Mayor Bowser Announces Extended Year for Ten Dcps Schools, 2/3/16

>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO CHARLES HART MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE EACH AND EVERY DAY WE SOAR WHICH MEANS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, ORGANIZED, ATTENTIVE AND RESPECTFUL. YES. WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LIBRARY WITH OUR STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY AMAZING. SO IMAGINE IF YOU WERE SCHOOLTEACHER AND AS A SCHOOLTEACHER AND TEACHING FOR MANY YEARS THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING, YOU WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, GIVE MORE FIELD TRIPS, MORE ENRICHMENT BUT THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH TIME. SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS MORE TIME FOR US TO MEET OUR GOALS, AND WE'RE WORKING HARD HERE AT CHARLES HART MIDDLE SCHOOL TO OF COURSE APPRECIATE OUR STUDENTS TOWARDS ACHIEVING, AND OUR GOAL HERE AND OUR MISSION HERE IS LEADING CHANGE, CHALLENGING MINDS, TRANSFORMING LIVES AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY. BUT NOW WE GET 20 MORE DAYS TO DO IT BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND WE PUSH OUR KIDS -- [ APPLAUSE ] >> AND WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT HERE BECAUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS THAT INTERESTING SWEET SPOT OF EDUCATION WHERE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY SHAPE WHO THEY ARE, PUSH THEM AND EXPOSE THEM TO DIFFERENT THINGS. SO OUR KIDS KNOW HERE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING YOU READY TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS GETTING YOU READY TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. SO NOW WITH MORE TIME, WE ARE REALLY GOING TO WORK ON DOING THAT BECAUSE WE WANT OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY LEAVE CHARLES HART MIDDLE SCHOOL THEY ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, GLOBAL CITIZENS. SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR AMAZING 7TH GRADE STUDENTS WHO IS IN OUR AVID PROGRAM, MARIAH JONES. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARIAH JONES. I AM A 7TH GRADER HERE AT CHARLES HART MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE AVID PROGRAM WHICH IS PREPARING US NOW FOR COLLEGE. MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS ARE MATH AND HISTORY, AND WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER AND A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR. I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND A SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OR GO TO NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY. CHARLES HART IS AN OUTSTANDING MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR OF WASHINGTON D.C. HAS COME OUT TO VISIT US TODAY. I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE THE MAYOR OF WASHINGTON D.C., MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAYOR: LET'S HEAR IT FOR MARIAH. GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND, PRINCIPAL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AT THE LOVELY CHARLES HART MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ENTHUSIASM ABOUT MORE TIME FOR LEARNING. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE PRINCIPAL. [ APPLAUSE ] >> AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU SEE CHILDREN WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE WHO ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN YOUR SUCCESS, COMMISSIONER ANTHONY LORENZO GREEN, CHARLES LINSEY, RONALD MOTEN, I UNDERSTAND IS HERE AS WELL AS MICHAEL BOST, LAVAR JONES, HAROLD THOMAS ALSO HERE, BRENDA JONES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SHEILA BUNN AND OLIVIA CHASE FROM THE CHANCELLOR'S CABINET. LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAYOR: I THINK SHE IS GOING TO MAKE EVERY EDUCATION WEEK ACTIVITY. THAT'S WHAT I THINK. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CERTAINLY OUR EDUCATION TEAM, THE DEPUTY MAYOR WHO IS HERE, JENNIFER NILES, GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. OUR WONDERFUL CHANCELLOR OF SCHOOLS, CHANCELLOR HENDERSON, GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, AN ANOTHER MEMBER I SEE HAS JOINED US, COUNCILMEMBER DAVID GROSSO WHO CHAIRS THE COUNCIL'S EDUCATION COMMITTEE. THERE IS A SEAT FOR YOU HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAYOR: AND ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL TEACHERS AND STAFF FROM D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE TEACHERS AND STAFF. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAYOR: SO YOU HEARD FROM THE PRINCIPAL THAT OUR BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE SELECTED TEN SCHOOLS IN OUR D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHO WILL HAVE AN EXTENDED YEAR, WHICH MEANS THEY WILL HAVE 200 DAYS OF INSTRUCTION. