- D.C. residents will pay less to get a GED starting next month
- The Reopening of Van Ness Elementary School [AppleTree PCS, Eagle Academy PCS, Friendship PCS and Center City PCS mentioned]
D.C. residents will pay less to get a GED starting next month
The Washington Post
By Michael Alison Chandler
September 26, 2014
District residents will get a discounted rate for the GED starting next month as part of an effort to increase access to the recently overhauled high school equivalency test.
The discount — which will reduce the cost for all four subject tests from $120 to $15 — was announced this week as part of a new partnership between the city’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education and GED Testing Service.
About 40 percent of the District’s ninth-graders are not expected to graduate in four years. And an estimated 62,000 adults in the city do not have high school diplomas and have not passed the GED, putting them at a far greater risk of living in poverty and becoming incarcerated.
“For over 70 years, the GED test has provided millions of adults who did not finish high school a second chance to earn a high school credential,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) in a news release. “By reducing the price of the GED test, this initiative will give more District residents access to better job opportunities and higher education.”
The battery of tests known as the GED was recently revamped by the American Council on Education and Pearson, the world’s largest education and testing company, to align with Common Core standards and to respond to criticism that it has fallen short of its promise to offer a second chance for the 39 million adult Americans without high school diplomas.
Few of those who pass the GED pursue higher education, and most struggle to earn a living wage, research shows.
The new exam emphasizes skills that are more relevant to employers and colleges, including critical thinking and basic computer literacy.
“While we know that a GED certificate or high school diploma is not sufficient in today’s economy, it is an absolutely necessary milestone along one’s career pathway,” said State Superintendent Jesús Aguirre in a statement. “By providing expanded access to both GED testing and test preparation, this partnership is taking a major step forward in connecting the District’s adult learners to a secondary credential and the post-secondary career and educational opportunities that come with it.”
The new test is computer-based, and a paper-and-pencil version was abandoned. The price tag also increased.
The changes have prompted 10 states, including New York, New Hampshire and Montana, to go with other vendors who are developing other tests.
As part of the new partnership, the District will offer a GED credential to people who take the test outside of the country, or from federal prisons or military bases in other states.
Fees from that new service will fund the price reduction for city residents who take the test.
The city is already offering free practice tests for the new test through next Friday.
The reduced rate will be effective Oct. 6.
The Reopening of Van Ness Elementary School [AppleTree PCS, Eagle Academy PCS, Friendship PCS and Center City PCS mentioned]
The Hill Rag
By E.V. Downey
September 25, 2014
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, I joined dozens of hopeful future Van Ness Elementary School parents and community members, to learn more about DCPS’s plans to reopen their school. Van Ness Elementary, just across M Street from the Washington Navy Yard, closed in 2006 due to the razing of multiple dwelling units in the immediate area. DCPS officials confirmed that the school will reopen for Fall 2015 and that the $15 million renovation budget is still in place.
Dr. Beers, Head of Specialized Instruction for DCPS and the DCPS spokesperson for the evening, faced a largely displeased crowd, concerned about most of DCPS’s long term and more immediate actions with regard to the school. While the building is currently partially in use by adults, the $15 million will be much needed to bring it to the condition necessary to host young children daily. Dr. Beers is optimistic about the ability to prepare much of the building for students. However, he also stressed that it is likely that more money will be needed later to complete the renovation. Specifically the third floor will probably remain un-renovated now and then will be renovated down the line when the additional classrooms are needed.
Van Ness supporters expressed their desire that a school leader be put in place before the date indicated by DCPS, July 1, 2015. They feel that it will be very hard to “sell” the school to prospective parents without an effective leader in place. That person would actively promote the school and his/her vision for it while also making sure that every detail would be in place before school opens.
Dr. Beers disappointed the crowd immensely when he stated that, not only would a school leader NOT be in place before the stated date, but that they would actually be starting with a School Director rather than a Principal. Upon further clarification though, it was revealed that perhaps, since a School Director comes from different funds than a Principal, this person could be brought on board earlier in the process. This detail will have to be clarified as Van Ness parents move forward.
