The system is moving in the right direction, Professor James Crooks wrote in the Folio Weekly about our school system because of reports that our graduation rates were improving and that the district has reported a decrease in discipline problems. The good professor however left out a couple of important things.
First there is the fact that the formula for graduation rates was dramatically changed recently, which led to our bump. It gets worse than that however. I have six kids in my classes who I have never met and despite me reporting them to the attendance team several times they have yet to be withdrawn, extrapolate that county wide and that could be thousands of kids who have effectively dropped out but have stayed on our rolls. Nor does he mention the loophole that prevents kids who enter adult education classes (GED, etc.) from being withdrawn, which probably counts for about a five percent improvement in out rates.
(http://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-duval-countys-graduation-rate.html)
His claim that discipline has improved is also laughable. He failed to mention how the average teacher (probably because he doesn’t know any) would completely disagree with the statement that discipline has greatly improved. However what has improved is teachers ignoring bad behavior and enduring toxic learning environments. It’s common for administrators to “with quote marks” say, if a teacher writes to many referrals, his or her evaluation, performance pay and even job can be in jeopardy.
Professor Crooks with all due respect in the future when you write about Jacksonville why don’t you stick with the climate, the golf courses or special neighborhoods like Fernandina Beach or Avondale because you obviously have no idea what is happening in our schools and when you regurgitate statistics issued by self serving parties you do our city and it’s children a disservice.
Chris Guerrieri
School Teacher
Showing posts with label graduation rates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graduation rates. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Who is to blame when black children fail?
From the Sun Sentinel
By Jason Schultz
DELRAY BEACH — A noted psychologist told a gathering of teachers, school officials and parents that the reason why black males are struggling to graduate high school has very little to do with the failures of teachers.
It has much more to do with the failures of modern society, he said.
"I'm unwilling to stand up here and pretend that you are somehow responsible for their failures," Na'im Akbar told teachers Tuesday at a symposium on graduation rates at Atlantic Community High School. The symposium was the second meeting of a task force started by the school district to generate ideas to improve graduation rates, particularly among black males.
The graduation rate for Palm Beach County black males is about 65 percent, far behind the nearly 82 percent districtwide rate, according to a letter from Superintendent Art Johnson in the symposium program.
Akbar, a former psychologist at Florida State University, laid out what he called a "collage of factors" in society that he said keep these students from graduating.
He said shortcomings of the school system are only a small part of the problem.
"You are not the cause. You are faced with this consequence that you are magically expected to solve," Akbar said.
He pointed to poverty and the high number of black children born to young, single mothers as larger causes for graduation rate problems.
He also said that many of the children in school now were born into families devastated by the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s.
"These are the crack babies, and some of them the crack grandbabies, who you are now trying to educate," Akbar said.
Akbar said children are "miseducated" before they even get to the classroom because they now get their socialization and image of how they are supposed to act from television instead of their families and communities.
"[Black Entertainment Television] becomes the model of how you want to be," Akbar said. "You want to be a clown. You want to be a pimp."
An important thing that could be done to improve graduation rates, Johnson told the crowd, is to find ways to remove negative social stereotypes that hold minority students back.
"Students will rise or fall to the level of our expectations," Johnson said.
The next meeting of the graduation rate task force is scheduled for Feb. 22.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-palm-grad-rates-meeting-20110125,0,5632720.story
By Jason Schultz
DELRAY BEACH — A noted psychologist told a gathering of teachers, school officials and parents that the reason why black males are struggling to graduate high school has very little to do with the failures of teachers.
It has much more to do with the failures of modern society, he said.
"I'm unwilling to stand up here and pretend that you are somehow responsible for their failures," Na'im Akbar told teachers Tuesday at a symposium on graduation rates at Atlantic Community High School. The symposium was the second meeting of a task force started by the school district to generate ideas to improve graduation rates, particularly among black males.
The graduation rate for Palm Beach County black males is about 65 percent, far behind the nearly 82 percent districtwide rate, according to a letter from Superintendent Art Johnson in the symposium program.
Akbar, a former psychologist at Florida State University, laid out what he called a "collage of factors" in society that he said keep these students from graduating.
