Determined not to be the White moderate from MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail. On a journey. She/her.
Washington, DC
Joined February 2013
- Tweets2.1K
- Following270
- Followers449
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Abigail Smith retweeted
Eliminating the Pay Equity Fund means child care programs raising already unaffordable tuition to keep from slashing salaries or an exodus of educators in a sector struggling to find & retain them. Less stability & continuity of care for kids, more work disruptions for parents.
We knew that this was going to be a tough budget year. But this one-two punch eliminating the #PayEquityFund and cutting the childcare subsidy by $10M is devastating. High quality childcare is the engine of our economy and the foundation for thriving children and families.
And it feels all the more demoralizing when you see the equivalent increases to MPD+DYRS (h/t @EduardoRFerrer). Again, I realize there are tough choices to be made in a tight budget year, but it's hard to rationalize the message this sends about what we're investing in.
Abigail Smith retweeted
Do you work at a child development center in DC? The education requirements for teachers and assistant teachers go into effect Dec. 2, 2023. Learn more and get connected to programs and supports➡️ osse.dc.gov/eceresources
Before this site implodes, here’s a plug for a new book by @MikeZamore and @SenJeffMerkley. Wanna understand how we got to the dysfunctional Senate of today - and how to fix it? Engaging, sometimes enraging, and very enlightening. Amazon pre-order link: a.co/d/6TyGQY6
So proud of the District of Columbia!
The D.C. State Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of new social studies standards that will transform the way the subject is taught in schools.
bit.ly/3NtZqZk
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I think I’ll get a new bumper sticker: Proud parent of two graduates of DC’s inmate factories.
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This 🧵. Kind of hilarious as political theater goes. But also enraging, insulting, and potentially dangerous. Thanks for the blow by blow @maustermuhle
And the House hearing on D.C. has started! Some background here: teapawt.org/maustermuhle/status/16…
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.@LawProfButler nails it. It’s shameful and enraging that the President and all but 14 Senators lack the spine to challenge the bogus “tough on crime” narrative. Let alone their willingness to ignore home rule. washingtonpost.com/opinions/…
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Great recap by @maustermuhle, including pointing out the total hypocrisy of senators horrified at sentences that are HIGHER than in their own states. Shout out to @SenBooker & @ChrisVanHollen for standing up to this attack on home rule. And for introducing some much needed facts
The Senate debate on the measure that would block D.C.'s bill that overhauls the city's criminal code is now starting.
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Strong disagree. Yes, you have every right to speak out against state or local laws or policies you find unfair or lacking. But, no, you can’t support statehood and home rule, while actively overturning a duly past law.
Abigail Smith retweeted
Thanks to the Pay Equity Fund more than 90% of the District’s early childhood educators received a living wage in FY23. They can now receive FREE #HealthCare4ChildCare. #WashingtonDC #Under3DC
Abigail Smith retweeted
Violent crime in DC in 2022 was the lowest its been in at least 30 years. Violent crime in DC is down nearly 20% yoy so far. Congress moving to override the will of the people of DC is not about violent crime or crime policy. It's about power & control.
Mark my words: This revision of DC’s social studies standards will be pilloried by the usual suspects on the right - with all kinds of outlandish claims about how we are poisoning our children with problematic ideas. 1/x washingtonpost.com/education…
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I am proud of the work of so many in developing these new standards, which reflect a comprehensive and clear eyed view of history in all its complexity - recognizing the inherent values tensions that were present at our nation’s founding and persist to this day. 2/x
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They emphasize critical, thinking, and civic engagement, both of which are foundations of the pluralistic democracy, to which our nation aspires. I am confident that DC’s leaders will stand up to the bullies who are sure to come after us over these standards. @campaignfuture
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Yes, we still have a long way to go. But for those of us have been in this work since the days of #DoubleTheNumbers, we have done exactly that - from 9% to our named goal of 18%. @JIMSEDU @robyn_mikvadc @DC_CAP @HerbTillery @HendersonKaya @OSSEDC
New @OSSEDC rpt on 2011-12 9th grade:
4,908 cohort of 1st time 9th graders
3,210 (65%) graduated HS in 4 yrs
2,239 (46%) enrolled in college w/i 24 months
900 (18.3%) completed a degree by 2022.
