| A mix of political power and extreme poverty, the | | | | afraid it will actually encourage more students to leave |
| Washington DC Public Schools face a struggle that | | | | the Washington, DC Schools for charter or private |
| epitomizes the state of education in this country. While | | | | schools. Many feel this could degrade the quality of the |
| the elite and affluent live in the best districts, or send | | | | system. Ironically, this is the same concern when |
| their children to private schools, many students in the | | | | affluent and educated families leave the public school |
| Washington, DC Schools function in poverty and need. | | | | system. The Washington, DC Schools loose both per |
| Why does this matter? The discrepancy between the | | | | pupil funding and the most involved parents when this |
| haves and have-nots in the Washington, DC Schools | | | | happens. Vouchers may exacerbate the situation. |
| mimics that which has led to the glaring racial | | | | However, this may be just the thing to motivate |
| achievement gap in the country. Recently, studies | | | | schools to improve. Just like in business, competition |
| reporting on the gap percentages in all states have | | | | can be a good thing. |
| gotten a lot of attention. Also, reports on the correlation | | | | Needed Construction in Washington, DC Schools |
| between income and achievement have received a lot | | | | Washington, DC Schools are also a mirror to the |
| of press. Although I don't think any jaws are dropping; | | | | nation is in terms of adequate space and buildings. As |
| the question for Washington, DC schools isn't if | | | | old schools deteriorate, the district is challenged to |
| poverty leads to low achievement, it's what to do | | | | renovate them. Recently, this became a focus of the |
| about it. | | | | district. 120 schools are either being renovated or built |
| Methods in the Washington, DC Schools | | | | at this time. Part of the effort involves reconfiguring |
| The initiatives that the Washington, DC Schools | | | | these Washington, DC Schools for better efficiency. |
| implement are an important barometer for the rest of | | | | For instance, feeder 6-8 middle schools are being put |
| the schools in the country. If efforts work, they will be | | | | on campuses with the appropriate high school. |
| duplicated. If they fail, it is a cause for concern, and | | | | The location of administrative offices and special |
| considered a waste of money. Vouchers are one big | | | | education facilities are being reconsidered to make |
| issue. Due to declining enrollment in the Washington, DC | | | | better use of the space, and to better meet the |
| public schools, and a desire to offer school choice to | | | | children's needs. Other districts around the country are |
| low-income students, a federal program offering | | | | following the results of these changes closely. The |
| $7,500 school vouchers was offered to needy | | | | successes and failures of the Washington, DC |
| students in the Washington, DC Schools. | | | | Schools will have consequences felt by a lot of |
| Not everyone is fond of this method because they are | | | | students in the nation. |