Author: Paul Negron

State Board Gears Up for Vote on High School Growth Measure

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High School Growth Panel May 2019

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

At our April and May public meetings, SBOE members welcomed school leaders and experts from non-profits, local and national education policy organizations, and universities for a discussion on different ways to measure student and high school growth in public schools. Academic growth, the progress a student makes over a particular time period, is one of the indicators used by the District in its STAR Framework and in its school report card. Growth can be measured in a number of different ways. As there is currently no high school growth measure included in the STAR Framework, the State Board has been convening expert panels on the topic of growth measurement. The State Board heard discussions on median growth percentile (MGP) and growth to proficiency, as well as learned more about value-add measurement (VAM). Additional insights from District high school principals on how the growth of their students should be represented was also heard.

Here are the highlights:

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Castle on the Hill- Our Visit to Cardozo Education Campus

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Cardozo Visit May 2019

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

Last week, Cardozo High School Assistant Principal Matthew Kennedy and his leadership team welcomed State Board members Ruth Wattenberg (Ward 3 / President), Ashley MacLeay (At-Large), Emily Gasoi (Ward 1), and some of my SBOE staff colleagues for a school tour and lively education policy discussion at one of Ward 1’s education campuses. Cardozo Education Campus is essentially three schools in one, with a middle school, mainstream/traditional high school, and an International Academy for English language learners in one building. The historic “Castle on the Hill” campus serves students from grades 6–12 at this neighborhood DCPS school in the District’s northwest neighborhood of Columbia Heights.

During the first portion of the visit, we sat down with Assistant Principal Matthew Kennedy to learn more about the unique programs offered at this combined middle/high school. In addition, State Board members engaged in a discussion with school leaders and teachers on different ways to measure academic growth during high school. Academic growth, the progress a student makes over a particular time period, is one of the indicators used by the District in its STAR Framework and in its school report card. This visit was timely as the State Board looks forward to a proposal from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) related to a high school growth measure next month.

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Langley Elementary Touts Conscious Discipline

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Langley Elementary Visit 2019

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

Earlier this month, Langley Elementary School Principal Vanessa Drumm-Canepa and PTSA President Christina Svolopoulos Robbins welcomed State Board members Ruth Wattenberg, Ashley MacLeay, Jessica Sutter, and some of my SBOE staff colleagues to tour their school. Langley ES is a PK–5 neighborhood DCPS school with approximately 300 students, located in the District’s Northeast neighborhood of Eckington in Ward 5.

During the first portion of the visit, we sat down with Principal Drumm-Canepa and Ms. Svolopoulos Robbins to learn more about the programs offered at Langley. Principal Drumm-Canepa and Assistant Principal Shaunte Jennings have transformed Langley in the past two and a half years through the implementation of a social-emotional learning (SEL) program called Conscious Discipline.  

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Meet Your New Ombudsman for Public Education: Serena Hayes

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Serena Hayes Profile 2019

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

After an extensive search process, the SBOE announces the selection of Serena Hayes as the next District of Columbia Ombudsman for Public Education. Hayes is the third person ever to serve as the District of Columbia’s Ombudsman for Public Education, succeeding Joyanna Smith. The position was originally established as a critical component of the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 and was reestablished as part of the State Board in 2014. The Office of the Ombudsman is an impartial, independent, and neutral office that uses mediation and conflict resolution to resolve complaints and concerns for parents and families regarding public education in the District of Columbia.

Hayes, a resident of Ward 5, is a graduate of the Howard University Law School and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, and anthropology from Washington and Lee University. Ms. Hayes has coached individuals and groups on conflict resolution strategies, and empowered families in developing self-awareness, and find and use their voice. She has provided training across the District in conflict management and has provided re-entry mediation services at the D.C. Jail. She received the 2017 Lorig Charkoudian Volunteer of the Year award for commitment to mediation, for exemplifying quality in the delivery of mediation, and dedication to furthering her mediation skills. Ms. Hayes also facilitated large group discussion for the Consent Decree issued after the death of Freddie Gray, where listening sessions were held for Baltimoreans to generate criteria that would be used to monitor police conduct and improve the relationship between police and the city residents.

Ms. Hayes was appointed to her new role at tonight’s SBOE public meeting for a term of five years beginning on January 22, 2019.

State Board in the Community: October 2018

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By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

This month, State Board members ushered in Fall by attending community events, connecting with students and parents, and supporting local DC public schools and public charter schools.

Joe (Ward 6) supported student walkers at the annual #WalkToSchoolDay sponsored by CHPSPO.


Laura (Ward 1) celebrated the grand opening of Rocketship Legacy Prep.

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SBOE Weekly Ed Links: 10-27-2018

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Success at School

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

Check out the latest in education news and events here in the District and around the nation!

SBOE IN THE NEWS
Why are so many DC teachers leaving their jobs? | WTOP
City announces plan to use vacant Shaw site for Banneker expansion | DC Line

DC NEWS
Paying it Forward; DC Moms Teaming Up to End Childhood Hunger | Fox 5
Nothing pulls at the heartstrings like the thought of a child going hungry and three DC mothers are teaming up to Pay It Forward by working to solve childhood hunger in the District.

College admission test scores raise warning signs about math achievement | Washington Post
Scores on college admission tests for the Class of 2018 are sending warning signs about math achievement in the nation’s high schools.

