DISTRICT BRIEFING
DISTRICT BRIEFING
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
SCHOOL SUSPENSION RULES
Bill About Agency's Role on Guidelines Is Vetoed
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty vetoed a D.C. Council bill yesterday that would give the state superintendent of education and the State Board of Education authority to set new guidelines for school suspensions.
In a letter to Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, Fenty said the Public Schools and Public Charter Schools Suspension Reform Emergency Act of 2008 improperly inserts the state education agency into the day-to-day operations of the school system.
The bill, sponsored by council members Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) and passed Dec. 16, would discourage suspensions for "frivolous" reasons and allow parents to pursue civil actions against school administrators for unwarranted suspensions. It was a response to a series of serious disciplinary problems in schools.
Fenty (D) said that Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is revising the disciplinary rules and that although state education officials have a key role to play in developing broad standards, the bill would undermine mayoral control of the school system, which legislation established in 2007.
The bill "turns the governance structure upside down, which will only serve to defeat and dilute our shared responsibility," Fenty wrote.
-- Hamil R. Harris and Bill Turque
INVESTIGATIONS
Police Find 3 Young Children at NE Home Alone
D.C. authorities are investigating a Northeast Washington mother after police found her three young children by themselves in their home yesterday afternoon, officials said.
