The District of Columbia (DC) has struggled for decades to improve its public education system. In 2007 the DC government made a bold change in the way it governs public education with the goal of shaking up the system and bringing new energy to efforts to improve outcomes for students. The Public Education Reform Amendment Act (PERAA) shifted control of the city's public schools from an elected school board to the mayor, developed a new state department of education, created the position of chancellor, and made other significant management changes. A Plan for Evaluating the District of Columbia's Public Schools offers a framework for evaluating the effects of PERAA on DC's public schools. The book recommends an evaluation program that includes a systematic yearly public reporting of key data as well as in-depth studies of high-priority issues including: quality of teachers, principals, and other personnel; quality of classroom teaching and learning; capacity to serve vulnerable children and youth; promotion of family and community engagement; and quality and equity of operations, management, and facilities. As part of the evaluation program, the Mayor's Office should produce an annual report to the city on the status of the public schools, including an analysis of trends and all the underlying data. A Plan for Evaluating the District of Columbia's Public Schools suggests that D.C. engage local universities, philanthropic organizations, and other institutions to develop and sustain an infrastructure for ongoing research and evaluation of its public schools. Any effective evaluation program must be independent of school and city leaders and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders. Additionally, its research should meet the highest standards for technical quality.

An Evaluation of the Public Schools of the District of Columbia is a comprehensive five-year summative evaluation report for Phase Two of an initiative to evaluate the District of Columbia's public schools. Consistent with the recommendations in the 2011 report A Plan for Evaluating the District of Columbia's Public Schools, this new report describes changes in the public schools during the period from 2009 to 2013. An Evaluation of the Public Schools of the District of Columbia examines business practices, human resources operations and human capital strategies, academic plans, and student achievement. This report identifies what is working well seven years after legislation was enacted to give control of public schools to the mayor of the District of Columbia and which areas need additional attention.

Stay a step ahead of technological change so that every student can flourish! Students and classrooms are growing more technologically savvy every semester, which presents you with an essential choice: Will you let these learning tools sit idle, or will you unleash the power of technology for your students and staff? The first edition of Planning for Technology created leaders who empowered students to master the technological tools now required for success. This second edition will prepare you for the coming decade, when the pace of change will be much faster. In addition to the core methods and exercises, this book includes: Revisions addressing essential digital developments of the past decade that school leaders must learn to utilize New content covering guidelines for addressing the new Common Core State Standards, distributed leadership, adult learning theory, digital citizenship, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more A new chapter on creating a "culture of technology" that goes beyond user manuals to create responsible, tech-savvy students Technology is no longer optional—it is a requirement for success in the 21st century. Planning for Technology is the go-to resource for ensuring your students thrive. "This book is about how to plan for technology, promote it, pay for it, and take steps to ensure that it really is improving student achievement. This book makes school administrators consider more thoughtfully how they are using technology for teaching and learning and why. It helps the reader understand how to plan for and implement technology in a more effective way." —Patricia L. Tucker, Retired Regional Superintendent District of Columbia Public Schools, DC "The reflective activities at the end of every chapter prompt leaders to think about diverse areas they may have not thought about before." —Frances L. O’Reilly, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership The University of Montana-Missoula