Adam Clampitt on Education

Raising Expectations

I believe that a thriving public education system and expanded programs for youth across our city are the best way to lift up DC's middle class. The District owes its children an education second to none -- a quality education that fosters intelligence, creativity and builds character. Our children should not need to leave the District to receive a world class education.

A public education system must reach everyone and lift up all District residents. It must provide appropriate and comprehensive literacy and workforce development programs and help District residents compete for well-paying jobs. A trained workforce is key to attracting business and successful economic development to DC.

The Clampitt Plan

• Universal preschool
• Quality curriculum at all grades that includes music, art, health and physical education
• Quality vocational and technical programs
• A complete special education program within DCPS
• Expanded after-school youth programs
• Reward and support our teachers
• Community commitment and involvement

Universal preschool

Our education system must meet the needs of today’s families and enable students to succeed throughout their academic lives. Today, most children live in households where all parents or guardians work. Some families are fortunate to be able to afford private preschool programs, but most are not. I will work on the Council to challenge Chancellor Rhee to establish a universal, public preschool program available to all DC children.

Quality curriculum at all grades that always includes music, art, health and physical education

DC Public Schools should inspire our children to achieve all that we know they can. We will only achieve this if we challenge our children to meet the highest standards of a well-rounded education that stimulates their thirst for knowledge and creativity. I will support Chancellor Rhee as she moves to strengthen the curriculum and gives District children the chance to prove what we already know – our children are among the best and brightest!

We owe them a curriculum that develops intellect, unleashes creativity and builds character. As we raise standards we must include music, art, health and physical education classes for all grade levels because they are basic to a high-quality, well-rounded education.

Quality vocational and technical programs

With one in three DC public school children expected to drop out of school, we are in a serious crisis. I believe that this trend must be reversed, and we will reverse it with high level vocational programming. We must ensure that our schools prepare students for any and all career paths.

For students who choose not to pursue college, we must provide high-level technical and vocational programs in areas that will prepare them for the careers they choose. The absence of these programs today results in the talents of many students being cast aside. They feel isolated, neglected and exit the system. A reintegration of technical and vocational programs of study would result in significantly lower drop-out rates and higher employment rates.

A complete special education program within DCPS

We can no longer neglect District children with special needs. Currently, the District spends roughly $200 million a year on students with special needs, only to offer inadequate programming and ill-equipped facilities. As a result, DC government pays private facilities outside the District to educate these children. This is the result of many years of neglect and poor planning.

We need to reverse this neglect and provide the funding needed to achieve model special-needs programming within DCPS. Working with Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, we must fight for substantial support from the federal government to run quality programs in the District that will lower costs and raise the quality of care and education for children with special needs.

Expanded after-school youth programs

A child’s education is constant. When the school day is over, DC students are left with too few options to continue their learning, and too many become involved in dangerous, sometimes criminal, activities. I will work hard with other councilmembers, Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee to ensure that we offer our students the safe, after-school options they need to continue their learning. These programs must include both continued educational options as well as recreational experiences. Participation by students in such programs will result in better test scores, in-school performance and enrich their lives.

Reward and support our teachers

District parents rightly demand that their children be taught by well-qualified teachers. Our government should, too. Our teachers are professionals and should be trained and paid accordingly. As we provide new training opportunities for teachers and principals, I will work with Chancellor Rhee and the teachers union to implement a performance-based pay system to reward and retain outstanding teachers. I will also work to create an additional $2 million fund to support teachers who choose to live in the District by helping to pay for the District’s high housing costs.

Community commitment and involvement

Engaging our local communities is the only way to reverse years of neglect and rebuild Washington’s human capital. We must never forget that schooling is only one component in educating our children. Parents’ input must be present and valued at home and in education decisions. A commitment to excellence in education requires that parents and the community participate in improving our school system.

Our schools can serve the community in a number of ways. By becoming incubators in the evenings to provide adult literacy programs, workforce development programs and venues for community college courses in cooperation with the University of the District of Columbia; we will ensure that District residents always have access to the resources they need to compete in the marketplace.