ward 7 community conversation 8.11.12 notes

7/31/2019 Ward 7 Community Conversation 8.11.12 Notes

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WARD 7 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION NOTES

Saying that we dont know what quality is is insulting o DME states that there is multitude of definitions of quality so theres no one definition.

Schools worse off now than it was before everyone fired Bullying Truancy School distance How are all the notes being compiled, shared?

o DME and Public Agenda state that notes will be typed up by Public Agenda, shared withPlanning Team to disseminate to Ward 7 residents

Need to deal with the dynamics in Ward 7 no comparison (in a lot of ways) Sending students to children in other wards -> not investing in our own ward Dont need outsiders tellin g us what to do Need constant community involvement when things are good and bad need to sustain this

energy Model whats working Schools are changing principals too much Equity Resources not distributed equally Staffing not enough to handle childrens needs Some teachers are inexperienced At the end of the day its about resources 50-60% students on IAP, schools and staff not equipped to handle this High % of students with behavioral and psych issues Systematic neglect of residents east of the river; separate and unequal

Suggestions/Recommendations Signed contract b/w teacher/school/student/principal Keep librarian in all schools (discourage TV); modern libraries and library Retain small schools to keep classes small Computer labs Require spelling, grammar Nutrition Motion to vehemently oppose school closings in Ward and moratorium on pg 77; until there is

community involvement; vetting process (THIS MOTION WILL BE PUT IN A FORMALSTATEMENT TO GO TO DME, OSSE, MAYOR)

Improve quality Gangs/Bullying Need to have follow-up conversation with W2, W3, W6 to find out what theyre doing that could

help in W1, W4, W5, W7, W8. Councilwoman to speak directly to DeShawn Wright Councilwoman should speak to constituents about IFF report Education plan tailored for Ward 7.

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Move on E Washingtons motion o Moratorium on new charter until education plan is developed (accepted by group)

Change student to teacher ratio to have 2 full time teachers Elementary 15:1, High School 20:1 No more than 25% of students on IEP: and 504s Curriculum development is relevant to students in particular school Review and asses admin of schools Team approach Increase class tech. to engage students City conscience revisiting boundaries Observe best practices from other jurisdictions put in place things were looking for in other areas Strengthen office of DC state board of education Shared space in schools Bring central office to schools buildings Develop a true assessment process for Ward 7 schools

Look at top 5 countries to see curriculum develop options ANCs frontline; should know school districts within your districts -> which students are going toschool outside the district

All schools have libraries and librarian Conduct services Parent as partners (partnerships in school law) Justification of poor test scores (why are they poor) Create working definition of quality education for Ward 7 Hold chancellor accountable Create certified classrooms

o Clean, clocks-working, computers, smartboards Bring back office of ombudsman and raise it to the level of OSSE

Create office of parent engagement, bring to OSSE Staff Hours are ensured noon-8pm Public evaluation of mayoral school take-over (since of 5 years) Convene Ward 7 meeting w/ DME to address what has been discussed today.

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Written Comments from Participants

Survey Proposed by Ward 5 COE Member, Shelagh Bocoum

I created a survey to ask parents questions such as what school their child attends, what they like anddont like about that school, how far their children currently have to travel to get to their school, how they getthere, and what they would do if their neighborhood school was closed. It also asks about various concernsparents may have about schools such as safety -- at school, en route and to and from school and adequatebefore and after care and after school programs.

If we could get all parents to answer this survey, such as by putting it in the backpacks, do you think that would provide useful data?

