Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

More like…

DC charter parents: Follow the law which says funding parity.

DCPS: But we have to pay our teachers more, they are in a union. Your teachers aren’t in unions so they shouldn’t make as much. We also get no money for buildings, they come from the DGS fairy. Why do you need money for facilities?

Some of them are in unions though.

They do get a facilities allotment. Explicitly. Have your opinion but please stop spreading false information.

Does that $2000 per kid for charters equal $5 billion for DCPS? Absolutely not! What is DCPS spending on Tubman, $200k per kid? And they will provide maintenance going forward.

I don't now where the $5 billion figure comes from.

However, $2000 x 50,000 students x 20 years = $2 billion, so that's real money.

DC has spent $3.6 billion renovating DCPS schools, and plans to send another $2 billion more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

More like…

DC charter parents: Follow the law which says funding parity.

DCPS: But we have to pay our teachers more, they are in a union. Your teachers aren’t in unions so they shouldn’t make as much. We also get no money for buildings, they come from the DGS fairy. Why do you need money for facilities?

Some of them are in unions though.

They do get a facilities allotment. Explicitly. Have your opinion but please stop spreading false information.

Does that $2000 per kid for charters equal $5 billion for DCPS? Absolutely not! What is DCPS spending on Tubman, $200k per kid? And they will provide maintenance going forward.

I don't now where the $5 billion figure comes from.

However, $2000 x 50,000 students x 20 years = $2 billion, so that's real money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

More like…

DC charter parents: Follow the law which says funding parity.

DCPS: But we have to pay our teachers more, they are in a union. Your teachers aren’t in unions so they shouldn’t make as much. We also get no money for buildings, they come from the DGS fairy. Why do you need money for facilities?

Some of them are in unions though.

They do get a facilities allotment. Explicitly. Have your opinion but please stop spreading false information.

Does that $2000 per kid for charters equal $5 billion for DCPS? Absolutely not! What is DCPS spending on Tubman, $200k per kid? And they will provide maintenance going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is you cannot have your cake and eat it too.
Ask the billionaire backers of charters to renovate.

This doesn't make any more sense no matter how many times you repeat the broken, tired talking point.

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is you cannot have your cake and eat it too.
Ask the billionaire backers of charters to renovate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

More like…

DC charter parents: Follow the law which says funding parity.

DCPS: But we have to pay our teachers more, they are in a union. Your teachers aren’t in unions so they shouldn’t make as much. We also get no money for buildings, they come from the DGS fairy. Why do you need money for facilities?

Some of them are in unions though.

They do get a facilities allotment. Explicitly. Have your opinion but please stop spreading false information.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

More like…

DC charter parents: Follow the law which says funding parity.

DCPS: But we have to pay our teachers more, they are in a union. Your teachers aren’t in unions so they shouldn’t make as much. We also get no money for buildings, they come from the DGS fairy. Why do you need money for facilities?

Some of them are in unions though.

They do get a facilities allotment. Explicitly. Have your opinion but please stop spreading false information.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

More like…

DC charter parents: Follow the law which says funding parity.

DCPS: But we have to pay our teachers more, they are in a union. Your teachers aren’t in unions so they shouldn’t make as much. We also get no money for buildings, they come from the DGS fairy. Why do you need money for facilities?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

This is so hostile. Please go say this to Ward 7 and ward 8 parents, most of whom send their kids to charters.

You're right. I don't think its many Ward 7 and 8 charter school parents here saying the stuff above. The above only applies to the DCUM charter school crowd. What above has not been said in this thread?

The DCUM crowd has a component of people who are white people living in gentrifying neighborhoods who are highly sensitive to their neighbors who choose to opt into DCI feeders or Latin or BASIS and their entire worldview is shaped by how betrayed they feel by it.

But this is a tiny proportion of the charter world. Do these people even know anyone who sent their kids to DC Prep? And how thankful they are that this option exists, to support their kids who have college aspirations but live in a community where going to the local DCPS means joining the drug trade and gang life? This is not a stereotype, this is from conversations I've had with people in that group.

So it does feel hostile for "Nice white parents" to denigrate charters.

I'm the "hostile" poster. Again, my post only paraphrases comments that have actually been made in this thread.

I don't have any issue with the existence of charters and don't "denigrate" them.

I do have an issue with charter parents who denigrate DCPS -- or at least who, oddly, denigrate DCPS for having responsibility for handling our most challenging social problems.

DCPS leadership sucks. They may have some sort of credentials in education, but we need people at Central who are excellent managers and who are gifted in leading change. Being a role-model for a specific demographic is nice, but it's not enough. We need a new mayor who makes more inspired choices for DCPS leadership.

