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Saturday, November 20, 2010

District's poor deserve same public-school education as its affluent

District's poor deserve same public-school education as its affluent

District's poor deserve same public-school education as its affluent


Friday, November 19, 2010; 9:31 PM
The uneven distribution of teacher talent in the D.C. schools is unacceptable in a nation that views education as the path to the American dream. ["Top teachers have uneven reach in District," Metro, Nov. 13].
Across the United States, school districts that have a mix of affluent and high-poverty neighborhoods are vulnerable to creating an "opportunity gap" in which the more wealthy kids have better resources and those better resources lead to better outcomes.
In some instances, not only are their teachers better credentialed, more experienced and more talented, but children in affluent areas also have a stronger, more challenging curriculum and learn in buildings that are in far better condition than those of their poorer peers.