cgel

dccenterforglobaleducationandleadership

WinstonEducationCampusAfricaDay

December17,2012

Ms.KayaHenderson Chancellor,DCPublicSchools 1200FirstStreet,NE Washington,DC20002 DearChancellorHenderson: ImwritinginsupportoftheWard7EducationCouncilproposal,asitrelatestoexpandingglobaleducationand foreignlanguageprogramsinWard7schools.Ialsowriteinsupportofothereffortstodothesameinother partsofthecity(Ward4andWard5,inparticular). In2008IleftmypositionasDCPSsDirectorofInternationalPrograms.Atthattime,bothyouandthen ChancellorRheewereveryclearthattherewereothermuchmorepressingprioritiesfacingDCPSleadershipat thetime,andthatmyeffortstogetDCPStoadoptamorerobustandintentionalapproachtowardsglobal educationandworldlanguageswouldhavetowait.Icertainlyunderstoodyourposition,andhavesincethen triedtodowhatIcanfromoutsidethesystemthroughtheDCCenterforGlobalEducationandLeadership. Now,fouryearslater,thisfeelsliketherighttimetorevisittheconversation. Parentsinallwardsofthecityareaskingformoreforeignlanguageprograms,aswellasglobal educationopportunitiesthatwillbetterpreparetheirchildrenfortherealitiesofthe21stcentury. TheMayorsvisionforthecityseconomyisclearlyglobal.IfwedontdomoretoprepareourDCPS studentsforthisnewglobalizedeconomy,theywillbeleftoutagain.
CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com

 Charterschoolsareincreasinglyjumpingonthelanguageandglobaleducationbandwagon.DCPSis losingstudentstochartersbecauseourlanguageprogramsareoftenweakandnotwellarticulated. Ihavebeenapproachedbyparentsandcommunitygroupstohelpthemthinkaboutwaysthatglobal educationandworldlanguagescouldbedevelopedasprogramstrategiestosaveschoolsfromclosingorto makenewlyformedorconsolidatedschoolsattractiveoptionsforparentsandstudents. IworkedwiththeWard7EducationCouncilontheirproposalforWinstonEC. Ihavebeeninmanydiscussionswithward4communitymembersandeducatorsoversometime aboutMacFarlandMSandRooseveltSHS. IwasrecentlycontactedbyamemberoftheGarrisonPTAtodiscusspossibilitiesforGarrisonES. Theseconversationsandproposalshavefocusedontwoveryexcitingstrategies.Iwholeheartedlyendorse both,andbelievetheyareabsolutelyachievablewithadequateplanningandasmartmixofpublicandprivate resources. Creategloballythemedschools,inwhichglobalcontent,skills,andperspectivesareembeddedinall gradesandallsubjects,andaglobalmindsetpermeatestheentireschoolculture. CreateGlobalEducation/LanguageCentersorHubs(perhapsonewestandoneeast)thatcanoffer languages,globalprograms,specializedcourses,andothertrainingandresourcesforawidernetwork ofschoolsandstudentswithinthewardorfeederpattern. TheideasandproposalsgeneratedbytheDCPSConsolidationandReorganizationProposalpresentagreat opportunityforDCPStogobold.ThemessageIhaveheardoverandoveragainfromthehearingsandpublic meetingsisthatparentsarehungryformorerobustandequitablyavailableeducationalprograms,well implementedandwellmarketed.Globaleducationandlanguagesisonedomainwhereaccessisgrossly inequitable,andtheseproposalsareattemptingtorectifythiscurrentsituation,aswellastocreatequality schoolsthatwillthriveinourcurrentcompetitiveeducationenvironment. Myyearsofworkinthisfieldhaveconvincedmethatwecanonlydoourbestworkwithstrongcommitment andparticipationfromboththepublicandprivatesectorsDCPSanditspartners.TheDCCenterforGlobal EducationandLeadershiplooksforwardtoworkingwithyouonanyprojectthatadvancesthestateofglobal educationandlanguagelearningavailabletoDCpublicschoolstudentsthroughoutourcity. Sincerely, Theglobaleducationfieldismaturingnationally,isalignedtothecommoncore,andgreatnew opportunitiesareemerging.Thecaseforpreparingstudentsgloballyiscompellingandirreversible.