And I don't begrudge charter parents who find the best solutions for the own kids. They should do that.

BUT to choose a charter and then complain about how good kids in DCPS have it? That's nuts.

The city spends $10,000 more per child in DCPS than it does in charters every single year. Why stop there? Why not $100,000 more? Maybe we should impose a special annual fee on families who go to charters too. Even better, why don't we create a special tax surcharge on them? Maybe every family in charters should be subject to a special 25 percent income tax surcharge? And all the money that raises can be earmarked for even more over-the-top renovations for DCPS? Do any of the schools have lazy rivers, yet?

Let's see...those over-the-top renovations to a handful of DCPS high schools were completed a decade ago.

When did you choose to start your child in a charter?

The city is in the middle of spending $5 billion to renovate every single DCPS school. The over-the-top makeovers will continue for years to come.

There is not anything over the top about ensuring that buildings meet code and reflect 21st century learning standards.

Yep. The Harriet Tubman re-build (note, it's not just a renovation; it includes new construction) sounds expensive to me at $86 million (that's the number I see online). I imagine DC is paying its close-knit developer and construction friends generously.

But, "The project will replace the 1970s-era building at 3101 13th Street NW and create expanded classroom, gym and dining space for neighborhood students." It will now be ADA-compliant and Net Zero. Is energy efficiency a bad thing ot invest in?

Why does every single DCPS school get a $100 million makeover, and not a single charter?

Because this "every single" thing is over YEARS. It's not like they are all randomly getting an unnecessary renovation this summer. It's what happens to buildings of all types -- they need renovating periodically.

I'm so confused why people want DGS to manage charter facilities. Freedom is the point of charters, no?

Plus it’s the every school. Renovations are 50-100 million. Some schools aren’t getting a full renovation.

Assuming people choose charters for choice. It would be incredibly unfair to give charters everything DCPS has EXCEPT the ability to make every choice for themselves.

This is some Grade A word salad. What now?

If charters want to renovate, they can renovate. DC government isn’t stopping them and many charters have renovated.

It’s the choice of a Charter to be independent from DC government telling them what to do and how to do it. A consequence of being independent of this central oversight is being also independent of central resources like DGS. You don’t get it both ways.

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

This is so hostile. Please go say this to Ward 7 and ward 8 parents, most of whom send their kids to charters.

You're right. I don't think its many Ward 7 and 8 charter school parents here saying the stuff above. The above only applies to the DCUM charter school crowd. What above has not been said in this thread?

The DCUM crowd has a component of people who are white people living in gentrifying neighborhoods who are highly sensitive to their neighbors who choose to opt into DCI feeders or Latin or BASIS and their entire worldview is shaped by how betrayed they feel by it.

But this is a tiny proportion of the charter world. Do these people even know anyone who sent their kids to DC Prep? And how thankful they are that this option exists, to support their kids who have college aspirations but live in a community where going to the local DCPS means joining the drug trade and gang life? This is not a stereotype, this is from conversations I've had with people in that group.

So it does feel hostile for "Nice white parents" to denigrate charters.

I'm the "hostile" poster. Again, my post only paraphrases comments that have actually been made in this thread.

I don't have any issue with the existence of charters and don't "denigrate" them.

I do have an issue with charter parents who denigrate DCPS -- or at least who, oddly, denigrate DCPS for having responsibility for handling our most challenging social problems.

DCPS leadership sucks. They may have some sort of credentials in education, but we need people at Central who are excellent managers and who are gifted in leading change. Being a role-model for a specific demographic is nice, but it's not enough. We need a new mayor who makes more inspired choices for DCPS leadership.

And I don't begrudge charter parents who find the best solutions for the own kids. They should do that.

BUT to choose a charter and then complain about how good kids in DCPS have it? That's nuts.

The city spends $10,000 more per child in DCPS than it does in charters every single year. Why stop there? Why not $100,000 more? Maybe we should impose a special annual fee on families who go to charters too. Even better, why don't we create a special tax surcharge on them? Maybe every family in charters should be subject to a special 25 percent income tax surcharge? And all the money that raises can be earmarked for even more over-the-top renovations for DCPS? Do any of the schools have lazy rivers, yet?

Let's see...those over-the-top renovations to a handful of DCPS high schools were completed a decade ago.

When did you choose to start your child in a charter?

The city is in the middle of spending $5 billion to renovate every single DCPS school. The over-the-top makeovers will continue for years to come.

There is not anything over the top about ensuring that buildings meet code and reflect 21st century learning standards.