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAYOR: AND THAT IS COMPARED TO 180 DAYS IN THE STANDARD SCHOOL YEAR. WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY CALL THE SUMMER SLIDE, AND WE KNOW THAT IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS THAT SUMMER SLIDE IS EVEN MORE OF A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW WELL THE CHILDREN SUCCEED. THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL START A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN AUGUST WITH MODIFIED BREAK SCHEDULES AND CONTINUE SLIGHTLY LATER. THAT'S WHAT I SAY, CHANCELLOR. SLIGHTLY LATER INTO THE SUMMER SO WE KNOW THAT REDUCING THE SUMMER SLIDE WILL ALSO HELP US REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN HOW WELL OUR CHILDREN ARE DOING FROM ACROSS THE CITY. SO HERE IN THE DISTRICT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE RIGHT FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS. BUT WE ARE NOT FINISHED, AND WE CAN'T BE SATISFIED WITH JUST THAT. THAT'S WHY WE WILL BE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE EVERY SINGLE WAY TO FIND MORE WAYS TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED HOW WE EVALUATE, COMPENSATE AND VALUE OUR TEACHERS. AND WE COULDN'T DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THEM. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN VERY FOCUSED ON HAVING A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM AND AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE SCHOOL HAS A JUST AN ENRICHING ACTIVITIES EVEN BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. SO THE CHANCELLOR IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE 10 LUCKY SCHOOLS, AND SHE IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU FIRST HAND WITH THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT WHAT AN EXTENDED YEAR HAS MEANT RIGHT HERE AT HART. SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE WE TURN TO THE CHANCELLOR OUR PARTNER ON THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO CHAIRS THE COUNCIL'S EDUCATION COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER DAVID GROSSO. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR BOWSER, AND I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS WE HAVE SEEN IN SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE ALREADY TRIED THIS OUT IN THAT IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO HAVE EXTENDED YEAR AND INDEED HOPEFULLY MORE AND MORE EXTENDED DAY AS WELL. SO EARLIER THIS YEAR MY STAFF AND I WERE AT A SCHOOL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WARD 1 WHICH IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS GOING TO BE HERE WHICH IS COOK ELEMENTARY ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS GOING TO BE AWARDED THIS YEAR, AND THE PRINCIPAL THERE EXPLAINED THAT THE GAP AND THE SCHOOL WHEN YOU LEAVE IN THE SUMMER IT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THEY TESTED THEIR STUDENTS WHEN THEY LEFT AND THEY WERE AT 68, 69% PROFICIENCY IN READING AND WHEN THEY CAME BACK IN THE SUMMER IT WAS DROPPING DOWN TO 30%. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO CATCH THAT UP IT IS REMARKABLE SO I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, MAYOR BOWSER, AS WELL AS CHANCELLOR HENDERSON, DEPUTY MAYOR NILES AND REALLY INNOVATIVE AND SMART APPROACH TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE BEST POSSIBILITY AND THE BEST CHANCE TO LEARN IN OUR SCHOOLS EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND RETAIN THAT KNOWLEDGE SO THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAYOR: SO AS I INTRODUCE THE CHANCELLOR I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS PART OF OUR EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE START OF EDUCATION WEEK THE CHANCELLOR PRESENTED A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AT THE KENNEDY CENTER. DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THAT? IT IS CALLED STANDING OVATION FOR TEACHERS, AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND STAFF THAT WE HAVE IN DCPS AND I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN THE HALL MARK OF THE CHANCELLOR'S TENURE WITH US MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE QUALITY TEACHING IN EVERY SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. CHANCELLOR HENDERSON? [ APPLAUSE ] >> AND BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY QUALITY TEACHERS IN OUR BUILDINGS IN WASHINGTON D.C. I WANT TO GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH OUR WONDERFUL STUDENTS. THE CRAZY THING IS I WILL TELL YOU A STORY IT IS INTERESTING NOW THAT WE ARE HERE AT HART BUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE DOING BUDGET ROUNDTABLES WE WOULD GO OUT AND ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE NEXT BUDGET, AND THERE WAS A STUDENT HERE AT HART. SHE WAS A 