D.C. Schools Insider - Emma Brown chronicles the District public schools.

Posted at 08:23 AM ET, 12/22/2011

Two charter schools recommended for closure

By Bill Turque

The board voted to place Community Academy PCS and Integrated Design Electronics Academy on the path to revocation of their operating charters.

By Bill Turque | 08:23 AM ET, 12/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 12/19/2011

D.C. school closings unlikely to be widespread in 2012

By Bill Turque

After some signals to the contrary, it’s likely that no more than a few of D.C.’s many under-enrolled public schools--if that many-- will be proposed for closure at the end of the academic year.

By Bill Turque | 11:15 AM ET, 12/19/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:38 PM ET, 12/14/2011

Hearing on community schools bill cancelled at last minute

By Bill Turque

Supporters of the “Community Schools Incentive Amendment Act” had just three hours notice.

By Bill Turque | 09:38 PM ET, 12/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:12 AM ET, 12/14/2011

IMPACT study scuttled by differences over method

By Bill Turque

Plans for Harvard economist Roland Fryer to conduct an independent study of the IMPACT evaluation system are off, scuttled by DCPS’ reluctance to employ what he called “the gold standard in empirical research.”

By Bill Turque | 11:12 AM ET, 12/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:35 PM ET, 12/12/2011

Hebrew language charter proposal in the works

By Bill Turque

A local group is preparing an application to open a Hebrew immersion charter school in 2013. The D.C. Hebrew Language Charter School would be organized around the the Yu Ying model, with students receiving instruction in all subjects in both English and Hebrew on alternating days.

By Bill Turque | 07:35 PM ET, 12/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:40 PM ET, 12/09/2011

D.C. charter school board gets a new leader

By Bill Turque

The board's new executive director is Scott Pearson, a former U.S. Department of Education official and co-founder of a San Francisco charter management organization.

By Bill Turque | 04:40 PM ET, 12/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:39 PM ET, 12/09/2011

Montessori specialist is D.C. Teacher of the Year

By Bill Turque

Perea Brown-Blackmon is a Montessori specialist at Langdon Education Campus and a mother of nine.

By Bill Turque | 04:39 PM ET, 12/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:56 PM ET, 12/09/2011

DCPS tries to make school office ‘Sad Sacks’ and ‘Sorry Sues’ more customer friendly

By Bill Turque

On Wednesday, Chancellor Kaya Henderson met with school office employees to discuss a new ten-page set of “Front Desk Customer Service Protocols.”

By Bill Turque | 12:56 PM ET, 12/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 12/07/2011

NAEP results suggest long march, not quick turnaround

By Bill Turque

Fifty-six percent of DCPS fourth-graders rated “below basic” in reading on the national assessment; 58 percent of eighth graders were in the same category in math.

By Bill Turque | 05:20 PM ET, 12/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:54 AM ET, 12/07/2011

D.C. public schools show largest black-white achievement gap in major national test

By Bill Turque

The largest achievement gap between black and white students among major urban school systems belongs to DCPS, according to the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress.

By Bill Turque | 10:54 AM ET, 12/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:16 AM ET, 12/06/2011

Charter schools unveil new ranking system

By Bill Turque

The new rating system ranks schools along three tiers of quality, and offers parents a broader assessment of school progress than annual standardized test results.

By Bill Turque | 11:16 AM ET, 12/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:07 PM ET, 12/05/2011

District wins appeal of special education ruling

By Bill Turque

The District has won a significant legal victory in its bid to lift a federal court injunction imposed 16 years ago in a dispute over special education provider payments.

By Bill Turque | 02:07 PM ET, 12/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:39 PM ET, 12/02/2011

DCPS inaction scuttled teacher early retirement, CFO’s office says

By Bill Turque

CFO’s office says DCPS did not submit legislation to the D.C. Council to have the provision funded.

By Bill Turque | 06:39 PM ET, 12/02/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:26 PM ET, 11/30/2011

School choice season is here

By Bill Turque

One useful resource for parents and schools is the D.C. School Chooser, a one-stop shop for basic information.

By Bill Turque | 12:26 PM ET, 11/30/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

D.C. Schools Insider: December, 2011