Washington Post: Will Gray retreat on school reform? Here are 5 tests

By Richard Whitmire
Arlington

On Oct. 24, soon-to-be-departed D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Mayor Adrian Fenty wrote a farewell in The Post’s Outlook section: “We’ve done our best. Now it’s up to you.” Wisely, and appropriately, they kept their message at 30,000 feet. The big picture.

Allow me to address worried parents at ground level. How will you know if likely future mayor Vincent Gray succumbs to virulent anti-Rhee sentiment among some of his supporters and shifts her radical school reform agenda into neutral, to the kind of feel-good reforms seen in many urban districts. That is, just enough tinkering to trigger positive headlines but not enough to upset anyone — or really help students improve.

As Rhee indelicately put it just days after the primary, that would be “devastating” for D.C. students.

When it comes to education, Gray’s heart appears to be in the right place. He seems sincere when vowing to continue education reform. Certainly, his approval of Kaya Henderson as interim chancellor — Rhee’s close friend and deputy chancellor — is a positive sign. But let’s be real. The pressure to ease off Rhee’s reforms will be intense.

In Washington, much of the recent bump in enrollment comes from middle-class families, black and white, enrolling their sons and daughters in pre-K programs. I’ve interviewed some of those families. Rhee gave them confidence, while Gray worries them. If they sense that Gray will scale back the D.C. reforms, they will want to look for charter schools, private schools or a new home in the suburbs.

Here are five indicators that might help parents searching for clues about the future of the city’s schools. If any of the following pop up in the news, it’s time to worry:

FINISH READING THIS ARTICLE HERE

NBC Washington: D.C. School Board Candidates Stress Reform

Mara, Warren-Jones want progress to continue

By P.J. ORVETTI

Updated 2:16 PM EDT, Thu, Oct 28, 2010

The District of Columbia has been at center stage in the nation’s battles over education reform over the past few years. The take-no-prisoners model of exiting schools chief Michelle Rhee made her a celebrity -- and the September defeat of her patron Adrian Fentybewildered pretty much everyone who doesn’t actually live in the region.

With Rhee out, Kaya Henderson in (for now), and Vincent Gray so far offering few details on what direction his education policy will take, it’s easy to overlook the D.C. State Board of Education. It was established in 2007 as part of the reform law that gave Fenty control of the schools, and it lacks the power of the pre-Fenty Board of Education.

Still, the SBOE is more than a mere advisory body. It has to sign off on academic standards and graduation requirements, and has authority over No Child Left Behind compliance. As its name indicates, it functions as if D.C. were a state -- which was useful in the District’s successful bid to win $75 million in federal “Race to the Top” funds in August.

The SBOE has nine elected members -- one from each ward, plus one elected at-large. Four of the nonpartisan elections are on the ballot next week. Ward 3 member Laura Slover is unopposed, while Ward 5’s Mark Jones is expected to defeat Republican activist Darlene Glymph. Two other contests are closer, and cast a light on the education reform debate in D.C.

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Follow P.J. Orvetti on Twitter at @PJOinDC

Ward 8's Nathan Saunders in Close Race Against George Park for WTU Presidency

George Parker's five-year run as Washington Teachers' Union president is at risk, based on the preliminary count in a WTU presidential race with a stunningly low turnout. Nathan Saunders (pictured), the union's general vice president, edged Parker 334 to 313, forcing a runoff between the two former running mates turned bitter foes. Rules require that the winner get a 51 percent majority. Phelps High School teacher and veteran union activist Elizabeth Davis received 196 votes, and H.D. Cooke teacher Christopher Bergfalk got 38 votes.

All three challengers have been critical of Parker's leadership during the chancellorship of Michelle A. Rhee, and contend that he gave too much ground in negotiations for the contract that was signed and approved by teachers this past summer.

(Excerpt from the Washington Post)

For more information of Nathan Saunders' Platform for President of the Washington Teacher's Union, click here.

Time to Talk about the Future of Ward 8 and the City with Vince Gray

With so many important issues facing our city, it’s critical that we come together to share our ideas. Throughout October, Democratic Mayoral Candidate Vince Gray is hosting meetings in each ward of the District of Columbia to engage citizens in a discussion about the issues that matter most to them. Please bring your ideas, your questions, and your enthusiasm for improving your community and our city.

So, Educate Ward 8 is asking you to make sure that you make it out to Ward 8's Town Hall meeting with Presumptive Mayor-Elect Vince Gray on Thursday, October 21, 2010 from 7-9pm at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, 2616 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE.

Issues such as crime, poverty and EDUCATION are issues that are crucial for residents of Ward 8 and we need our community to come out in full force to let Vince hear our voices.

Guests joining Vince include: Ward 8 City Council member Marion Barry, At Large Council members Phil Mendelson, Michael Brown and Kwame Brown and your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners!

You can submit your questions and ideas online at

www.buildonecity.org

or to @grayformayor on Twitter

(make sure to use the #ward8 hashtag)

Latest Updates from Educate Ward 8

Update: Educate Ward 8 made its presence known today at the One Nation Working Together rally on the National Mall- photos coming soon from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial!

Time to participate!: Concerned citizens, teachers, parents, students- we want you to have your voice heard about the need for equal and quality education in Ward 8. Write for the Educate Ward 8 Blog! Email us at educateward8@yahoo.com to have your writing here!

Educate Ward 8 is getting support already! We are very excited about getting the support of Nate Bennett-Fleming, a 2010 candidate for U.S. Representative (Shadow) and a Ward 8 resident. Read his statement of support here.

Also, we wanted to inform you about an event in which Educate Ward 8 will be in attendance- come out to tell our elected officials, including our Councilmember and ANC Commissioner candidates, what we want out of our education system.

We are passing on this invitation to:

RESHAPE WARD 8 COMMUNITY MEETING

Reshaping the Ward 8 Community on Mutual Ground

Larry T. Pretlow II invites Ward 8 ANC Candidates, Elected Officials andmost importantly YOU to discuss the issues we face in the Ward 8 Community and take action!

Before the November 2nd, 2010, General Election Day, let us all get better acquainted and pledge our commitment to being positive contributors in reshaping our community. Establish One-Month Goals to resolve issues that can optimistically be resolved within 30-days with our solid commitment and action!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

7PM thru 8:30PM

UPO Petey Greene Center

2907 Martin L King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC

(202) 562-3801

www.Pretlow4ANC.com / 202.230.4187 / myvoice@pretlow4anc.com