Keeping the D.C. schools on track
By Victor Reinoso
Washington
In the wake of the District’s contentious mayoral primary, education advocates, journalists and interest groups are cheering or fearing the end of education reform in this city. It is too soon for either. Presumptive mayor Vincent Gray has pledged to continue reform but not yet provided details of his plans or the key players on his team.
Given the challenges facing our schools, it’s vital that the progress made over the past three years continue. Here are a few areas that can serve as a barometer of whether the city remains on track or is slowing down.
· Teacher professional development and evaluation. Under Mayor Adrian Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, spending on professional development more than quadrupled, and it shifted from centralized teacher training to targeted school-based and job-
