Reply to What the heck is happening to DCPS?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great.  They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).[/quote]

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish.  The kids loved it.[/quote]

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.[/quote]

PARCC numbers don’t support your premise above.  The overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level in math, as in 1 or 2.  Look at the science scores, also abysmal.

If the curriculum was strong in content, above would not be so bad.  [/quote]

I think PP is trying to say the content is good, but DCPS teachers cannot spend enough time on it because they have to focus on math & ELA PARCC scores. [/quote]

NP. I think you miss their point. They are saying that the data doesn't support your position. If what you said was accurate then the Math and ELA scores should be excellent at the expense of science. But those scores suck.[/quote]

Scores are very dependent upon the socio-economics of particular schools, unfortunately. Math and ELA scores are high where incomes and opportunity are high in DCPS. Emphasis on science is slowly growing and DCPS now has an excellent science curriculum. But there is still not much time left for science and social studies. In schools where these subjects are given more emphasis the students come away with a very strong foundation and are often really excited about what they’re learning.[/quote]

People like above is exactly why DCPS curriculum and schools don’t improve.  Use socio-economic status as the out without looking closely at what is happening and demanding accountability from DCP perpetuates the cycle of low expectations.

There are school districts where overall low socioeconomic kids do well.  The areas where income and opportunity is high in DC, the math and ELA scores are not high, basically mediocre at best, when compared to similar places in the burbs.[/quote]

If there is a district that has figured out how to solve this long-standing tragedy of outcomes please, for the love of god, share the case study and methods with us, DCPS leaders, and OSSE! This would be the answer to many prayers. Where are these odds-defying outcomes happening? Are the methods transferable to other public districts like DCPS? Please share!![/quote]

Of course not whole districts but definitely blocks of school within districts such as LA, Chicago, etc…

The best example is in the test in school/magnets in NYC.  Predominantly low SES but high performing and high scorers.

Really you don’t even have to look at above, compare DC to other school districts with low SES and DC does much worst.  DC is always at or near the bottom.[/quote]

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