SS and NS were among eleven of the 18 Indiana schools that were removed from probationary status by the IDE yesterday. Ironically another one was Harding, which was closed in anticipation of being taken over by the state. Six Indianapolis schools and Gary Roosevelt are still in trouble, their future to be decided by the State Board of Education at the end of August.
The "improvement" was not based on raw passing rates but on the difference between eighth grade and high school scores for the classes that took the tests in 2010 and 2011. The statewide results have not been published. so from the data given on the IDE site it's not possible to tell if test difficulty changed. But I'm sure nobody on Clinton Street cares about that.
Tony Bennett said FWCS improved by "compressing a five year improvement plan into one year". In other words they sat on their ass until he put a gun to their heads. He mentioned an incredible sense of urgency which took ten years to materialize. Well, we can't be taking FWEA out of their comfort zone just for the sake of academic improvement. Heckuva job Wendy.
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21 comments:
Something tells me when Harding H.S. raised its test scores, and there were loads of controversy this year, the test was watered down immensly.
It's hard to say if the tests got easier without seeing how the state as a whole did and how the better districts did. But apparently SSHS and NSHS did do better than the seven schools which are still on the takeover list. That's about all we can conclude for now. The test difficulty and cutoff scores are in the hands of the IDE which obviously has an interest in seeing all districts "improve".
With FWCS claiming their gains are real they should now explain why they didn't make major changes years ago. But that won't happen.
I hope everyone understands that one reason South Side's scores improved so much this year is that the new administration made sure that the vast majority of students were there to take the tests. Last year only around sixty percent of the students showed up or were forced to take the ECA tests. I guess Wendy and her BFF Mark GiaQuinta failed to explain this to the five people at home that were watching the FWCS propaganda meeting. Are they really our schools?
No, telling the whole truth would have popped the balloons at Monday's board meeting.
"The new administration made sure that the vast majority of students were there to take the tests."
The more students who speak are low functioning show up, the less the test scores. So, I would state that 60% of the students were showed up this year.
Wow, anonymous, I'm not usually one to pick on someone's spelling or grammatical errors. But seriously, especially considering that you seem to be writing about undereducated students, couldn't you at least write this so we could understand what you mean?
What matters is what that says about the culture in the district. Why did 40% of the kids stay home? Did they do that on their own, were they told to stay home, what were the consequences for those not shpwing up? And why didn't we hear anything about it from the administration or the JG? Last year's test scores were a disgrace so they just ignored it.
Then this year Harding makes the cut. Their principal was fired because he had no program whatsoever. They changed nothing. They expected to be taken over but instead "improved" by 4%.
"Post hoc, ergo propter hoc."
We always seem to assume that kids staying home from school leads to their poor education. Perhaps, however, the education system is so bad that this causes the kids to stay home. I know there were many days I attended as a kid and could have learned a lot more by staying home and watching Sesame Street or Commander McBragg's history lessons.
http://zhaolearning.com/2011/07/16/ditch-testing-lessons-from-the-atlanta-cheating-scandal-part-2-not-an-anomaly/
The cheating scandal explained.
With half our state tax dollars going to education, taxpayers deserve to know what they're getting for their money. Parents deserve to know what their child is achieving. Official sanctions may be counterproductive but if K-12 schools competed in an open marketplace, schools with consistently lower results would eventually go out of business. So we need to have alternatives to a goverment monopoly on public schools.
Life is a test. A job interview is a test. Everyday at work is a test, which begins by showing up. In a competetive society we can't escape testing.
40% did not take the ECAs in 2010? Where did that number come from, where can I find it? If that is true then I would expect SS scores to be higher - doubt if the better students stayed home!
That number was in a previous comment. I can't tell from last year's number how many kids were supposed to take the test. Unless the IDE counted no-shows against them, I doubt if it would make much difference one way or another.
With the LEAD turmoil last year I can't discount the claim, especially after the district chose to sweep last year's ECA results under the rug.
Siestagirl,
Do you also believe that FWCS attendance rate is 96%? School districts will lie in order to get more money. It is no longer about education, but it is now about saving jobs.
I'm sure every school district uses every trick they can to make HS attendance and graduation rates look better. In my opinion those follow from how well you prepare kids for high school, which is still evident from test scores. Those are harder for districts (easier for the state) to manipulate. The tests are still the bottom line.
School districts do not have to lie about attendance rates, they just follow the Indiana DOE rules. For example, if a student is suspended, they are not counted absent!!
Code Blue - I know it was in a comment but you seemed to buy it by repeating it. I can't find the data on the IDOE website because it is so darn hard to find anything there.
Siestagirl,
I guess if the state and school districts hide a few facts then it must not exist. Why do you think the IDOE makes it so difficult for people to figure out what is taking place in our schools?
~Siestagirl
Not only is the School not required to count suspended students as absence, but neither are said students made to bear the burden (pop) of having those missed days recorded on their official transcripts! Whereas, the student who is absent due to a legit doctor's appointment etc. is counted as absent on on all ledgers, including their official school transcript.
Kate
Siesta -
Let's just say I have good reason to buy it. The data may not show on the IDE speadsheet but I'm sure the district has the numbers and they can easily refute the claim. And while they're at it they can discuss last year's ECA scores, like say at a board meeting with the cameras on.
It's a matter of credibility. Neither Wendy nor anyone who works for her will tell us the truth. And as long as the board has the current mouthpiece as it's chief spokesman, it has no credibility either.
From the Indiana DOE website:
In 2010 at South Side, 92.2% took the algebra ECA and 94.2% took the English ECA. Somewhat greater than 60 percent...
I am not sure when this popped up on the Ind DOE website, but it is there now. Find it under school performance, DOE Compass.
Code Blue Schools,
You can erase my blogs, but the truth remains the same and you know it.
Billy Yate
I don't doubt that the district only tells us what they want us to hear and that their numbers are dubious, but the comment I erased was personal.
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