  I haven't seen anything in the proposals that even suggests they should.  If I'm wrong about that, someone please point it out.  With links.[/quote]

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