SallySchwartz ExecutiveDirector sally@dccgel.org cc: MayorVincentGray DCCouncilMembers

CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com

DCCENTERFORGLOBALEDUCATIONANDLEADERSHIP(CGEL) WeSupportProposalstoIncreaseAccesstoGlobalEducationandWorldLanguagesin ThoseSchools/WardsMostImpactedbytheSchoolClosings/ConsolidationProposal Whatdowemeanbyglobaleducation? Globaleducationequipsstudentswiththeknowledge,skills,attitudesandexperiences(theglobal competencies)thatwillpreparethemforlifeandworkinour21stcenturygloballyinterconnected,culturally diversesociety.Globaleducationisnotjustasubject,suchassocialstudiesorworldlanguage.Norisitthesame asIBorInternationalBaccalaureate.Instead,itisaperspectiveoraframeworkforteaching.Globalcontentand perspectivesshouldbeembeddedinallsubjects,inallgrades,forallstudents.Globaleducationisnotonlyfor giftedandtalentedstudentsallstudentsneedanddeserveahighquality,engagingeducationthathelpsthem understandthewiderworldandtheirconnectiontoit.Finally,thereisnotjustonekindofglobaleducation program.Schoolshavemanyoptionsforcreatingthekindofglobaleducationalenvironmentthatbestmeetsthe needsandwishesoftheirstudents,families,andcommunities. Globaleducationandlanguagelearningarenecessaryelementsofaquality21stcenturyeducation. Toprepareknowledgeableglobalcitizens,whoareabletoselfconfidentlycollaboratewiththeirpeersaround theworldtosolveglobalproblems. Toequipstudentsforcareersinthe21stcenturyglobalizedeconomy(whateverthecareerfield). Tomeettheincreasingdemandofournationforamultilingualworkforceforinternationalbusiness, nationalsecurity,hospitality,andmanyothergovernmentandprivatesectorjobs. TopreparestudentsfortheIncreasingdiversityofourlocalcommunitiesandworkplaces. ThisistherighttimeandplaceforDCPStoprioritizeglobaleducationandlanguagelearning. DCisaglobalcapitalwithuniqueandamazinggloballyfocusedresources,experts,andpotentialpartners anxioustoworkwithourpublicschools. Thecityhasmanygloballyfocusedcareeropportunities.Ofparticularrelevanceisthepersistentneedto attractmoreAfricanAmericansandLatinostointernationalfields. MayorGrayseconomicdevelopmentplansaregoingglobal,andweneedtoprepareagloballycompetent workforcetofillthesenewjobs.IfwedontstartnowtoincorporateDCsK12educationsectorintothis globalvisionforthecitysfuture,ourlocalstudentswillonceagainbeleftoutandleftbehind. DCPShasalonghistoryofglobaleducationprograms,partnerships,andmanygloballyexperiencededucators. WehavetheingredientsandpotentialtodogreatthingshereinDC. TheDCcommunityunderstandsthevalueofglobaleducationandwantstoseemorelanguagestaughtin schools,especiallyattheelementarylevel.Weseethisgrowingdemandinallwardsofthecity,andwealso seecharterschoolsembracingglobaleducationandlanguagesasawaytoattractstudents. Atpresent,studentsinschoolseastoftheriverhavesignificantlylessaccesstoglobaleducationand languagesthanstudentsinschoolsinthewesternpartofthecity.Weurgentlyneedtoaddressthisinequity. DCPScouldattractnationalandinternationalvisibilityfordevelopingstrongglobaleducationandlanguage programs,particularlyinunderservedwards.TheObamaadministrationissupportiveofthiswork.
CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com

