Noted philanthropist Melinda French Gates, of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, reports on her goals for education reform in a recent Washington Post editorial…

School reformers generally agree that the most important education resource is the teacher. But one of the biggest obstacles to putting a good instructor in every classroom is a tenure system that forces principals to hire and retain teachers based on seniority instead of performance…

School reform supporters organize to back Rhee
A November 1, 2009 Washington Post story by staff writer Leah Fabel features DC School Reform Now prominently:
“Local supporters of D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee have grown more organized in recent weeks, as her attempts at reform have come under sharper attack from union officials and members of the city council.
“I’ve never gotten more e-mails from people all over the city asking what they can do to help,” said Anne Martin, executive director of D.C. School Reform Now, an advocacy group in …

Washington Post columnist Jay Matthews reports on the sweeping changes reformers have enacted at 2 of D.C.’s lowest performing schools…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For additional information, contact:
Anne Martin, 415-336-2564
Reform Group Demands That Ineffective Teachers Not Be Returned To Classrooms
‘Reductions In Force’ Should Be Based on Teacher Impact on Learning
Washington, DC – Oct. 16, 2009 – While the District of Columbia City Council and district school leaders tussled over a recent “Reduction In Force” that has resulted in teacher layoffs, a parent and community advocacy group today demanded that both sides commit to making sure that no child be taught by an ineffective teacher, no matter what the budgetary climate looks like.
“Grownups …

Washington Post Education columnist Bill Turque reports on Michelle Rhee’s adaptations to D.C.’s teacher evaluation system…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2009
Media Contact: Anne Martin – (202) 315-2421 or amartin@dcschoolreform.org
DC School Reform Group Responds to Thursday’s Anti-RIF Rally
DCSRN Responds to Thursday’s Anti-RIF Rally
Washington, D.C. – Today, DC School Reform Now (DCSRN), a non-profit organization dedicated to reforming the district’s public schools, applauded DC Public Schools’ (DCPS) policy decision to allow school leaders to make staffing reductions based on student achievement. DCSRN acknowledged that while the cuts would be difficult in almost every case, it would be tragic if the needs of adults were allowed to trump the needs of …

DCSRN Responds to $40 million DCPS Budget Cut
Washington, D.C. – Today, a DC public school advocacy group said that if school budgets must be cut due to declining revenues, cuts must be made by the school leaders based on student achievement. DC School Reform Now (DCSRN), a non-profit organization dedicated to reforming the district’s public schools, acknowledged that while the cuts would be difficult in almost every case, it would be tragic if the needs of adults were allowed to trump the needs of the students.
This came in response to a controversy brewing …

In the past several years, Noyes Education Campus has gone from being one of the lowest performing DC public schools in the district to one of the highest. In 2001, Noyes was declared a “transformation school.” Wayne Ryan was hired as the new principal and truly has transformed the school. The entire staff was overhauled, leaving only two of the former teachers. Also, Principal Ryan completely changed the culture of the school to one of high expectations for teachers and students, and as a result test scores improved significantly. The …

Posted by Mike DeBonis on Jul. 28, 2009, at 9:16 am
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Pro-Michelle Rhee advocacy group D.C. School Reform Now releases poll numbers showing that Rhee has ‘an approval rating of 62 percent…with a 7% increase over a similar poll conducted in 2008.’ And: ‘Among DC officials, Chancellor Rhee had the highest proportion of respondents (27 percent) who “strongly approve” of her job performance.’
ALSO—In case you were wondering, the Heritage Foundation (a sponsor of the poll) does NOT oppose ‘Rhee-form.’ And a blogger wonders: ‘Not long ago she was every where. Now? …