Jonetta Rose Barras: At last, education leadership in D.C.

In just a few months, at-large Councilman David Catania has demonstrated why many people were excited about his appointment as chairman of the Committee on Education and Libraries. He has awakened the District’s comatose education reform movement, bringing to the public square issues Mayor Vincent Gray has seemed reluctant to discuss.

For example, Catania has asked how the government should hold parents more accountable for their children’s excessive absences from school. What damage is done by promoting a child to the next grade before he is academically ready; should the city eliminate social promotions?