Wednesday, July 28th Chancellor Rhee Holds Forum on DCPS Standardized Test Results

On Wednesday, July 28th, 6:30 - 8 pm, Chancellor Michelle Rhee is hosting a discussion concerning DCPS student performance on standardized tests. It will include breakout sessions designed to assist parents in reading the results on the DIBELS and DC-CAS tests. The meeting will occur at Shaw @ Garnet-Patterson Middle School, 2001 10th Street, N.W.

DC Delays Plan to Change Rate Structure for Private Special Ed Placements

D.C. has delayed its decision to implement new rate structures that would cap tuition payments for D.C. special education students attending private schools funded with D.C. tax dollars.  Originally scheduled to take effect in the Fall of 2010, following expressions of concern by parents and education, the plan was halted by the Office of State Superintendent until July 2010.  The plan would have restricted tuition rates to $215 per day, for $38,700 per 180-day school year. 

Early Education Round Table

Join Miriam Calderon, director of early childhood education, and Carol Day, president of the National Black Child Development Institute, for an openquestion-and-answer session about DCPS’ early education (Preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Stages) program options.

Light snacks and childcare will be provided.
 
Tuesday, July 20, 2010


7-8 p.m.

DCPS Central Office

1200 First Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20002

D.C. elementary test scores show decline

D.C. officials announced Tuesday that reading and math test scores declined in elementary schools this year, halting a two-year run of significant gains and dealing a setback to Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee as she seeks to overhaul city schools.

The news was better for middle and high schools, which saw continued gains in reading and math on the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS), administered every April.

After rising 20 percentage points from 2007 to 2009, the elementary math proficiency rate dipped 4.6 points this year, to 43.4. The elementary reading proficiency rate, which had risen 11 percentage points from 2007 to 2009, fell 4.4 points, to 44.4 percent. The proficiency rate is essentially a measure of the portion of students who pass the tests.

School-by-school scores will not be available until later this month.

Rhee, who joined Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) to announce the 2010 scores in a mid-morning news conference at Ballou High School, said she couldn't account for the drop in elementary scores, and that it would require some study.

"We're going to dig into the data," she said.

Rhee and Fenty emphasized the overall record of test score gains since the mayor appointed Rhee in 2007. School reform has become a key issue in Fenty's reelection campaign against challenger Vincent C. Gray (D), the D.C. Council chairman.

Rhee called the three-year gains at the middle and high school levels -- an average of 14 percentage points in reading and 17 points in math -- a significant achievement. In a statement distributed to reporters, Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, which consults with urban school districts, called the growth "unusual and important," adding that the District is one of the few cities in the country to see double-digit growth at the secondary level.

Officials also reported that the percentage of students scoring at advanced levels has doubled in elementary and secondary schools since 2007.

This post has been updated since it was first published.



-- Bill Turque

Comment Period Open for Proposed Regs on Certification of Non Public Special Education Schools

On June 18, the D.C.'s Office of the State Superintendent issued proposed rules prescribing certification standards for private special education schools serving disabled students with funding from the city. The public comment period began on June 18th and ends on July 17th. Those rules can be viewed here: http://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/NoticeHome.aspx?NoticeID=296643

To submit comments in writing on this rule send them to Office of the State Superintendent of Education, 810 First Street, N.E., 9th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002, Attn: Jessica Morffi, Title 5, Chapter A-28; or Osse.publiccomment@dc.gov. All comments must be received by OSSE not later than thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Copies of this rulemaking may be obtained from the OSSE website at osse.dc.gov or at the above referenced location.

Union Ratifies Contract, Which Imposes a New Teacher Evaluation System

Last week, The Washington Teachers Union ratified a new contract which now has to go before the D.C. Council, where it is expected to be approved overwhelmingly. The contract provides for a new performance evaluation system and according to some estimates, some instructors could receive as much as $140,000 per year under the new agreement.

DCPS Chancellor's Community Forum is on Special Education: Wed May 26

REMINDER:  This month's DCPS Chancellor's Community Forum is on Special Education.  Randle Highlands Elementary School located at 1650 30th Street, SE, this Wednesday, May 26, from 6:30 until 8:00pm. 


In addition to the Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor Richard Nyankori will attend. There will be a brief open discussion and then break-out sessions. One of the break-out sessions is "DCPS Alternatives to Nonpublic Schools". The forum will be held at Randle Highlands Elementary School located at 1650 30th Street, SE, this Wednesday, May 26, from 6:30 until 8:00pm.