School improvement program presentations in DC

Across the U.S., all levels of government including most local governments, don't do improvement ("reform"), especially of large institutions such as school systems, and harvesting of best practices very well.

Last week, I did a presentation at Towson University, and so I was poking around the college bookstore afterwards, and I came across a couple tomes on what really works in K-12 education, when it comes to significant improvements in classroom instruction and student outcomes. Of course, I can't imagine anyone in the DC Public Schools administration has ever read these or similar books. Instead they seize on whatever magic bullet-koolaid that they believe in, be it getting rid of the current teachers and hiring young new teachers, or charter schools, or whatever.

So I am intrigued (but won't be able to go) by this parent presentation next week:

The Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization will present a proposal for improving middle schools on Capitol Hill at the May 4 NLPNA meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Lane Memorial CME, corner of 14th and C streets NE. All are welcome!

I am curious as to what they have to say, if they take a best practices approach, etc.

(While I have no idea what the future holds for me as a bicycle and pedestrian planner in Baltimore County as I am on a term appointment, one of the ideas in the plan is to develop best practice pedestrian and bicycle education programming for both middle schools and high schools. Last weekend, I did a workshop for parents interested in walk to school programs in their neighborhood, for their local middle school, and I was idly thinking of how it could be one of the demonstration sites...)

Of course, if you do believe that school improvement is possible with the current regime, you might be interested in this presentation tonight.

From email:

Invitation to Parents
What Does Good Teaching and Learning Look Like?

This fall, DCPS introduced a new Teaching and Learning Framework to clearly outline what the District believes solid instruction looks like. Join DCPS leadership, classroom teachers and other staff to learn and talk about effective teaching and learning. DCPS’ new Teaching and Learning Framework is based on research, best practices, and input from more than 500 DCPS teachers—and it provides clear values and plain language so that principals, teachers, and parents can have a common understanding about what should be happening in every DCPS classroom.

Learn about the framework, how it affects your child, and its relationship to IMPACT, our new teacher evaluation system at the Ward 5 meeting on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 from 6:30-8 p.m. at McKinley High School (151 T St. NE).

Diagram from the cover, DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework document.