The DC mayors race will indeed pivot on education--and it should. On federal tests reporters think are the most reliable indicators of learning, DC students have recorded eight years of sustained progress under Cliff Janey, Michelle Rhee and ChancellorKaya Henderson. This year, DCs gains on the federal NAEP tests were greater than those of any state--a head-spinning change for DC, which had years of failure and decline. What made the change? Excellent leadership and consistency (Yes, DCs change in demographics helped test scores, but it doesnt explain the gains. See the CityBridge Foundations work on the subject. And many cities have seen the same demographic changes). Over many decades, DCs politicians rotated school superintendents and the results were awful (DC was last in the country on the same federal tests as recently as 2003). From the day he took over the DC education committee, David Catania set himself up as the most unrelenting of Kaya Hendersons critics--a return to the failed playbook of the past. Elect him and we know whats coming: turnover today and probably more turnover tomorrow (since no one seems to satisfy David Catania except David Catania). Ill be voting for Muriel Bowser. Shell keep Kaya and a very strong team in place.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 10:17:39 +0000
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