It’s no secret that the D.C. public school system is not the best in the country. Funding and interest in the schools are low compared to other states, which is somewhat disappointing seeing as we are the nation’s capital.
Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed Michelle Rhee chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools in 2007. Since her appointment, progress has been made in closing the gaps in reading and math proficiency between white and African American students. But, test scores from the D.C. Comprehensive Assessment System show the progress slowed and, in some cases, stopped completely this past school year.
Some Washingtonians are concerned about this sudden lack of progress and some view it as a setback for Rhee. I think we should give her more time.
Now I can’t speak from personal experience since I go to a D.C. private school, but you don’t need to attend one of the schools to know they need help. Old buildings in downtown neighborhoods are the norm for D.C. public high schools. Part of the problem is the large amount of poverty in Washington, as well as a previous lack of attention to the schools.
Major improvements, even in education, don’t happen instantly. It is clear there is a problem in the D.C. public school system, but in order to provide a permanent fix, more time and money are needed. One year of slow progress is not an excuse to give up on the current methods and try something else. Consistency and resolve are the necessary tools for the school system’s improvements.
With a new mayoral election around the corner, the welfare of public schools has been brought to attention. Gray and Fenty signs are posted up and down the streets of D.C. and voters are deciding who would do the best job as mayor and lead the school improvements. As I said before, no strong proof has been shown that the improvements right now are not working, and it wouldn’t be so terrible to stay on this track a little longer.
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