Yep. The Harriet Tubman re-build (note, it's not just a renovation; it includes new construction) sounds expensive to me at $86 million (that's the number I see online). I imagine DC is paying its close-knit developer and construction friends generously.

But, "The project will replace the 1970s-era building at 3101 13th Street NW and create expanded classroom, gym and dining space for neighborhood students." It will now be ADA-compliant and Net Zero. Is energy efficiency a bad thing ot invest in?

Why does every single DCPS school get a $100 million makeover, and not a single charter?

Because this "every single" thing is over YEARS. It's not like they are all randomly getting an unnecessary renovation this summer. It's what happens to buildings of all types -- they need renovating periodically.

I'm so confused why people want DGS to manage charter facilities. Freedom is the point of charters, no?

Plus it’s the every school. Renovations are 50-100 million. Some schools aren’t getting a full renovation.

Assuming people choose charters for choice. It would be incredibly unfair to give charters everything DCPS has EXCEPT the ability to make every choice for themselves.

This is some Grade A word salad. What now?

If charters want to renovate, they can renovate. DC government isn’t stopping them and many charters have renovated.

It’s the choice of a Charter to be independent from DC government telling them what to do and how to do it. A consequence of being independent of this central oversight is being also independent of central resources like DGS. You don’t get it both ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

This is so hostile. Please go say this to Ward 7 and ward 8 parents, most of whom send their kids to charters.

You're right. I don't think its many Ward 7 and 8 charter school parents here saying the stuff above. The above only applies to the DCUM charter school crowd. What above has not been said in this thread?

The DCUM crowd has a component of people who are white people living in gentrifying neighborhoods who are highly sensitive to their neighbors who choose to opt into DCI feeders or Latin or BASIS and their entire worldview is shaped by how betrayed they feel by it.

But this is a tiny proportion of the charter world. Do these people even know anyone who sent their kids to DC Prep? And how thankful they are that this option exists, to support their kids who have college aspirations but live in a community where going to the local DCPS means joining the drug trade and gang life? This is not a stereotype, this is from conversations I've had with people in that group.

So it does feel hostile for "Nice white parents" to denigrate charters.

I'm the "hostile" poster. Again, my post only paraphrases comments that have actually been made in this thread.

I don't have any issue with the existence of charters and don't "denigrate" them.

I do have an issue with charter parents who denigrate DCPS -- or at least who, oddly, denigrate DCPS for having responsibility for handling our most challenging social problems.

DCPS leadership sucks. They may have some sort of credentials in education, but we need people at Central who are excellent managers and who are gifted in leading change. Being a role-model for a specific demographic is nice, but it's not enough. We need a new mayor who makes more inspired choices for DCPS leadership.

And I don't begrudge charter parents who find the best solutions for the own kids. They should do that.

BUT to choose a charter and then complain about how good kids in DCPS have it? That's nuts.

The city spends $10,000 more per child in DCPS than it does in charters every single year. Why stop there? Why not $100,000 more? Maybe we should impose a special annual fee on families who go to charters too. Even better, why don't we create a special tax surcharge on them? Maybe every family in charters should be subject to a special 25 percent income tax surcharge? And all the money that raises can be earmarked for even more over-the-top renovations for DCPS? Do any of the schools have lazy rivers, yet?

+1

Love it. Families will leave DC faster than anything we've seen before. The resulting harm to the tax base will ensure the education completely collapses because there certainly won't be money for schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

This is so hostile. Please go say this to Ward 7 and ward 8 parents, most of whom send their kids to charters.

You're right. I don't think its many Ward 7 and 8 charter school parents here saying the stuff above. The above only applies to the DCUM charter school crowd. What above has not been said in this thread?

The DCUM crowd has a component of people who are white people living in gentrifying neighborhoods who are highly sensitive to their neighbors who choose to opt into DCI feeders or Latin or BASIS and their entire worldview is shaped by how betrayed they feel by it.

But this is a tiny proportion of the charter world. Do these people even know anyone who sent their kids to DC Prep? And how thankful they are that this option exists, to support their kids who have college aspirations but live in a community where going to the local DCPS means joining the drug trade and gang life? This is not a stereotype, this is from conversations I've had with people in that group.

So it does feel hostile for "Nice white parents" to denigrate charters.

I'm the "hostile" poster. Again, my post only paraphrases comments that have actually been made in this thread.

I don't have any issue with the existence of charters and don't "denigrate" them.

I do have an issue with charter parents who denigrate DCPS -- or at least who, oddly, denigrate DCPS for having responsibility for handling our most challenging social problems.

