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

Posted at 04:04 PM ET, 04/27/2012

Link between value-added ratings and classroom observations is modest at best, studies show

By Bill Turque

Ideally, there would be a healthy statistical link. It would provide some solid evidence that following DCPS prescriptives in the classroom leads to higher achievement on standardized tests.

By Bill Turque | 04:04 PM ET, 04/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:18 AM ET, 04/26/2012

Charter board has spent $1 million to close failed schools

By Bill Turque

In theory, the District is not responsible for debts or other obligations left behind by the independent, non-profit boards that operate the schools.

By Bill Turque | 11:18 AM ET, 04/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:47 PM ET, 04/24/2012

Can a charter school be a neighborhood school?

By Bill Turque

Charter purists don’t like it, but there is growing political energy behind the idea, as evidenced by Tuesday’s D.C. Council hearing for the FY13 Public Charter School Board budget.

By Bill Turque | 07:47 PM ET, 04/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:24 AM ET, 04/24/2012

Four new charter schools to open in 2013

By Bill Turque

The schools received tentative approval from the D.C. Public Charter School Board on Monday. evening.

By Bill Turque | 10:24 AM ET, 04/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:21 PM ET, 04/18/2012

Henderson and Gray sketch out big plans for DCPS

By Bill Turque

Plan for a higher-achieving system includes a much smaller footprint for the 123-school system.

By Bill Turque | 12:21 PM ET, 04/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:43 AM ET, 04/18/2012

Henderson: Cheating probe ‘wrapping up’

By Bill Turque

Chancellor Kaya Henderson said an inquiry into suspected cheating on the DC CAS during the Michelle Rhee era is close to completion.

By Bill Turque | 11:43 AM ET, 04/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:36 PM ET, 04/16/2012

District: Freezing charter pay never the plan

By Bill Turque

The Gray Administration has told charter schools that it absolutely, positively never intended to freeze the April quarterly payment.

By Bill Turque | 02:36 PM ET, 04/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 PM ET, 04/13/2012

Gray freezes, then thaws, charter school payments

By Bill Turque

Did the Gray Administration try to hold a $100 million-plus quarterly payment to charter schools hostage in its dispute with the D.C. Council over the supplemental budget bill?

By Bill Turque | 08:00 PM ET, 04/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:29 PM ET, 04/12/2012

DCPS central office gets low grades for work environment, job satisfaction

By Bill Turque

Looking for long hours, so-so pay, limited opportunities for professional growth and the chance to do good work that goes unrecognized? Then the DCPS central office could be the place for you.

By Bill Turque | 04:29 PM ET, 04/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:21 PM ET, 04/11/2012

Henderson launches $10 million grant program to help DCPS reach new academic targets

By Bill Turque

Chancellor is committing DCPS to a series of academic goals she hopes to reach by 2017.

By Bill Turque | 08:21 PM ET, 04/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:36 PM ET, 04/10/2012

Four schools honored by Fight for Children

By Bill Turque

Capital City Public Charter Upper School, Cesar Chavez PCS (Bruce Prep campus), D.C. Prep PCS (Edgewood elementary campus) and Powell Elementary were named winners of the 2012 Quality Schools Initiative by Fight for Children, the non-profit founded by the late Joseph E. Robert, Jr.

By Bill Turque | 07:36 PM ET, 04/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:08 AM ET, 04/06/2012

DCPS graduation rate: Some good news

By Bill Turque

Despite the obvious challenges, there is some movement in the right direction.

By Bill Turque | 11:08 AM ET, 04/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: D.C. Public Schools

Posted at 03:50 PM ET, 04/05/2012

D.C. graduation rate declines to less than 60% under new formula

By Bill Turque

Fewer than 60 percent of D.C. high school students graduated on time in 2011, according to a new and more rigorous calculation of completion rates.

By Bill Turque | 03:50 PM ET, 04/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:36 PM ET, 04/03/2012

Two D.C. school reform events, competing visions

By Bill Turque

They were only two miles apart on the map. But in the philosophy and agendas, the expanse separating them is vast.

By Bill Turque | 06:36 PM ET, 04/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

D.C. Schools Insider: April, 2012