Anonymous wrote:One idea that might work is if DCPS is given charter authority and then uses neighborhood preference. For example, Tommy Wells supports the idea of of Jefferson MS becoming a charter school with neighborhood preference. Amidon Bowen ES could partner with AppleTree in a hybrid public/charter thingy and keep neighborhood preference.

This actually makes some sense. Hardy's "gifted for all" idea doesn't sound particularly compelling. Latin is a charter, but taking the only MS arguably better than Deal and giving it neighborhood preference in Deal's backyard won't fly. Everyone will (rightly) point out that Ward 3 isn't the spot that's desperate for good choices. Stuart Hobson is too small. Basis is so far only a plan, and not capable of the rich array of choices and enrichment that a larger school can provide. (Who's going to play field hockey or lacrosse in chinatown?)

If Jefferson were allowed some of the freedoms of charter schools, it probably offers the best opportunity to create a true MS magnet. And, its location makes a strong case being proximate to both Hill families in search of an option, and some less desirable parts of town without a good alternative.

Anonymous wrote:

Secondly, Jefferson needs to attract a critical mass of strong students.

and

Perhaps letting Jefferson become a DCPS charter could be a good thing.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote, but these two things seem to be mutually exclusive, or at least it's difficult for them to co-exist. Unless current law is changes, the student body at a charter school is pure luck of the draw. The middle schools in DC that perform well (such as they are) do so in large part because their catchment areas include families who value and prioritize education, are often highly educated themselves, and don't have to combat generational, crushing poverty. Charters don't have those advantages.

ITA, and, with that thought in mind, if every child in boundary for Hardy actually attended the school, it would likely exceed the performance of Deal.

Secondly, Jefferson needs to attract a critical mass of strong students.

and

Perhaps letting Jefferson become a DCPS charter could be a good thing.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote, but these two things seem to be mutually exclusive, or at least it's difficult for them to co-exist. Unless current law is changes, the student body at a charter school is pure luck of the draw. The middle schools in DC that perform well (such as they are) do so in large part because their catchment areas include families who value and prioritize education, are often highly educated themselves, and don't have to combat generational, crushing poverty. Charters don't have those advantages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to LOVE this when my daughter gets to the 5th grade. Good luck getting into BASIS bitches!

BASIS will become a magnet school!

Sure they will! And DCPS will also buy them a playing field! And a theater! And a soundroom! BASIS will be given everything that some random over-entitled mom on DCUM thinks despite that it's against the law, not to mention a less desirable school than many other charters!

I'll probably just laugh when your fantasy gets run over by the DC bus.

Stuart Hobson has as much potential as Hardy. Neck and neck for second DCPS MS behind Deal

Anonymous wrote:One idea that might work is if DCPS is given charter authority and then uses neighborhood preference. For example, Tommy Wells supports the idea of of Jefferson MS becoming a charter school with neighborhood preference. Amidon Bowen ES could partner with AppleTree in a hybrid public/charter thingy and keep neighborhood preference.

Anonymous wrote:works for me. I'm in-bounds for Brent. I may be more likely to consider Jefferson with this set up than with the current. Or not. Depends on the actual implementation. Does anyone that thinks Jefferson is OK as it is right now/is on the right track?

A charter might be just the thing Jefferson needs.

Jefferson, in my opinion, has the most potential of any DCPS MS outside of Deal and Hardy. Its location and grounds are second to none, its catchment area has a small population – allowing for a strong city-wide program to re-emerge (many considered it the best DCPS MS in the mid-nineties). The building’s bones are great. The new principal is top notch.

For Jefferson to succeed, it needs to two things (from DCPS or a charter). The first is follow through on the reform plan. This includes setting an IB program, offering intense remediation for struggling students (extended days, summer programs, targeted efforts). It needs advanced offerings ASAP (don’t wait for a certain enrollment threshold of stronger students). The Academy needs to keep moving forward in making its culture and climate conducive to achievement. Jefferson needs $35 million to modernize its facility. It needs partnerships with the surrounding neighborhood, leveraging the world-class resources that are a stone’s throw away. These were the stated plans for Jefferson, and they must be seen through to fruition.

Secondly, Jefferson needs to attract a critical mass of strong students. That can happen by virtue of the strength of its program (IB, advanced offerings, facility, partnerships) or it can happen through a selective admission program of some type (co-located, honors program, see Blair HS in Montgomery County, etc.). Somehow the school must convince a critical mass of parents with strong students to hold hands together and jump in. I doubt the incremental improvements seen at elementary schools in DC will translate to Jefferson (or other middle schools trying to emerge as strong options). Parents want rock solid assurances for middle school, in elementary they’ll take more of a chance.

If Jefferson becomes a charter, and innovative management delivers results, then it would be worth the shot. The folks in DCPS central office, in my opinion, are smart dedicated people - I support the Chancellor. But they are being asked to do what New York and Chicago does, with one-tenth the budget, and with a body politic that punishes progressive policies. They are drinking from a fire hose. The huge achievement gap pulls them in too many directions.