 WARD7EDUCATIONCOUNCILPROPOSAL TheWard7EducationCouncilhasproposedthatWinstonEducationCampus,slatedforclosurebyDCPS,bekept openandtransformedintoaglobalcampus.FromtheWard7CommunitysSchoolImprovementProposal: VISIONFORWINSTON Asacommunity,werecommendthefollowingschoolimprovementstrategieswhichwillhelpDCPStoreachits goalsofincreasingenrollmentbyattractingmoreinboundaryfamiliestoWinston: Buildingontheschoolsstrengths,transformWinstonintoahighquality,globallythemedPK8neighborhood school. ColocateaGlobalEducation/LanguageCenterwhichcanserveasaneducationalhubservingWards7and8 students,educators,families,andcommunity. UseglobaleducationresourcesandbestpracticesatWinstontohelpcreatealargerGlobalZone,overtime toincludealltheWard7schools. Fullyutilizebuildingbycreatingcommunitypartnershipswhichcouldprovideonsitewraparoundservicesfor studentsandfamilies IwasaskedbytheWard7EducationCounciltoworkwiththemastheydevelopedtheirWard7School ImprovementPlaninresponsetotheChancellorsproposedschoolclosingsandconsolidations.TheDCCenterfor GlobalEducationandLeadership,andpartnerorganizations,arethrilledtobeinvolvedandstronglysupportthis plantoincorporatetheexpansionofglobaleducationandlanguageprogrammingatWinston,whichwebelieve canhavewiderimpactsinWard7andWard8. WeveseenstronginterestandsupportfromtheWard7community.Thisnotonlyreflectsthegrowing recognitionthatglobalknowledge,skills,andexperiences,aswellasknowledgeofasecondlanguageare importantelementsofa21stcenturyK12education.Wealsoknowthataccesstothiskindofglobaleducationis scarceeastoftheriver,andtheinequitiesarebecomingmoreandmoreapparentatelementaryaswellas secondaryschools.Accesstoforeignlanguageinstruction,especiallyattheelementarylevel,isseenasoffering significantadvantagesintermsofacademicachievementandopeningcollegeandcareeropportunities.Yetwesee limitedaccess,especiallyinourlowerincome,aswellaslessdiverseneighborhoods.TheW7ECproposalcanhelp addressthesedisparities. AGLOBALLYTHEMEDPK8NEIGHBORHOODSCHOOLATWINSTONEC IbelieveWinstonECwillbeagreatchoiceforestablishingahighquality,wholeschoolglobaleducationmodel.I workedwithKatieJones,formerprincipal,onanumberofprojects.WhenIworkedwithinDCPSasDirectorof InternationalPrograms,Winstonwasanenthusiasticparticipantinmanyofourprograms.Theyorganizeda schoolwideAfricaDayaspartofourDCPSAfricaInitiative.TheyhostedweeklongdelegationsofBritishCouncil sponsoredteachersfromtheUK.Basedontheirparticipationintheseexchanges,theBritishCouncilselected Winstontoparticipateintheirprestigioustwoyearinternationalartsintegration,environmentalscienceproject, RiversoftheWorld.ThisincludedWinstonteacherstravelingtoLondon,andBritishteachersvisitingWinston. Studentartprojects,focusedontheAnacostiaandThamesRivers,weredisplayedinbothLondonandDC.Winston hasalwaysappreciatedtheseopportunities,andsoughtmore.Wevealsolearnedthattheglobalcorporation, NorthropGrumman,isalreadyaschoolpartner.
CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com

 WhatWouldThisLookLike? TheW7ECproposalistotransformWinstonECintoaglobalschool.Itisnotanofftheshelf,prepackaged program.Thisisawholeschoolapproachthatwouldbedesignedincloseconsultationwiththestaffand community.ItwouldbesimilartocreatingaWorldCulturesCatalystSchool,butthetransformationwouldbe muchdeeperandfarbeyondastrictlyculture/languagefocus.Globalizingtheschoolmeans: Awholeschooldedicatedtopreparingstudentsforglobalcitizenshipandcareers. GlobalcontentembeddedinallgradesandallsubjectstohelpDCPSachieveitsvisionofeverychildreceiving aworldclasseducation. Aschoolculturethatpromotesglobalcitizenshipandrespectfordiversity. Highexpectationsforallstudents(theworldistheirhorizon). Foreignlanguageteaching. Useoftheinternettomakeglobalconnections/schoolpartnerships. Extensiveuseandinvolvementofpartnerorganizationsbothduringandafterschool. Commitmenttoservice(localandglobal). Ageappropriatefieldtrips,exchanges,andadventuresthatpushstudentstogooutsidetheircomfortzones andpreparethemtocompeteonanationalandgloballevelwiththerestoftheworld. HowDoWeMakeThisHappen? TheDCCenterforGlobalEducationandLeadership(CGEL),aDCnonprofitorganizationcreatedtopromoteand supportglobaleducationinDCPS,wouldlovetopartnerwithWinston,DCPS,andW7ECtobringtheseideasto fruition.CGELcanofferaccesstoexpertise,resources,andsupportsforglobalizingtheschool,andcanalsobe instrumentalinhelpingidentifyexternalresourcesanddevelopstrategicpartnershipswith: Governmentagencies Embassies Universities Internationalbusinesses Internationalorganizations Museums,culturalandartsorganizations Afterschoolprograms Rolloutsuggestions:Wecanenvisionaprocessthatwouldbeginrightaway,involvingthelocalschoolcommunity, toassesscurrentstrengthsandneeds,andtoidentifyamorespecificfocusforagloballythemedschool.Inan initialdiscussionattheschool,twothemespeace/conflictresolutionandserviceseemedtoresonatewiththe principal.Aschoolorganizedaroundtheserelatedthemes,forexample,wouldprovideawonderfulframefor deliveringhighquality,engaging,andageappropriateinstruction.EstablishinganAdvisoryBoard,toassistwith programandresourcedevelopment,wouldbeapriority.TheSY201314schoolyearcouldbeadevelopmental year,withafocusonprofessionaldevelopment,curriculumwriting,andprogramdevelopment.Ibelievethata smallgroupofcriticalfoundationalpartners(includingauniversitypartner)couldbeidentifiedtoworkwiththe schoolduringthisfirstyear.Whilethiswouldbeadevelopmentalyearforstaff,studentswoulddefinitely benefitfromtheoutsetfromanewglobalclimate,globalteaching,andglobalprograms. Costconsiderations:W7ECisnotproposinganofftheshelfprogram.Globalizingtheschoolisnotparticularly expensive.Thecostsareprimarilyassociatedwiththetransitionplanning,schooldesign,professional development,andmarketing.Iimaginestaffingshouldincludeaglobalchangefacilitatorattheschool,aswellasa languageteacher.Equippingtheschoolwithappropriatetechnologywillbeimportant.Withthiskindofstrategic internalinvestment,additionalresourcescouldbeidentifiedthroughstrategicpartnerships.
CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com

