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THREAD: @dcpublicschools is delayed in delivering tech per text from principal today after she set up a distrib plan for today. @DigitalEquityDC & others told @MayorBowser, DCPS & Council that we need 1:1. Our leaders "said no, we are fine." We are demonstrably NOT fine.
So, Fri before school starts, DCPS exacerbates inequities. Groups like @ServeYourCityDC (donate to them to help!) are giving tech student by student. @DigitalEquityDC gave the city the data advice they need to do this well. Yet today many kids won't receive tech they need for Mon
Plus, city is slow to roll out plans & have not coordinated w/ @OCTODC missing huge opps to provide internet support to families. Ex, there will be CARES Act-funded free Internet program for >20K households (SNAP/ TANF recipients) but OCTO hasn't communicated details publicly
Parents & @DigitalEquityDC recommended DCPS get $10M from Council to ensure 1:1 tech-the ONLY way to ensure equity. Mayor/DCPS said: nah, we have this covered. Council said: ok, cool, we will believe you. Parents said: no, really, DCPS needs it to cover the gap. They ignored us.
Now, it's the Fri b4school starts, kids w/1:1 in the home will be stepping ahead: organizing their computer, getting to understand Canvas, connecting with teachers & classmates. Those without 1:1 will be starting behind: no device, no internet, not ready to no fault of their own
Play this out in the real world: when will they show up at DCPS? Then get distributed to schools? Then parents have to change schedules (my school had reserved time today to get tech, now delayed) to get a computer at school. That could take time based on work and other factors.
Could be 1-2 weeks (or more) delay for some kids. Now TEACHERS, already trying their best to give all kids instruction in virtual environment in a PANDEMIC where SEL/trauma/inequity are prominent-have to work
to bring some kids up to speed and having to shift lessons etc.
to bring some kids up to speed and having to shift lessons etc.
That even assumes DCPS actually has enough devices soon for EVERY child in EVERY home. We still don't have that promise or budget from them. This is literally unconscionable and was completely addressable had DCPS embraced the data and asked for the budget they need.
The Mayor, Council and DCPS had ALL SUMMER to plan and execute tech well. Even with @DigitalEquityDC checking in and sharing what they know - OCTO, DCPS, Council did nothing to change, nothing to accelerate or coordinate. And here we are.
I am ashamed of our DC leaders that claim to be progressive & about equity. I am disappointed in our electeds at every turn. I am PROUD of my fellow parents who did and continue to demand better & of @DigitalEquityDC & @ServeYourCityDC for leading efforts to do better, thank you
We have a LONG year ahead of us in this pandemic. We must put health, safety and equity first for our kids, families and teachers in @dcpublicschools. We are not off to a good start. I hope our leaders respond publicly with a much stronger better plan that activates ASAP
And we should NOT give @MayorBowser or @dcpublicschools grace on supply chain issues. They waited until JULY 31(!) to order computers. They know that once they arrive, OCTO has to DC-ize them. They all know the process. Why did they wait so long to order? Proof:
And this email just went out from @MayorBowser that says: "If your child is a K-12 student at DCPS and you still need a device, call your school. Schools will be working through the weekend to distribute devices." So, DCPS has not given devices to schools - delayed.....ummm
. @MayorBowser, will schools be open all weekend? Will @dcpublicschools guarantee delivery of devices to schools? To then give to families? Parents to be avail at drop of hat this weekend to go to school to get device? Even if they work or have health issues? Major disconnect here
Need is also greater than DCPS &Mayor assumed (which @DigitalEquityDC also told them already). Their survey & related comms depended on having internet/cell data plan (but asking if you need internet...) So principals now finding out need is greater than DCPS said.
AND since DCPS changed spec requirements for computers AFTER the survey was done, even more families now need computers. This all was completely predictable & could have been addressed. People told them this would be the case. The Mayor/DCPS did not listen. Who sufffers? Kids.
All predictable: read June @DigitalEquityDC tweets re tech. If we didn't start right in June, we'd be right where we are today. City leaders: start listening. Your volunteer parent & community members are smart, dedicated & try to help you do things well: https://twitter.com/DigitalEquityDC/status/1268554292270641153?s=20
While we do the full tech debrief/refresh today, remember: @dcpublicschools did NOT fund teacher computers-they COULD have asked Council for money. So, what does this mean? More privacy issues and inequity across the board - more:
Many teachers will be using their personal devices. This means whenever they download stuff, including student info, it will be on their personal computers raising #privacy issues that @dcpublicschools should manage. It's not on teachers to manage this.
So what will schools do? Most schools don't have money laying around to "squeeze" for teacher tech. So, those schools with resources will get private funding or funding through PTAs to supplement teacher computers and internet.
Schools w/out resources will struggle. It makes no sense that we work to get devices for every child,then not have every teacher & staff w/working tech and internet. By not planning ahead, the Mayor and DCPS are again undermining DCPS school success and exacerbating inequities
In fact, when DCPS first did their computer counts, they assumed PTA funding and other private funding, making their contribution less. That is unconscionable. We pay public tax dollars to ensure all of our teacher & kids are equipped - esp in a pandemic.
I'm very hard on @MayorBowser, @DMEforDC & @DCPSChancellor re all of this, the blame also falls squarely on every Councilmember for not demanding the oversight & data to ensure this was done well. CMs allowed themselves to be hoodwinked again. #accountability #transparency
It's time for teflon mayoral-control-of-education @MayorBowser & her @DCPSChancellor & her @DMEforDC to start fighting for @dcpublicschools success-the success of every kid, every teacher, every staff person, every principal. And for Council to hold them accountable for it. Today
I hear some responses about how hard it is to manage a city in a pandemic. I concede the pandemic makes govnerning harder. But highly resourced, well-staffed agencies who had ALL SPRING AND SUMMER to plan do not get my compassion for failing today.
These well-resourced agencies, even got lots of free work from parent and community volunteers on safe schools advice https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c4YKFwSwLfOd-ADTHGQNbDQDywI_mBuE/view?usp=sharing, the various task forces, and @digitalequity tech advice - and much more by others! We did that for nothing to HELP.
My pandemic compassion is not for agencies, Mayor, Council. It's for families: making ends meet, supporting mental health, helping w/learning, trying to be a social outlet to kids, scared. We believe in & trust that our public schools will support us. Today that system failed
