D.C. public schools will launch a weekend academic program this month to help more than 7,500 students at 91 schools pass standardized tests in the spring, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced yesterday.
Saturday Scholars, a 14-week program that will cost $1.5 million, is designed for students who are on the verge of passing the reading and math tests but need extra help, officials said. The program is voluntary and will take place on Saturdays at 47 schools citywide starting Jan. 26.
The announcement came one day after Fenty (D) and Rhee held 23 hearings on their school closure proposal, which has raised concerns among some parents who question the academic benefits of closing and combining schools.
By August, 27 of the city's academically troubled schools must have undergone an academic overhaul to meet requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Rhee said the Saturday program is one way to help schools satisfy the federal law, but she said it also will lift the achievement of the school system's students. In addition, Rhee said, it is meant to address parent concerns that the number and range of special programs differ from one school to another. . . .
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Michelle Rhee: If Full-time Test Prep Doesn't Work, Let's Try Some More on Saturday
Desperate to show some improved test scores in the Spring, Fenty-Rhee are pulling out all stops with gimmicks to make sure that the children sitting on the bubble get extra test prep. The ones above or below the bubble? Not interested. From WaPo:
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Love, love, love your blog! I am writing from here in Washington DC aka charter school hell. Keep up the good work on exposing the charter hustlers and privatizers for what they are! Here in DC there is a group, Save Our Schools, that is trying to inform parents and communities about how the charters are destroying our schools and our neighborhoods and our children's futures. Plus, they cost so much more than traditional public schools that they are draining our city dry. Now, Michelle Rhee and Fenty want to give them our school buildings, which they can use or lease at very favorable terms. It's outrageous!
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