Eight Cities – Washington, D.C. | Bellwether Education Partners
Washington, D.C. is a city of paradoxes: It is the capital of a nation that champions democracy, but its own citizens long lacked a democratic vote in their governance. As the seat of power of one of the world’s richest nations, D.C. sees nearly 17 percent of its residents living in poverty, much higher than the 12.3 percent national average.

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SBOE Weekly Ed Links: 10-20-2018

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Colored Pencils

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

Check out our breakdown of the latest in education news here in the District and around the country.

SBOE IN THE NEWS
Report on DC teacher turnover in excess of national average prompts look at ways to improve retention | DC Line

DC NEWS
Mayor Says She Didn’t Know About Events That Led To Her Chancellor’s Resignation. This Report Says Differently | DCist
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has claimed for months that she didn’t initially know about the events which eventually led to the resignation of former schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson. However, a new report appears to challenge what the mayor knew, and when.

Mayor Bowser Announces New Partnership with Bard College | Mayor Bowser
Mayor Muriel Bowser and interim DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Amanda Alexander announced a new partnership between DCPS and Bard College that will provide students the opportunity to earn college credit and an associate degree from Bard College while earning their high school diploma. Opening in school year 2019-2020, Bard Early College High School will be a tuition-free, four-year, early college high school operated jointly by Bard College and DCPS.

D.C. partners with college to offer associates degree to high schoolers in poorest neighborhoods | Washington Post
The District’s public school system is partnering with Bard College in New York to open a school next fall that will allow students to graduate from high school with a two-year college associate degree.

Many families at acclaimed D.C. arts school cleared of enrollment fraud, school leaders and parents say | Washington Post
Administrators and parents at Duke Ellington School of the Arts say a significant share of families accused of residency fraud have been cleared of wrongdoing — an assertion that appears to undermine a high-profile investigation that rocked the acclaimed public arts school in the District.

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SBOE Weekly Ed Links: 10-05-2018

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By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

Here is our weekly rundown of the latest District education news and events!

SBOE IN THE NEWS
High Salaries, But High Turnover In D.C. Public Schools, Study Finds | WAMU

A Teacher’s Perspective on DC’s data-based Personalized Learning Program | Data Quality Campaign

D.C. Teacher Turnover Exceeds National Average, Report | Washington Informer

SCHOOL REPORT CARD UNDER ESSA
– DC School Report Card At A Glance
– STAR Framework At A Glance
– 2018-19 DC School Report Card and STAR Framework Technical Guide
– OSSE School Report Card Site

 TEACHER TURNOVER REPORT
– SBOE Teacher Turnover Report
– DCPS Response to Teacher Turnover Report

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On the Agenda: #DCSafeRoutes Expert Panel

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Safe Passage Panel 3 - 2018

By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

As the new school year progresses, education stakeholders across the District continue to devise ways to improve safety for students traveling to and from school. At last month’s public meeting, we heard from experts, education advocates, school counselors, and parents on some of the biggest challenges District students face in getting to and from school safely. Organizations are working diligently every day to promote safe passage and inform community members about what they can do to help this process.

Our first panel featured Chief Student Advocate Faith Gibson Hubbard and Dan Davis, Student Advocate. Ms. Gibson Hubbard and Mr. Davis defined safe passage as “a student’s journey to school, their movement within school, and how they navigate their way home from school.” The types of student safety issues that were reported include violence, bullying, criminalized conduct, and transportation. Community members who need assistance can access the Office of the Student Advocate’s Safe Passage Resource Toolkit online, which was designed to create and sustain the safe passage of our students and communities based on the “6 E’s” from National Safe Routes to School: education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, evaluation, and equity.

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SBOE Weekly Ed Links: 09-28-2018

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By: Paul Negron, Public Affairs Specialist

We’ve collected the most important education news and upcoming events here in the District and around the country!

DC NEWS
Cracking code to ‘break the cycle’: STEM middle school opens in DC | WTOP
Digital Pioneers Academy is one of three new D.C. public charter schools that opened for the 2018-2019 academic year. Founded by education veteran Mashea Ashton, its mission is to prepare kids living in one of the city’s most underserved areas for a future in one of the world’s most in-demand fields: STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Bowser Picks Former Consultant For Deputy Mayor Of Education | WAMU
Mayor Muriel Bowser has chosen Paul Kihn, a former consultant for D.C. Public Schools to be the District’s new Deputy Mayor of Education. As the highest education official in the city, Kihn would be charged with overseeing education agencies in the mayor’s office and developing a citywide education strategy for the city’s 91,537 students in public and public charter schools.

Bowser taps new deputy mayor for education from outside D.C. schools | Washington Post
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced Tuesday that an education consultant who occupied a top school system post in Philadelphia will serve as the District’s deputy mayor for education — one of the most powerful education jobs in the city.

Maisha Riddlesprigger: What it really means to be a DCPS principal | DC Line
Many people will tell you that the role of school principal in DC is hard. Well, it’s actually exhausting and sometimes it’s thankless. While all of those statements may be true, what often doesn’t make headlines is the tremendous joy and satisfaction you experience everyday knowing that you are preparing young people in DC to positively influence society and thrive in life.

DC Debuts Tiny Homes in Deanwood | Urban Turf
In the rain on Monday, the Department of Community and Housing Development (DHCD) unveiled a pair of tiny homes, constructed in the 1100 block of 50th Place NE in partnership with the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation. Students from the Academy of Construction and Design at IDEA Public Charter School in Northeast assembled the two houses, which were designed by Minim House.

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