DC SCHOOLS | Enrollment is close to target (WaPo, 9/10) – Enrollment stands at 44,397, with the official count not until next month. In May the DC Council estimated a far lower figure (41,541) and voted to withhold $27M of the school system’s budget based on that estimate. Chairman Gray: “Where are 3,000 new students going to come from?” It was a reasonable question–no one could predict what enrollment would turn out to be–but Rhee had to expend substantial time and energy making the case to restore those dollars.
What to take from this? It bears repeating that this reform push will be DCPS’ best shot at turning itself around. The time is now for DC’s school children. And, as WG President Tamara Copeland wrote two years ago today, DC’s public schools are a regional concern. With so much at stake, Chancellor Rhee needs the benefit of the doubt, and the benefit of our best efforts to help her.
EDUCATION | Tricky Road Ahead for Innovation Fund (EdWeek, 9/9) – “Education Department officials are apparently working to attract commitments from private foundations to further expand the pool of money available.”
9/11 DAY OF SERVICE | Greater DC Cares will mobilize 2,200 volunteers tomorrow
LOCAL FOOD | Plans for White House farmers’ market move forward (Guardian, 9/9)
ENVIRONMENT | Senator Ben Cardin Proposes One Way To Help Restore Chesapeake Bay (WAMU, 9/10)
September 10, 2009 at 7:42 pm |
With so much at stake, DC school reform needs a boost, for sure, but keep in mind, Michelle Rhee is NOT synonymous with school reform – they are two different things.
School reform cannot begin, until she leaves. She is all about firing teachers – not improving schools. She lies about statistics. If you don’t see it now, you will soon. Clever as she is, the numbers are catching up with her.
September 13, 2009 at 11:01 pm |
But it’s called Rheeform! (Kidding.)
The Mayor has made himself accountable for school success. He picked Rhee. For the moment, she actually is more or less synonymous with school reform.
Regarding teachers, most are great, I’m sure, but I don’t know anyone who thinks that *all* the teachers were great. Teacher evaluation will always be somewhat subjective, and that’s just life. My own sympathies are with the thousands of children who have been denied a decent education by DCPS.
I’m not just a cheerleader. Everyone, including me, disagrees with her on this or that (“Capital Gains” for example!), but I think she’s been impressive so far. And I think we should acknowledge the herculean task she’s facing and do what we can to move the ball forward… to mix metaphors.