Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2008-01-19 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Washington DC -

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee on Friday unveiled a 14-week initiative designed to propel elementary students who are close to meeting federal proficiency standards over that bar in the next round of tests.

Seven months into Rhee's tenure as the head of the city's public schools, the plan marks her first concentrated effort to raise test scores, which have been dismal at most schools for years.

The new Saturday instruction, dubbed Saturday Scholars, will target 7,500 third- through sixth-graders.

The price tag for the effort is approximately $1.5 million in Title 1 funds, used primarily to train and pay 331 District teachers who have agreed to take part.

Rhee said she has heard from teachers that they simply don't have enough classroom time to do some of the targeted instruction needed for dramatic reform.

"Our focus is on looking at every child individually and developing programs around them," she said, adding that it will also work toward the ultimate goal of closing the achievement gap for black students.

Iris Toyer, chairwoman of Parents United, said she has doubts about how much difference Saturday Scholars will actually make.

"This is hardly new," she said. "It's worthwhile, but leaders have done this year in and year out ... and, looking at test scores, it hasn't helped."

Mayor Adrian Fenty at Friday's press briefing said the initiative is part of a bigger trend to educate students beyond the standard eight-hour school day.

The fact that the extra classes are on Saturday mornings prohibits the chancellor from making them mandatory, nor will she provide transportation to the nearly 50 sites.

But she said she'll strongly encourage participation.

In her opinion, it won't be a problem to spur parents to drive their sons and daughters to the participating schools.

Toyer and other school activists, however, said they're not convinced attendance will be guaranteed.

In coming weeks, Rhee is expected to unveil programming geared toward students who have performed at the lowest end of the academic spectrum.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com