Survey accessible here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CKZ3ZYM

Contact Shelagh for more information: [email protected]

Written Submission by Principal Burke (JC Nalle ES), Principal Reddlespugger (Davis ES) andPrincipal Muhammad (Aiton ES)

Ward 7 Priorities

High quality professional development for teachers in high need schools Recruit high quality and highly experienced teachers for high need schools Relevant technology tools to improve reading, writing and math instruction

Teams approach

Administration Teamso Principalo Assistant principal,o Dean of students

Instructional Teamso Reaching coach,o Math coacho teacher leads

Resource Support Teamo Math, science, reading, art, library, phys ed

Special Education Team

o Special Ed coordinator,o Appropriate number of teachers ando appropriate service providers

Parent Teamso Family support specialist at each school with a proven record of success in working on high

needs schoolso Training for parents (discipline, academic support)

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http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CKZ3ZYMhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CKZ3ZYMhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CKZ3ZYMmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CKZ3ZYM


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Extended Day programs are needed for all struggling schools specialized according to student interest

Food Service Natural and organic foods for breakfast, snacks, lunch and afterschool supper

Modern Facilities

Classrooms with safe and new furniture and computer equipment Restrooms that are updated, clean and safe Playgrounds: new, updated

Curriculum

** Aligned to interim and high stakes test Transparency around testing release of items, etc Knowing how students are scored on brief constructed responses schools must be able to see the

writing results (actual sample test) so teachers will know how to tailor their instruction

(end of submission)

General Comments

Public Education and the existence of our public schools are essential to the quality of life in ourcommunity. It is illegal and unwise to even consider closing schools based on test scores or theirprojection thereof. Where scores are low more attention must be given to turn those schools around.Because the children deserve better and it is children not scores that should be our focus. I opposethe closing of any more schools in Ward 7. The system should focus on improving all schools ratherthan closing schools. (Robert T Richards, Anc 7B07)

Questions

How do you use test scores to determine school closures when the bar is being raised every year when schools havent met the previous years goals?

Why is the best option for this to close schools? Why is the school administration not having planning meetings with parents, students and

community because those are the people who this directly affect? What would be the criteria for school closings? How were they chosen? Can this be reserve? Are there any charter schools scheduled for closing? What are the test dates for the DC CAS? What is the measurements/metrics as standard to decide How were IFF Tiers developed?

Ideas

Reduce class sizes Keep schools open Hold all stakeholders accountable; parents, teachers, students

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If the IFF is basing public school closures on low test scores, schools with high population of specialeducation students (that typically test low) need to be given special consideration before closing.

Test scores should not be the single criteria for closing schools 7 Ideas for action that would make a difference (Logan Wiley)

o 1. Signed contract between Principal/Teacher/School and Parents Homework every night No television until homework is done One hour of reading K-6; 2 hours of reading for 7-12 One hour of math K-6; 90 minutes for 7-12 10 books to be read over the summer books from library

o 2. Keep a librarian in all schools to encourage reading and discourage watching television asa primary source of information

o 3. Retain small schools to retain small classeso 4. Computer lab/typing with internet accesso 5. Require spelling and grammaro 6. Diet and nutrition classes; k-6 should always have fruit and vegetable snackso 7. Recess and PE for K-6, physical education for 7-12

All schools need well-equipped, modern libraries staffed by a librarian and time scheduled in thelibrary weekly.

Instead of school closings, the existing schools should be upgraded to acceptable standards that would enhance the learning environment, thereby improving the students test scores.

Find out more about what works? Resources are needed Invest in our communities (J.C. Nalle)

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Charter schools as a result of negative perceptions of safety, poor staffing and programming, and overallinequitable distribution of resources at their neighborhood schools.

Parents are frustrated by poor communication between schools and home, and they feel that they arediscouraged from meaningful involvement in their childrens educational development and their schools

policy and budget decisions.

Truancy and high dropout rates due to a process of student discouragement: This is especially pronounced atthe middle grades (8th and 9th ) as a result of the lack of coordination and the churning enrollments betweenDCPS and the charters and as a result of the above addressed inequity issues.

There is almost no opportunity for bilingual education for students East of the River, which affect elementary and post-secondary education and career opportunities.

Emily Y. Washington Ward 7 Resident/Veteran DCPS Educator

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ward 7 community conversation 8.11.12 notes

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