Abby Raphael | ARLnow

Ed Talk: The New Budget Reality

Published May 1, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated May 1, 2020 at 2:33PM

On February 27, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that there were 16 COVID-19 cases in the United States.

That same day, the Arlington Public Schools (APS) interim Superintendent presented her proposed FY 2021 budget, with total expenditures of $725.9 million. That reflected an 8.4% increase in expenditures over the current year, added 265 positions, and increased per pupil spending from $19,921 to $21,290. It included a step increase and cost of living adjustment for employees. Revenue was estimated at $698.4 million, with options presented for spending reductions to reduce the $27.5 million budget deficit.

Opinion

Ed Talk: The New Reality

By Abby Raphael

Published April 3, 2020 at 2:15PM

There is a new reality for students, families, teachers, staff, and school leaders: K-12 schools are closed through the end of the academic year, as ordered by Virginia’s Governor.

With this new reality, what are the priorities, challenges, and opportunities for Arlington Public Schools (APS) students?

Opinion

Ed Talk: Accountability

By Abby Raphael

Published February 7, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated February 7, 2020 at 3:30PM

Accountability in education means having clear goals for student achievement and data that is readily available to decision-makers and the public to assess progress toward those goals.

Strategic Planning – Setting Goals

Opinion

Ed Talk: Elementary School Moves/Boundaries

By Abby Raphael

Published December 13, 2019 at 2:45PM

While many believe that Arlington Public Schools (APS) currently is engaged in an elementary school boundary process, it is not. Instead, APS proposes moving entire school populations from one school to another. It then will consider boundary changes in the fall of 2020, offering no details on what those might look like.

Making adjustments to school assignments is necessary to create an attendance zone to fill seats at the new elementary school at the Reed building opening in 2021. In addition, APS intends to redraw the attendance zone for Arlington Science Focus School to address significant crowding in that part of the County.

Opinion

Ed Talk: Equity in Arlington Education

By Abby Raphael

Published November 1, 2019 at 2:30PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:23AM

For the second year in a row, Niche has ranked Arlington Public Schools (APS) as the best school division in Virginia.

The Niche rankings are based in part on standardized test scores in reading and math, averaging the test scores of all students. While Arlington can be proud of the quality of its schools, such rankings based on aggregate data hide the disparities in academic achievement among different student groups.