Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Washington DC can be sliced into a number of dualities, inclduing global and local, federal and city, black and white, north and south, east and west, rich and poor, ambassador and immigrant, and educated and illiterate. No matter which way the city is sliced, there are opposing examples that portray two sides of the globalization coin. Unlike all other global cities located in the United States, Washington DC does not fall under the jurisdiction of any one state government. This foundational arrangement has created a unintended “Home Rule” relationship between DC city residents and the federal government, in which Capitol Hill has direct influence over local laws and regulations and DC residents do not have voting representation in Congress. This paper explores the research on the effects of globalization in Washington DC, focusing on their impact on the city’s local education system. According to United State Census data, Washington DC is one of the most highly-educated cities in the world, with over half of adults possessing a bachelor’s degree. Conversely, in 2013, Washington DC’s public school system had the lowest high school graduation rate in the United States. If education is the “Great Equalizer” in a global society, are the city and federal governments in Washington DC providing local residents with the educational tools and opportunities required to be competitive in the global marketplace?