Perhaps letting Jefferson become a DCPS charter could be a good thing.

Anonymous wrote:One idea that might work is if DCPS is given charter authority and then uses neighborhood preference. For example, Tommy Wells supports the idea of of Jefferson MS becoming a charter school with neighborhood preference. Amidon Bowen ES could partner with AppleTree in a hybrid public/charter thingy and keep neighborhood preference.

works for me. I'm in-bounds for Brent. I may be more likely to consider Jefferson with this set up than with the current. Or not. Depends on the actual implementation. Does anyone that thinks Jefferson is OK as it is right now/is on the right track?

One idea that might work is if DCPS is given charter authority and then uses neighborhood preference. For example, Tommy Wells supports the idea of of Jefferson MS becoming a charter school with neighborhood preference. Amidon Bowen ES could partner with AppleTree in a hybrid public/charter thingy and keep neighborhood preference.

Anonymous wrote:or worse yet, going into a school where they care nothing about the school's mission just because of the preference.

Oh believe me, that happens now. The criteria for choosing a school varies widely, but generally parents have been known to rank schools in this order: proximity, safety, performance, mission. I thinking of the average parent in this city, not the people who participate in this forum. If you do not believe what I say, you need to staff a table at a school fair some time and record the frequently asked questions.

"Kwame Brown" and "thought process" in the same sentence. hahahahahaha

Neighborhood preference does not make any sense when the missions of the charter schools vary so much. For example, I have no idea what I would do with a neighborhood preference to YY. I don't want Mandarin immersion and wouldn't apply there even with a preference. Families probably feel similarly about CC or MV or KIPP. You would end up with families with a preference not exercising it because the mission of the school doesn't fit their families, or worse yet, going into a school where they care nothing about the school's mission just because of the preference.

Eagle Academy has a brand-new campus with a swimming pool opening for the Fall 2012 school year in Ward 8:

http://www.eagleacademypcs.org/

Anonymous wrote:The discussions cited in the article have nothing to do with Haynes or YY.

It's been about what to do with the DCPS schools near KIPP campuses. This has been going on for a while under the radar. KIPP doesn't want to give up anything (can you blame them?) in order to take over DCPS schools near their buildings. After the Friends of Bedford fiasco the Rhee put in and Henderson cleaned up, it's not surprising the DCPS isn't in a rush to fully outsource to charters.

As a PP stated, DCPS can barely manage residency issues. But at least has centralized electronic lottery. Imagine if all the individual charters had to verify boundaries for each location AND continue to run separate lotteries and waitlists? What a nightmare.

The only way to make anything neighborhood-based work is if the charter and DCPS boundaries were the same and used the same lottery database and waitlist policies.

Not holding my breath on that one.

That is certainly not the entire picture. Just look at Kwame's thought process. He is not simply talking about the new charters taking over DCPS. While I agree that it's not likely to happen, you can surely tell Kwame's philosophy on the matter...

“I think everyone knows that the current system as a model is not going to work as we continue to move forward,” said D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown (D), an outspoken proponent of neighborhood preference. Brown said he is pushing the idea because he has heard from numerous parents initially excited about the arrival of charter schools in their neighborhoods, only to lose out in a lottery. “I don’t know why you have to do a lottery when the school is across the street from your house,” Brown said.

Donald Hense, chairman of Friendship Public Charter Schools, which operates nine campuses serving more than 6,000 students in the District and Baltimore, said Brown and other city leaders are attempting to cater to white parents in gentrifying neighborhoods who want easier access to high-performing charters, such as E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Petworth.

Anonymous wrote:The discussions cited in the article have nothing to do with Haynes or YY.

It's been about what to do with the DCPS schools near KIPP campuses. This has been going on for a while under the radar. KIPP doesn't want to give up anything (can you blame them?) in order to take over DCPS schools near their buildings. After the Friends of Bedford fiasco the Rhee put in and Henderson cleaned up, it's not surprising the DCPS isn't in a rush to fully outsource to charters.

As a PP stated, DCPS can barely manage residency issues. But at least has centralized electronic lottery. Imagine if all the individual charters had to verify boundaries for each location AND continue to run separate lotteries and waitlists? What a nightmare.

The only way to make anything neighborhood-based work is if the charter and DCPS boundaries were the same and used the same lottery database and waitlist policies.

Not holding my breath on that one.

You mean a thread meandered off from the original focus of the post? Shocking.

While I understand how convenient "location preferencing" may prove for some, a great many of us --who don't even reside in Ward 8 where this change could have the most devastating effects--would have found ourselves further down the wait-list of schools we had a high interest in.

I understand location preference in cities like New York where the population is dense and spread out across five boroughs. (Dragging a 5 year old from the top of the Bronx to the East side of Queens, makes going from Capital Hill East to Upper NW seem like a picnic in the park).

I just think it may do more harm than good in a city like DC. That NYT article was a sad read for me. I do believe location preference would lead to more resegration. I my humble opinion, we could all benefit from getting to know more people who don't look like us and don't come from the same economic background.