A curricular model for the new school was also a topic of discussion. It was indicated that the model will likely be Tools of the Mind, a highly successful early childhood program that is widely used in DCPS schools. Other options are still on the table, though, and a final decision will be made as the community and DCPS work together in coming months.
Ivan Frishberg, ANC representative and Brent Elementary School parent, spoke passionately about the Brent community’s offer to support Van NNess'sreopening. Brent is geographically near Van Ness, has many students from the Van Ness neighborhood, and several teachers who live in the boundary . In addition, Van Ness and Brent will be feeding into the same middle school, Jefferson, and Brent parent leaders have a desire to help support fellow feeder schools.
Dr. Beers was equivocal in his statements about the proffered assistance. He acknowledged that such help would be welcome for the new school, but also stressed that the Brent administration needs to keep its focus on its own school. It remains to be seen what kind of collaboration will be permitted officially. As a Brent parent myself, I have no doubt that the Brent community will lend its support unofficially if necessary.
Van Ness area parents have been insisting for a few years now that the population is there to fill several early childhood and early elementary school classrooms. To the dismay of those assembled, Dr. Nathaniel Beers reiterated downtown’s decision to open only with PK-3 and PK-4 classrooms (two classrooms for each grade, with 16 kids in each PK-3 classroom and 20 kids in each PK-4).
There were several impassioned pleas from attendees to reconsider this decision. Organizers feel that it will undermine the legitimacy of the school not to have a by-right grade and that it will leave out many students whose parents had been working hard to reopen the school.
Particularly moving were the requests by long-time neighborhood residents who expressed that not only will their own children be left out, but that many other parents feel that by leaving their Kindergarten-aged children out, they were just creating a school for others. One couple spoke eloquently about their ten mile round trip walk with their PK-4 child each day to get her to Amidon-Bowen Elementary School and back.
Amidon-Bowen is the current by-right school for the Van Ness area. Located in Southwest, it is quite and across a major artery (South Capitol Street) from much of the Van Ness boundary. Few of the future Van Ness families have children there now so they are unlikely to enroll their children in Kindergarten there for the 2015-2016 school year.
Dr. Beers indicated expressly that the Van Ness community should put together a list of families who would seriously consider enrolling their children in Kindergarten at Van Ness for the 2015-2016 school year if that grade were offered. If a sufficient number of families indicated such interest, he agreed that DCPS would reconsider its decision.
The Kindergarten would consist of two classes of approximately 20-22 students each. Students would benefit from the incredible work of an inspiring team of parents who have gone to great lengths to get this school reopened. With the amount of work the community has done and is prepared to do, It is clear that any school they are behind will be a successful one.
There are already several in bounds kids who would be enrolled in Kindergarten if it were offered. Additional parents should, ideally, be those who would otherwise be turning to charter or private schools. In other words, the goal is not to take kids away from other neighborhood public schools. Naturally, however, if the academic model or other features of someone’s local public school are not a good fit for a particular child, it would certainly be reasonable to pursue an Out of Bounds placement at Van Ness as countless other families do across the city.
Obvious candidates are those who are currently at Apple Tree Public Charter School and Eagle Academy, both of which focus on younger students. Other Hill charter schools that have a less inspired track record are Friendship Chamberlain, Friendship Blow Pierce, and Center City Capitol Hill. Some of the parents there might be ready for a change.
Additionally there are students who are at area daycares and private programs who will need a Kindergarten option. Families who were pursuing private or Catholic schools but did not find the right fit (or financial aid package) would also be likely interested parties. Lastly, families looking for a house In Bounds for a quality school could consider buying so that their Kindergartner could attend Van Ness.
I strongly urge families with current PK-4 students, whether they are in school or not, to e-mail the Van Ness parents group to express interest in learning more about the school. I study and visit a huge number of schools yearly and I have been certain for two years that this is going to be another really great option for our neighborhood kids. The Van Ness parents can be reached at VanNessparentgroup@gmail.com.