Now We Know Why Obama Doesn’t Understand VAM
In order to truly understand value added modeling (VAM), forget the likes of me and of others who hold degrees in mathematics, or statistics, or measurement. Forget that we offer solid, detailed discussions of the problems of VAM. Forget also that those who formerly promoted VAM, like Louisiana’s George Noell, are mysteriously “no longer associated with the project.” According to Michael Bloomberg, just ask a banker. That’s right. Banker and former director of the Office of Management and Budget for the Obama administration Peter Orszag has written an enlightening piece for Bloomberg.com explaining that VAM really does work. First, let me begin with Orszag’s statement regarding “promoting the most talented teachers.” One way of measuring a teacher’s effectiveness has been to see how much his or her students’ test scores rise. According to our banker, VAM is the answer to the “teacher problem.” Critics complain, however, that this measurement has two potential flaws: Okay. Nope. Wow.
Washington Post
Here’s a powerful piece about how an award-winning principal went from being a Common Core supporter to an opponent. This was written by Carol Burris, principal of South Side High School in New York. She was named the 2010 New York State Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators Association of New York State. She is one of the co-authors of the principals’ letter against evaluating teachers by student test scores, which has been signed by 1,535 New York principals. By Carol Burris When I first read about the Common Core State Standards, I cheered. I even co-authored a book, “Opening the Common Core,” on how to help schools meet that goal. I confess that I was naïve. I hear about those distortions every day. Kings and queens COMMISSIONED Mozart to write symphonies for celebrations and ceremonies. Whether or not learning the word ‘commission’ is appropriate for second graders could be debated—I personally think it is a bit over the top. Test scores are a rough proxy for learning.
Breaking News: Providence Officials Oppose Graduation Test
The Providence Student Union has taken a stand against the NECAP graduation test. Last Saturday, a few dozen local leaders took the test, any said it was too hard for them, and they are nervously waiting for their scores. When students take action, everything changes! Here is the news: “Providence City Council education committee opposes NECAP as graduation requirement” March 18, 2013 By Linda Borg PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The City Council’s education committee is asking the Rhode Island Department of Education to abandon using the New England Common Assessment Program as a requirement for high school graduation. In a resolution to be submitted before the City Council, the committee’s chair, Sam Zurier, calls the state test “unfair” because it doesn’t allow some children “a reasonable chance to succeed, and imposes devastating consequences on many children who, through no fault of their own, are not ready to achieve the required test scores.” Like this: Like Loading...
Robin West: Michelle Rhees Costly Agenda (Michelle Rhee, Radical)
Michelle Rhee’s new book, Radical: Fighting To Put Students First, is a captivating memoir. She tells the story of her childhood struggles with her Korean and American heritage, her education triumphs and frustrations from early grade school through college, and her experiences as a new Teach For America recruit in a struggling Baltimore school. Eventually, she rises as chancellor of Washington D.C. public schools and a crusader for education reform. Together these experiences are grist for a successful narrative that reveals her motivations and disposes the reader favorably towards Rhee. Equally interesting and moving are Rhee’s many anecdotes about admirable teachers who have made considerable, positive differences in the lives of low-income and disadvantaged children. But Radical is more than just a memoir studded with encomia to brilliant instructors. The fault for this does not lie solely with the critics’ self interest, as Rhee has protested in multiple interviews.
Politics | Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, March 22, 2013 Every Friday, Dan Lawlor breaks down who's rising and who's falling in the world of Rhode Island politics. Check out who made the cut this week. Who's Hot Providence Student Union-> This past weekend, dozens of adults - lawmakers, reporters, parents, professors, business people - took the state's proposed new high school graduation requirement at an event organized by PSU. Nina Pande-> This hard working non-profit executive director and former Providence School Board President has taken the reins at John Hope Settlement House, and is engaged in a heavy duty turnaround at the decades old agency. Mike Chippendale -> This Northern RI state representative has made some waves opposing the repayment of the multi-million dollar 38 Studios bonds. Gordon Fox-> The Speaker and Senate President announced that General Assembly hearings will now be streamed live on the web. Who’s Not Gordon Fox -> Bait and switch. David Cicilline-> Cicilline better watch out.
Notes from Diane – March 22, 2013: Our Positive Agenda | The Network For Public Education
Diane Ravitch President Dear Friends, The Network for Public Education has received a very positive response, and we are building alliances with grassroots groups across the nation. If you know of any who have not signed up, please tell them how to find us. You know what we oppose: High-stakes testing; privatization of public education; mass school closures to save money or to facilitate privatization; demonization of teachers; lowering of standards for the education profession; for-profit management of schools. Here is what we support: Diane Like this: Like Loading...
School Belongs to the Children
I am honored to sit on a privacy panel with Leonie Haimson of New York, Jason France of Louisiana (aka Crazy Crawfish) and others who have successfully advocated for student privacy in our respective states. If you are unable to come to Austin, get ready to join United Opt Out's spring conference in Denver, CO on March 28-30th, 2014. Come learn how to exercise your parental rights to advocate for your children. Finally, we're excited to announce that substantive student privacy legislation may be introduced in the Colorado General Assembly this session. Please see encouraging details from Chalkbeat Colorado HERE. From the Chalkbeat CO article: "[Senator Vicki Marble] also said that Senate President Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, has given her an exemption from Senate bill deadlines in order to prepare a measure on privacy of student data. Thank you for your continued support for student privacy... we hope to have updates on this bill soon!
Who Created “Michelle Rhee”?
We know that the flesh and blood Michelle A. Rhee was born in Michigan 43 years ago, the second child of South Korean immigrants Shang Rhee, a physician, and Inza Rhee, a clothing store owner. She spent most of her childhood in Ohio, where she attended public and private schools. My question is about the public phenomenon known as “Michelle Rhee.” The one that’s has become America’s most prominent education activist. Who created that character, that symbol? Michelle Rhee created “Michelle Rhee.” But lots of people puff up their resumés early in their career, without attaining Rhee-level success. We, the mainstream media, created “Michelle Rhee.” Did anyone else get that much air time from us? Were we skeptical enough about the ‘miracle’ gains in her first year? “They” created her. But we don’t know for certain where the money behind Michelle Rhee and StudentsFirst comes from. And finally U created her. So ‘They,’ we and U created the social phenomenon that is “Michelle Rhee.”
