By Bill Turque
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 1, 2009

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee has launched a rigorous evaluation system that will make some District teachers among the first in the nation to have their job security tied to standardized test scores.
The effort to hold teachers accountable for student progress, which began last week, is a cornerstone of Rhee’s agenda and a goal for education reformers nationwide. They contend that the best way to improve schools is to continuously monitor and improve teacher performance. The “value added” — what instructors contribute …

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
…
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? …

Washington Business Journal – by Tierney Plumb Staff Reporter
Most D.C. voters agree with how D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee is doing her job, according to a survey by Braun Research Inc.
Rhee has an approval rating of 62 percent, according to the poll of 1,000 registered voters in D.C., which is a 7 percent increase over a similar poll conducted in 2008.
Among D.C. officials, Rhee had the highest proportion of respondents (27 percent) who “strongly approve” of her job performance. Just 15 percent said the same about Mayor Adrian Fenty …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2009
Media Contact: Anne Martin – (202) 266-7245 or amartin@dcschoolreform.org
New Poll Shows Growing Support for Michelle Rhee in the District
62% of Registered Voters in D.C. Approve of How Rhee is Handling Her Job, Up Sharply from 55% Last Year
Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, DC School Reform Now (DCSRN), a non-profit organization committed to education reform in the District of Columbia, will release—along with several other groups—new polling data on voter approval of local officials.
Voters indicated strong approval for how D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Michelle Rhee is handling her …