Sierra Dennis
The Asunteyanya group in freshmen seminar did their presentation on Race and Education with a focus on the DC Public School System. They discussed how over the past years within the DC school system the standardized test scores have lowered, with scores ranging from 1200 – 1196. The found a correlation between attendance and truancy, as attendance rates increase, truancy rates decrease.
There is a “Race Gap,” and Obama is enforcing the “No Child Left Behind” program in which unqualified teachers are fired and replaced with more qualified teacher. They mentioned how President Obama was so disappointed with the DC school system that he made a public statement saying he wouldn’t send his daughters, Sasha and Mileeya, to any of the districts schools until they improve drastically. Along with President Obama, Mayor Adrian Fenty will not allow his children to attend the elementary schools within the DC school system until the scores heighten.
The Asunteyanya group discussed alternatives for students struggling within the DC school systems. They suggested that these students could transfer to charter school, a primary or secondary school that receive public money but is not subject to the same rules or regulations as public school. Though they receive public money, they are not allowed to charge tuition to their students. The charter school that they suggested was the local middle school, Howard Middle School. Their other alternative was magnet schools, a school system that are public schools with specialized curriculums. Within a magnet school, students can begin a degree in 10th grade.
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