DCPS leadership sucks. They may have some sort of credentials in education, but we need people at Central who are excellent managers and who are gifted in leading change. Being a role-model for a specific demographic is nice, but it's not enough. We need a new mayor who makes more inspired choices for DCPS leadership.

And I don't begrudge charter parents who find the best solutions for the own kids. They should do that.

BUT to choose a charter and then complain about how good kids in DCPS have it? That's nuts.

The city spends $10,000 more per child in DCPS than it does in charters every single year. Why stop there? Why not $100,000 more? Maybe we should impose a special annual fee on families who go to charters too. Even better, why don't we create a special tax surcharge on them? Maybe every family in charters should be subject to a special 25 percent income tax surcharge? And all the money that raises can be earmarked for even more over-the-top renovations for DCPS? Do any of the schools have lazy rivers, yet?

Let's see...those over-the-top renovations to a handful of DCPS high schools were completed a decade ago.

When did you choose to start your child in a charter?

The city is in the middle of spending $5 billion to renovate every single DCPS school. The over-the-top makeovers will continue for years to come.

There is not anything over the top about ensuring that buildings meet code and reflect 21st century learning standards.

Yep. The Harriet Tubman re-build (note, it's not just a renovation; it includes new construction) sounds expensive to me at $86 million (that's the number I see online). I imagine DC is paying its close-knit developer and construction friends generously.

But, "The project will replace the 1970s-era building at 3101 13th Street NW and create expanded classroom, gym and dining space for neighborhood students." It will now be ADA-compliant and Net Zero. Is energy efficiency a bad thing ot invest in?

Why does every single DCPS school get a $100 million makeover, and not a single charter?

Because this "every single" thing is over YEARS. It's not like they are all randomly getting an unnecessary renovation this summer. It's what happens to buildings of all types -- they need renovating periodically.

I'm so confused why people want DGS to manage charter facilities. Freedom is the point of charters, no?

Plus it’s the every school. Renovations are 50-100 million. Some schools aren’t getting a full renovation.

Assuming people choose charters for choice. It would be incredibly unfair to give charters everything DCPS has EXCEPT the ability to make every choice for themselves.

This is some Grade A word salad. What now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter school parents: We want DC to way over-spend on our facilities too (albeit without the big gratuity to developers). Any money that WTU negotiates for their dues-paying teachers is owed to our teachers too. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS has failed us. We *have to* go to charters because DCPS is violent. We can't take any students that have to or want to leave other charters; DCPS needs to take those. Even as we take away half the kids from DCPS, we don't want to have any part is helping solve the messes that DCPS has to deal with -- that is other kids' problem.

Basically, we want the equality for all the good stuff but avoidance for all the difficult parts.

This is so hostile. Please go say this to Ward 7 and ward 8 parents, most of whom send their kids to charters.

You're right. I don't think its many Ward 7 and 8 charter school parents here saying the stuff above. The above only applies to the DCUM charter school crowd. What above has not been said in this thread?

The DCUM crowd has a component of people who are white people living in gentrifying neighborhoods who are highly sensitive to their neighbors who choose to opt into DCI feeders or Latin or BASIS and their entire worldview is shaped by how betrayed they feel by it.

But this is a tiny proportion of the charter world. Do these people even know anyone who sent their kids to DC Prep? And how thankful they are that this option exists, to support their kids who have college aspirations but live in a community where going to the local DCPS means joining the drug trade and gang life? This is not a stereotype, this is from conversations I've had with people in that group.

So it does feel hostile for "Nice white parents" to denigrate charters.

I'm the "hostile" poster. Again, my post only paraphrases comments that have actually been made in this thread.

I don't have any issue with the existence of charters and don't "denigrate" them.

I do have an issue with charter parents who denigrate DCPS -- or at least who, oddly, denigrate DCPS for having responsibility for handling our most challenging social problems.

DCPS leadership sucks. They may have some sort of credentials in education, but we need people at Central who are excellent managers and who are gifted in leading change. Being a role-model for a specific demographic is nice, but it's not enough. We need a new mayor who makes more inspired choices for DCPS leadership.

And I don't begrudge charter parents who find the best solutions for the own kids. They should do that.

BUT to choose a charter and then complain about how good kids in DCPS have it? That's nuts.

The city spends $10,000 more per child in DCPS than it does in charters every single year. Why stop there? Why not $100,000 more? Maybe we should impose a special annual fee on families who go to charters too. Even better, why don't we create a special tax surcharge on them? Maybe every family in charters should be subject to a special 25 percent income tax surcharge? And all the money that raises can be earmarked for even more over-the-top renovations for DCPS? Do any of the schools have lazy rivers, yet?

+1