7TH GRADER AT THE TIME AND I SAID IF WE GET MORE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE AND SHE SAID I WANT TO SEE A LONGER SCHOOL DAY. THAT'S NOT USUALLY WHEN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TELL YOU THEY WANT TO SEE. AND I SAID, WELL, TELL ME ABOUT THAT. SHE SAID, WELL, WE HAVE AMAZING TEACHERS AND WE'RE DOING AWESOME THINGS IN OUR CLASSROOM BUT AS SOON AS WE GET GOOD AND INTO IT THE BELL RINGS. RIGHT? WHEN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE ENJOYING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SCHOOL, WHEN THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF THEIR CLASSROOM AND IN FRONT OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND THAT THEY WANT MORE IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO RESPOND TO THAT NEED SO THIS MORNING I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TEN SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE ONE WE'RE PILOTING THIS YEAR WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR. THOSE SCHOOLS ARE GARFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HD COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HART MIDDLE SCHOOL, HANDLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JOHNSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, KELLY MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL, MARTIN LUTHER KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RANDALL HIGH LANDS, RAYMOND EDUCATION CAMPUS AS WE NOTED, THOMAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND TURNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE COME TO THE MAYOR WITH ALL KINDS OF INTERESTING AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS. I ALWAYS SAY IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IF YOU WANT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY AND WE'VE BEEN AT THE CUTTING EDGE AT D.C., WE'VE BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE AT DCPS OF TRYING TO DO RESEARCH BASED INNOVATIONS THAT WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE MORE AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING NEW IT ALWAYS COSTS MONEY SO WHEN WE WENT TO THE MAYOR AND SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE DAY AND IT IS GOING TO COST BAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHE SAID GREAT, SHE SAID IF THIS IS WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN SO I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HER UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT OF DCPS AND ALL OF OUR CRAZY IDEAS, ALL OF OUR INNOVATIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH HARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION. THAT'S WHY WE'VE SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED OUR STANDARDS, THAT'S WHY WE'VE REWORKED OUR ENTIRE CURRICULUM. THAT'S WHY WE'VE INCREASED OUR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND OUR ELECTIVES AND PROVIDED ACCESS MORE AND BETTER ACCESS TO EARLY EDUCATION AND IT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN RELENTLESS ABOUT ENSURING THE BEST TEACHING STAFF IN THE NATION. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS VERY CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MORE TIME FOR ENRICHMENT, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS WHO ARE THE NEEDIEST THAT THAT LEADS TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO JUST IMPROVE OUR READING AND MATH SCORES. I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO DEVELOP OUR STUDENT'S TALENTS AS MUCH AS OUR TEST SCORES BUT WE WANT THEM TO HAVE MORE TIME TO GO IN DEPTH IN THEIR ACADEMIC SUBJECTS AND MORE TIME TO ART AND MUSIC AND PE AND MORE TIME FOR FIELD TRIPS SO THAT TEACHERS DON'T FEEL STRESSED OUT ABOUT TRYING TO FIT IT ALL INTO 180 DAYS. A LONGER SCHOOL YEAR ALLOWS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO IMPROVE IN AREAS WHERE THEY STRUGGLE AND IT ALSO GIVES MORE TIME FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN AREAS WHERE THEY THRIVE. SO FOR THESE SCHOOLS THERE WILL BE 200 INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS INSTEAD OF 180. THERE WILL BE EIGHT INTERCESSION DAYS WHERE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING CAN GET THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS MET. WE WILL HAVE FOUR TEACHER BREAKS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, A TWO-WEEK SUMMER BREAK FOR TEACHERS WITH A THREE-WEEK BREAK FOR STUDENTS AND THEN OTHER BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT JUST FLOW A LITTLE MORE NATURALLY. AND THEN TEN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR TEACHERS. AND WE WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR WE'RE NOT CHICAGO, WHERE WE ARE ASKING YOU TO WORK MORE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU ANY MORE. WE BELIEVE THAT COMPENSATING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND SO THESE TEACHERS AT THESE SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF WORKING ON A TEN-MONTH CONTRACT WILL WORK ON AN 11-MONTH CONTRACT WHICH IS ALLOWABLE IN OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND THIS IS NOT AN EXPERIMENT. THIS IS BASED ON RESEARCH. WE SEE IT HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY. AND FOR A LONG TIME I THINK AS A TRADITIONAL DISTRICT WE WEREN'T NIMBLE ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS. THAT'S OVER NOW. WE KNOW HOW TO MEET OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS AND HOW TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 41 EXTENDED DAY SCHOOLS WE WILL NOW HAVE 11 NEXT YEAR EXTENDED YEAR SCHOOLS AND I WANT YOU TO -- I THINK WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF IS THE FACT THAT THIS CAME TO US. THIS WASN'T SOME IDEA HATCHED IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE. THIS CAME TO US FROM OUR PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND AGAIN THIS YEAR WE DID THREE BUDGET ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS ALL ACROSS THE CITY. LIKE OUR KIDS ARE TIRED AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR TEACHERS ARE TIRED. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT EXTENDED YEAR, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SPREADING IT OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND WE SAID IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT. IN FACT, RAYMOND EDUCATION CAMPUS CAME TO US TWO YEARS AGO AND NATALIE HUBBARD IS THE AMAZING PRINCIPAL THERE AND SHE SAID I WANT TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL YEAR. BUT WE WENT BACK TO HER AND SAID PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, INVEST YOUR COMMUNITY AND WE DID IT AGAIN. MAKE THESE DECISIONS WITH THESE TEN SCHOOLS IN A VACUUM. WE DID A SURVEY TO PARENTS ALL OVER THE CITY TO SAY DO YOU THINK IT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR SCHOOL. IT IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION. IT MAKES SENSE FOR SOME SCHOOLS AND SOME COMMUNITIES. SO WE WORKED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COMMUNITIES WERE INTERESTED AND EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE SAID TO PRINCIPALS WHO RAISED A HAND AND SAID THEY WANTED TO DO IT GO BACK AND TALK TO YOUR TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND IN SOME CASES WE JOINTLY DECIDED IT WASN'T THE RIGHT THING FOR A SCHOOL. BUT FOR THESE 11 SCHOOLS I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT YEAR. I WANT YOU TO MEET NATALIE HUBBARD, THE PRINCIPAL AT RAYMOND EDUCATION CAMPUS AND SHE CAN SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT HOW EXTENDED YEAR IS GOING THIS YEAR. >> THANK YOU, CHANCELLOR HENDERSON. I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TO ELABORATE ON THE EXTENDED SCHOOL ON THE RAYMOND CAMPUS AND I AM THRILLED TO KNOW THAT TEN FELLOW PRINCIPALS WILL JOIN ME IN THIS NEW COHORT OF SCHOOLS. IF I ONLY HAD ONE MORE TIME. CAN WE SPEND MORE TIME COMPLETING THIS ACTIVITY? I WANT TO LEARN MORE. WAIT, WAIT, I'M NOT FINISHED YET. THESE ARE JUST A FEW PHRASES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO OUR JOURNEY ON EXTENDING OUR SCHOOL YEAR. EDUCATORS ARE ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ENHANCE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR IMPLEMENTING EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR AT RAYMOND EDUCATION CAMPUS. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT STUDENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT ATTENDING SCHOOL AND OUR ATTENDANCE RATE CONTINUES TO BE WELL ABOVE 95%. PARENTS ARE THRILLED -- TO KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE WITH CARING TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS AND THIS ALL CONTRIBUTES TO OUR FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. PARENTS DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL, SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS WHICH CAN BE VERY CUMBERSOME. STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN REWARDING EXPERIENCES THAT PROMOTE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THIS YEAR OUR STUDENTS WILL ATTEND SCHOOL FOR 190 DAYS, TEN INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS WERE ADDED TO OUR SCHOOL CALENDAR AND TWO INTERCESSION WEEKS. THIS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION AS WELL AS TEAM BUILDING AND EXCITING EXPERIENCES. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER OUR STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO SEE THE BROADWAY PLAY THE LION KING AND SINCE OUR WINTER BREAK DIDN'T BEGIN UNTIL DECEMBER 24TH, WE WERE ABLE TO TOUR NEW YORK CITY. STUDENTS ENJOYED THE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE. AT RADIO CITY HALL OF COURSE, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER AND PARTICIPATE IN HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO BEGINNING THEIR BREAK. THESE FIELD TRIPS DID NOT INTERFERE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR OR DAYS AND TIME. DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY STUDENTS WILL CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH BY SEEING THE PERFORMANCE AMERICAN DREAM AND IN ADDITION TO THAT STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING FIELD TRIPS SUCH AS SKIING OVERNIGHT CAMPING, NATIONAL AQUARIUM, NATIONAL ZOO, TOUR OF WASHINGTON D.C. AND VISIT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHEN REVIEWING AND THEY ARE ABLE AND STUDENTS ARE SPENDING MORE TIME ON UNITS OF STUDY. SHOWING THAT THEY NO LONGER FEEL THE PRESSURE, THE PRESSURE FACED WHEN TRYING TO COVER ALL STANDARDS PRIOR TO ADMINISTERING ASSESSMENTS. THE PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE SUMMER SLIDE WHERE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE SUMMER LEARNING LOSS. SO TEACHERS ARE FOCUSING ON HOW TO ENHANCE LEARNING, HOW TO MAKE GREATER STUDENTS, THEY ARE FOCUSING ON HOW OUR STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE MORE. SO FAR THIS YEAR WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A HIGHLY INTENDED INTERCESSION. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO ON VARIOUS FIELD TRIPS AND THAT INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS TO LOVE SCHOOL AND AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL SEE GREAT RESULTS BUT IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO END WITH THIS, THERE IS NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN SEEING STUDENTS THAT ATTEND SCHOOL NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE THERE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> LET'S HEAR IT FOR PRINCIPAL HUBBARD. THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT IDEA TO THE CHANCELLOR AND WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE IT WILL IS SUCCESSFUL AT THE BEAUTIFUL RAYMOND EDUCATION CENTER. SO NOW I'M GOING TO ASK THE CHANCELLOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR TO JOIN ME AND WE CAN TAKE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXTENDED YEAR. >> BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS, CAN I ASK I SEE THE SHINING STARS OF HART MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO WE HAVE WITH US, AND THIS IS ABOUT THEM AND SO I WANTED TO -- I'M CROSSING MY FINGERS BUT I WANTED TO ASK SOME OF OUR HART SCHOLARS WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING 20 ADDITIONAL DAYS OR A LONGER SCHOOL YEAR. ANYBODY LOVE TO COMMENT ON THAT? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND. YES, SIR, CAN YOU STAND UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> NICE TO MEET YOU, MARCUS. WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN? >> 7TH. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A LONGER SCHOOL YEAR? >> IT IS GOOD BECAUSE MOST OF OUR STUDENTS DON'T WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL BUT THE ONES WHO WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF MAKING IT. >> ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE THE KIDS THAT WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF MAKING IT. ANYBODY ELSE? YES, MA'AM? I SEE A CHEERLEADER IN THE BACK. >> MY NAME IS YOLANDA CAMPBELL AND I'M IN THE 6TH GRADE AND I THINK IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXTENDED YEAR BECAUSE WE GET TO LEARN MORE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM? >> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I THINK IT IS GOOD THAT WE HAVE EXTENDED YEAR BECAUSE IT HELPS THE KIDS SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO AND WHERE THEY WANT TO GO WHEN WE GET THERE AND THE BELL RINGS -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> ALL RIGHT. SO YOU CAN BE HONEST. WHO IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT 20 EXTRA DAYS? COME ON, TELL ME. >> I AM AN AVID STUDENT. IT IS A LITTLE YES AND A NO. I THINK THAT IF WE DO WE SHOULD HAVE TIME TO DO MORE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM AND LISTENING TO THE AND OUR TEACHERS WERE SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES BECAUSE -- OKAY. HOLD ON. THE REASON WHY MANY OF OUR TEACHERS SAID THEY CAN'T DO AS MANY HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IS BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME TO PREPARE, RIGHT, TEACHERS HAVE TO GET STUFF TOGETHER IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO THINGS AND USUALLY IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN LONGER THAN A CLASS PERIOD. AND SO IF WE HAVE MORE TIME WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO MORE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WELL. I WILL TAKE ONE MORE AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE PRESS. GO AHEAD. >> I THINK -- >> TELL ME YOUR NAME. >> TONIA JOHNSON. >> I THINK HAVING 20 EXTRA DAYS WOULD BE BETTER FOR EDUCATION BECAUSE IF WE HAD MORE EDUCATION WE COULD STRIVE TO BE INTO GET COLLEGES LIKE MIT. >> IS THAT WHERE YOU WANT TO GO? NICE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STUDY AT MIT? >> COMPUTERS. >> ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT A COMPUTER SCIENTIST ON OUR HANDS. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. ALL RIGHT. PRESS, QUESTIONS? >> PLEASE IDENTIFY WHO YOU ARE AND WE WILL TAKE PRESS QUESTIONS. >> CAN YOU TELL US HOW MUCH THIS COSTS FOR RANDALL AND HOW MUCH YOU ARE EXPECTING OR YOU HAVE BUDGETED FOR ALL OF THIS IN TERMS OF TEACHER COST AND PROGRAMMING? >> YES, ABOUT $500,000 A SCHOOL, SO WITH THE ADDITIONAL 10 WE BUDGETED $500,000 FOR RAYMOND AND WE'RE LOOKING AT $500,000 FOR SCHOOLS SO IT IS AN ADDITIONAL COST OF ABOUT $5 MILLION. MARK? >> SO IS THIS NEED COUNCIL APPROVAL? WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR MAKING THIS ACTUALLY -- IS THIS A DEFINITE THING THAT WILL HAPPEN OR DO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH COUNCIL APPROVAL? >> IT IS A DEFINITE THING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IF IT HAD TO GO THROUGH COUNCIL APPROVAL I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT MY EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR WOULD SUPPORT US ON THIS, BUT DCPS HAS THE RIGHT TO SET THE TOUR OF DUTY FOR SCHOOLS AND SO IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE EXTENDED THE DAY AT SOME SCHOOLS WE WILL JUST SET A DIFFERENT SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR THESE 10, 11 NOW SCHOOLS. >> AND THEN CAN I ASK ABOUT INTERCESSION? IS THAT DAYS OFF FROM SCHOOL? IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE DAYS OFF FOR SOME STUDENTS AND MAYBE NOT FOR OTHERS. >> DAYS OFF FOR SOME STUDENTS AND NOT OTHER STUDENTS AND IT IS VOLUNTARY AND BUT IT IS REALLY TIME TO FOCUS ON INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT FOR OUR MOST STRUGGLING STUDENTS AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING I THINK TIDBITS ABOUT RAYMOND IS 96% OF THE KIDS ARE COMING TO INTERCESSION SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS VOLUNTARY IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AND THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT. >> CHANCELLOR? >> YES. IS THIS AN EFFORT TO COMPETE WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS TAKING AWAY SO MANY OF DCPS STUDENTS AND, TWO, DO WE HOPE TO EXTEND THIS TO ALL SCHOOLS? >> WELL, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. NO, THIS IS NOT ABOUT COMPETING WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS. LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY MY JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SERVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FRONT OF ME, RIGHT? IF KIDS AND FAMILIES GO TO OTHER PLACES, GOD BLESS THEM, BUT I GOT 50,000 KIDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW WE'VE SEEN ENROLLMENT INCREASES BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE COMING BACK TO DCPS. MY JOB IS TO MAKE DCPS THE DISTRICT OF CHOICE. I WANT OUR SCHOOLS TO OFFER WHAT PARENTS WANT FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND IF PARENTS FEEL LIKE THEIR KIDS CAN BE SAFER IN SCHOOL AND WANT MORE TIME AND MORE INSTRUCTION THAN I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT TO THEM. SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE THE BEST. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A CHOICE LANDSCAPE AND WE THINK THAT IS GOOD. PARENTS SHOULD HAVE OPTIONS. BUT WE ARE WORKING TO BE THE BEST OPTION IN THIS CITY. AND, NO, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL SCHOOLS BECAUSE NOT EVERY SCHOOL COMMUNITY WANTS OR NEEDS THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BEING THE DISTRICT IS WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF POSSIBILITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND SO SOME PLACES AND SOME PEOPLE WANT IT AND OTHER PEOPLE DON'T AND SO WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. YES, MA'AM? >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE SCHOOLS WERE SELECTED AND WHY MOST OF THEM ARE IN WARD 7 AND 8? >> SURE. WE ASKED PRINCIPALS, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT OUR PARENT SURVEY FIRST OF ALL WE DID A CITY-WIDE SURVEY AND WE ASKED PARENTS TO WEIGH IN ON EXTENDED DAY AND EXTENDED YEAR, AND WE LOOKED AT THE AREAS WHERE MOST PARENTS SAID THAT THEY WERE MOST SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND WE ASKED PRINCIPALS WHICH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE READY FOR THIS, INTERESTED IN THIS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS YESTERDAY I WAS MEETING WITH MY PRINCIPALS AND SO MOST OF -- MANY OF THE PRINCIPALS IN WARDS 7 AND 8 RAISED THEIR HAND AND SAID, YES, WE WANT MORE TIME WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I THINK THAT IS A HUGE TESTAMENT TO THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR THEIR KIDS BUT YESTERDAY MY PRINCIPAL CABINET MEETING A WARD 3 PRINCIPAL RAISED HER HAND AND SAID, WAIT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO SOME EXTENT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO THIS AND I THINK WATCH VERY CAREFULLY HOW WE PROGRESS AT THESE TEN SCHOOLS BUT WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE SO IF THERE ARE MORE PRINCIPALS AND WE GIVE THEM MORE MONEY WE WILL TRY TO EXTEND IT TO AS MANY SCHOOLS THAT ARE READY AND WILLING TO DO IT. >> HOW MANY SCHOOLS HAVE EXTENDED DAY AT THE MOMENT AND IS THERE SOME -- ARE YOU THINKING OF TWEAKING THAT IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE IT MORE EXTENDED? >> SO WE ARE 41 SCHOOLS THAT HAVE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMS. THEY ALL LOOK DIFFERENT. SOME ARE ONE HOUR, SOME ARE TWO HOURS, SOME ARE LITERALLY EACH SCHOOL DESIGNS THEIR EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM. IN SOME CASES SCHOOLS SAID I WANT TO SWITCH OUT EXTENDED DAY FOR EXTENDED YEAR, AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE JUST WANT TO WORK WITH EACH SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM. WE DON'T HAVE SORT OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH. >> YES, SIR. >> EARLY IN THE YEAR WE HEARD ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS AND GIRLS AND HOW THIS PROGRAM MIGHT HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP? ALSO IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR THAT THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO NEW YORK CITY. WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST CULTURALLY RICH CITIES IN THE WORLD AND OUR STUDENTS GOING TO THE MUSEUMS WHICH HAVE A WEALTH OF EDUCATIONAL. >> YES, SHE SAID, YES, SHE DID. SHE SAID THEY ARE TOURING D.C. IT HAS TO START AT HOME. SO THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. LET ME SAY THIS. BECAUSE I THINK WE BANTER AROUND THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IF WE FLIP A SWITCH WE WILL CLOSE IT. IT IS THE MOST PERSISTENT ISSUE IN EDUCATION BAR NONE. IT IS NOT SIMPLY A SCHOOLS ISSUE, IT IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE. WE LIVE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA THAT HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST INCOME INEQUALITY GAPS IN THE COUNTRY SO IT IS NO WONDER THAT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT GAPS. THAT BEING SAID, WHAT WE KNOW IS WHEN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS, RIGOROUS CURRICULUM WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BEGIN TO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE GAPS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT SCHOOL JUST CAN'T DO IT BY ITSELF AND WE CAN'T KEEP DOING IT THE SAME WAY. THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY WE MADE A BIG COMMITMENT TO OUR EMPOWERING MALES OF COLOR INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT OUR YOUNG MEN COME WITH AND THE DATA SHOWS THAT. PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME, WELL, IF YOU HAVE A YOUNG MAN OF COLOR INITIATIVE WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR INITIATIVE AND IT NEEDS TO BE THE SAME. IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE THE SAME BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE DIFFERENT. AS WE LOOK AT THE DATA AROUND OUR YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR THERE ARE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND SO WE NEED DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR THEM AND MY TEAM IS WORKING ON A SERIES OF INTERVENTIONS AROUND OUR WOMEN. OUR YOUNG WOMEN. THERE IS NO THIS THING WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING, RIGHT? BUT WHAT THIS THING WILL DO, THIS EXTENDED YEAR PROGRAM IS IT PROVIDES US WITH A GREATER OPPORTUNITY, MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, MORE EXTRACURRICULAR TIME, MORE ENRICHMENT TIME TO GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE. OKAY. NOT PRESS BUT -- >> BECAUSE I WAS AT THE EMOC ANNOUNCEMENT. WILL THAT BE AN EXTENDED YEAR SCHOOL EVENTUALLY? >> IT COULD BE IN THE FIRST YEAR WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON GETTING IT OPEN AND RUNNING AND IN THE SAME WAY WE'VE WORKED WITH OTHER PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR THEM WE WILL WORK WITH DR. WILLIAMS TO SEE IF THAT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WE'RE OPENING. >> PRESS QUESTIONS? >> WE HAVE OFF TOPIC QUESTIONS FOR THE CHANCELLOR AND MAYOR. WOULD YOU PREFER THEM NOW? >> MAYOR: LET'S EXCUSE THE CHILDREN. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: AND THEN IF EVERYBODY WILL JUST HOLD TIGHT WE WILL RECONVENE AND EXCUSE THE CHILDREN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]