 AGLOBALEDUCATION/LANGUAGECENTERATWINSTON Inaddition,W7EChasproposedtheuseofunoccupiedspaceatWinstontostartupaGlobalEducation/Language CenterforDCPSK12studentsandeducators.ThisCenterwouldnotbeaschool,withitsownstudents,butan educationalcenter,whichcouldofferarangeofeducationalcourses,programs,andservicesnotavailableatthe studentshomeschools.AsaDCPScenter,itsprogramswouldbeofferedatnocosttoDCPSstudents(atleast duringtheschoolday). ThisisproposedasanewmodelforDCPS.Atpresent,ifaschooldoesnotfundaneducationalofferingwithinits ownbudget,thentheschoolsstudentshavealmostnochanceofaccessingthiscourseorprogramelsewhere. (ExceptionsaretheFillmoreArtsProgramattheelementarylevelandHISCIPatthehighschoollevel.)Inthecase oflanguages,thisresultsingreatdisparityinaccesstolanguagesacrossthecity.IbelieveWilsonSHSofferssix worldlanguages;somehighschoolsonlyofferlowerlevelcoursesinonelanguage.Atthesametime,thesebudget constraintsmeanthatlesscommonlytaughtandcriticallanguagesaretaughtinfewschools(Chinese)ornone (Arabic,Russian,German,Japanese,andsoon).ThisproposedCenterorHubcouldaddressthischallengeby servingasacreative,costeffectivecomplementtoschoolbasedlanguageandglobaleducationinstructionin Wards7&8. VariousmodelsforthiskindoflanguagehubservingpublicschoolstudentsarefoundinanumberofEuropean andLatinAmericancountries;FairfaxCountyPublicSchoolsalsohasaversion.Designingacenterthatwouldwork forDCPSwouldrequiresignificantresearchandcreativity,butwecanimaginemanywonderfulpossibilities. Considerthese: Offercreditbearinglanguageandglobaleducationclassesforsecondarystudentsduringschoolhoursand afterschool. AdoptaFillmoremodelforlanguageandglobaleducationinstructionforelementarystudents(ie,students wouldbebusedtotheCenteronaregularscheduleie,onceaweek). Offerafterschoolandweekendprograms. Hosttrainingsforteachersandmeetingsaroundglobaleducation. Offercomputer/languagelabs,videoconferencingandothertechnologiesforgloballearning. Offerdistancelearningclasses,especiallyinlanguages. Offerofficeandprogramspaceforgloballyfocusednonprofits. CreateResourceCentersfocusedongeographicculturalregions(Africa,Asia,LatinAmerica,etc.)orother themes. Potentiallyserveotherconstituencies(suchasCommunityCollegestudentsorcharterstudents,forafee). WeenvisionthisCenterwillworkbestasapublicprivatepartnership,andCGELisconfidentthatmanypartners willwishtobeinvolved.First,itwillrequiredetaileddiscussionsinvolvingDCPScentralofficetoreviewthemany budget,programming,andlogisticalissuesthatwouldneedtobeconsideredindevelopingaconcreteproposal. CGELhasbeenadvocatingthisconceptforsometime,andwewouldbeveryexcitedtoworkwithDCPS,W7EC, andtheWinstoncommunitytofleshoutthisproposal.

CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com

 WARD4:MACFARLANDMS Ihavebeeninvolvedinrecentdiscussionswithcommunitymembers,parents,andeducatorsabouthowtobring moreglobaleducationandworldlanguagestoWard4anareaofthecitywithadiversepopulationandstrong globallyfocusedelementaryschools.Obviously,theresagooddealofcomplexityinvolvedindecisionsregarding thefutureofMacFarlandMSandRooseveltSHS(consideringtheconcentrationofcharters,K8schools,andschool boundaryissues),andIhavenotseenaformalproposalfromtheWard4community.Nevertheless,Idliketooffer thesethoughts: CGELwouldsupportanyefforttostrengthentheglobaleducationandlanguageofferingsatbothMacFarland andRoosevelt.WebelievethereisatremendousopportunitytocreateastrongneighborhoodPK12 continuumofglobaleducationandlanguageofferingsinWard4.Secondaryschoolswithastrongglobalfocus andprogrammingwouldnotonlyprovidecontinuityofinstruction,butwouldcreateacompellingoptionfor parentsandstudents. th th Weheartheconcernsthat7 and8 gradersinK8schoolsarereceivingamiddleschoolliteeducation withoutaccesstotypicalmiddleschoolcoursesandprograms,suchasforeignlanguageinstruction.We believethisisfranklyaveryunfairsituationforthesestudents.WewouldurgeinvestinginMacFarlandMS, unlessotherremediesfortheseK8studentstogainaccesstostandardmiddleschoolcourses,suchas languageclasses,canbedeveloped. Withgreatexcitement,wetalkedaboutthepossibilityofcreatingaGlobalSchoolandaGlobalEducation/ LanguageCenterinWard4,atMacFarland,justaswewerediscussingthepossibilityofcreatingaGlobal SchoolandGlobalEducation/LanguageCenteratWinstoninWard7.Theideaofdevelopingthesetwo GlobalZonesatthesametimeintwodifferentsectionsofthecitypresentssomeveryinteresting possibilities.Ipredict,basedonpreliminaryconversations,thatmanyofourpartnerorganizationswouldwish tobeinvolvedinsomeway. Insum,whateverfinaldecisionismaderegardingthesetwoschools,weurgethatglobaleducationandlanguages featureprominentlyinprogramming.Wecertainlywillbesupportive. NEWWARD5MIDDLESCHOOLOFARTSANDLANGUAGES IhavehadnoconversationswithanyWard5grouporschoolinregardtotheDCPSConsolidationand ReorganizationProposal,butIamawareofplanstocreateanewmiddleschoolwithanartsandlanguagestheme. WesupportexpandedlanguageopportunitiesinWard5,andifanyoftheotherglobalschoolproposalspresented hereareapproved,thenitwouldmakesensetoincludethismiddleschoolinfutureplanning,professional development,andpartnerships. GARRISONES IwasapproachedlastweekbyaGarrisonPTAmember,whowasveryinterestedinincorporatingaglobalvision intotheirGarrisonproposal.Asalways,wesupportanyeffortstoglobalizeourschools,andwillbehappytobe involvedinanywaythatmakessense. ____________________ TheDCCenterforGlobalEducationandLeadershipbelievesthatALLDCPSstudents(aswellascharterstudents) shouldhaveanageappropriate,relevant,andhighqualityglobaleducation.Webelievethisprocesshas demonstratedtherisingdemandonthepartofparentsacrossthecityforthiskindofeducation,andwesupport anyforwardmovementinthisdirection.Iamhappytospeakwithanyoneabouttheideaspresented,andspecific strategiesforimplementation.Wewanttobeinvolved!
CGEL PO Box 11503 Washington, DC 20008 202-251-1692 (ph) 202-244-2152 (f) Website: www.dc-cgel.com