No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires testing in Grades 3-8 and the recent release of scores is enlightening. Schools are “evaluated” by the percentage of students “at or above standards,” on Levels Three plus Four. In virtually every school the percentage of student “at or above standard” declines in each successive grade, and, the decline is especially evident from Grades Five to Six and throughout Middle School.
NYC is doing much better than other urban centers in the state and much worse than suburbs. No surprises.
It is easy to point to large class sizes in NYC and to quote from CFE decision: substantial lower funding of schools in NYC. This is a significant element impacting effective instruction.
On the other hand we can point to waves of school reforms. Whether at the national level or the state level or the local level: the reforms have one thing in common, they have had little impact.
Larry Cuban, a historian of education has written extensively about the school reform initiatives and finds them unsuccessful. The most recent, No Child Left Behind, is basically punitive. If schools fail to reach goals there are negative consequences for the school. Other “reforms” aver a particular approach to teaching and learning. “Progressive” or “transformative” or “basic,” or whatever, philosophies that drive particular programs.
The SED “reform,” called “Destination Diploma” tries to share “successful practices” with high schools throughout the State.
The DOE Children First initiative that has evolved into Empowerment Schools is a governance model, initially with centrally imposed “programs.”
At the school level teachers continue to “put their toe in the water,” and leave. Teacher turnover rates are distressing, both in NYC and throughout the nation. Reform initiatives rarely deal with the core issue : teacher recruitment and retention.
Can we point to any particular NYC initiative that clearly impacts positively on pupil performance?
Do schools with Leadership Academy principals show greater student achievement and higher teacher retention rates? No.
Do schools using “packaged” programs, America First, etc., show greater gains in pupil achievement and higher teacher retention rates? No.
Can we point to any program in the City that appears to be “working”?
The answer is yes: The UFT Teacher Centers.
For the third successive year Region 5, the only region that utilizes the UFT Teacher Centers as the prime provider of professional development has shown the greatest gains on standardized tests.
Teachers flock to teacher centers and flee the regionally based mega programs. Why?
Teacher Center staff are the product of a rigorous selection process, and the school principal has the final vote. Schools “chose” to pay for a Teacher center.
Each Teacher Center crafts their services to the needs of teachers in individual schools. In Region 5, and throughout the city Teacher Centers are networked, expertise is shared.
The essence of professionalism is a collegial spirit, teachers, new and experienced, engaged, sharing and learning form each other in a skillfully facilitated environment.
It’s never those top down reforms with the catchy names, it’s always those guys and gals talking together about, you guessed it, kids.
2 Comments:
1 NYC Educator
· Sep 28, 2006 at 6:18 am
I agree that there’s no significant improvement under Mayor Mike. I marvel at AM talk show hosts who uncritically report he’s lowered class size when I see overwhelming evidence he hasn’t every single day. However, he’s somehow managed to convince the public, the LA mayor, and much of the country otherwise.
Until working people manage to get the truth out, or make our position clear, or whatever, we’re not going to help ourselves very much. This message needs a much wider audience.
2 institutional memory
· Sep 28, 2006 at 9:56 am
DUMBED DOWN BEYOND RECOGNITION … “WHATEVER” REPLACES “E PLURIBUS UNUM” AS NATIONAL MOTTO
NYC Educator’s point is well-taken.
The worst aspect about the “dumbing down” of our culture is that people are stunningly susceptible to misinformation.
The old saw, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but nobody is entitled to their own facts” has been replaced by “My mind is made up; don’t bother me with the facts.”
To many Americans, there’s no longer any difference between documentary and docudrama, or between information and infotainment.
But enough of this negativity … let’s go shopping!