He said shortcomings of the school system are only a small part of the problem.
"You are not the cause. You are faced with this consequence that you are magically expected to solve," Akbar said.
He pointed to poverty and the high number of black children born to young, single mothers as larger causes for graduation rate problems.
He also said that many of the children in school now were born into families devastated by the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s.
"These are the crack babies, and some of them the crack grandbabies, who you are now trying to educate," Akbar said.
Akbar said children are "miseducated" before they even get to the classroom because they now get their socialization and image of how they are supposed to act from television instead of their families and communities.
"[Black Entertainment Television] becomes the model of how you want to be," Akbar said. "You want to be a clown. You want to be a pimp."
An important thing that could be done to improve graduation rates, Johnson told the crowd, is to find ways to remove negative social stereotypes that hold minority students back.
"Students will rise or fall to the level of our expectations," Johnson said.
The next meeting of the graduation rate task force is scheduled for Feb. 22.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-palm-grad-rates-meeting-20110125,0,5632720.story
Thursday, January 6, 2011
History will judge
History will Judge
History will judge the current generation by its ability to solve the public education crisis, is what a local business leader and former governor of West Virginia Bob Wise told Jacksonville CEOs Wednesday at the graduate now summit hosted by the United Way. What a ridiculous statement because if things continue on the path they are now, future generations won’t be able to judge anything through history because they both won’t understand it or be able to read it.
Once again business and community leaders met to discuss the state of education in Jacksonville. If that sounds familiar it’s because it happens every few months or so. They do it so they can both point to statistics that say high school graduates make and spend more money, while shaking their fists, demanding something must be done and so they can appear to be doing something. I say appear because they have been having meetings like this for years now and they have almost nothing to show for them. In fact many people, who are in the know, teachers and parents, think things are getting worse. Jacksonville has a graduation rate of 65% which sadly is a bit misleading because a significant amount of new graduates aren’t prepared for college, working or anything.
If Jacksonville’s business and community leaders are truly interested and serious about improving education and to be honest I have my doubts after all it’s much easier to talk about change than do what is necessary to make sure it happens, the first and far the most important thing they need to do is lobby the state government to properly fund education. Mentors, community tutors and blue ribbon commissions are nice but what the school system needs is money.
Education needs mandatory longer days and summer school opportunities for children who need extra help. Education needs social workers and mental health counselors because quite often why children act up or don’t try at school has nothing to do with what is going on in school. Education needs more restrictive alternative programs to send children that hijack the learning environment to. Then education also needs multiple tracks so children can learn the arts, skills and trades as well. What do all these things have in common besides the fact we aren’t either doing them now or to the degree we should be? They cost money.
At the summit superintendant Pratt Dannals said “…we’re one great community away from being a great school system. It takes both.” In a way he’s right. Schools are not platforms for fixing the ills of society, though if done correctly school districts can enhance a city and can be immensely beneficial. Some cities crown jewels are its school system. Jacksonville’s schools unfortunately aren’t doing it right; instead of making things better they are exacerbating our cities problems. It’s not just the abysmal drop out and graduation rates that I am talking about either. In our city we can’t go a day without hearing about a young person committing some terrible crime. Businesses are likewise having difficult times finding capable, productive, and reliable workers. These are also some of the problems that Jacksonville’s public school system is contributing to.
When children don’t get consequences for their behavior it worsens. When children are pushed along from grade to grade they are rendered incapable of learning or being productive. When all children are forced into a one size fits all curriculum we shouldn’t be surprised when more and more don’t make it. When children drop out of school, don’t know how to behave or function in society we also shouldn’t be surprised that many turn to public assistance, crime or worse.
Jacksonville has serious problems that aren’t going to fix themselves either through cooking the books which is what the school board has been doing, by ignoring discipline, scrubbing children’s grades and encouraging children to take advanced placement tests they aren’t ready for or by having summits where the business elite get together to pat each other on the back and say something must be done. After all this is what we have been doing for a while and if you want proof of how successful it’s been, look at Duval Counties graduation rates over the last few years, 02-03, 63.7%, 03-04, 67.2%, 04-05, 65.5%, 05-06, 60.5%, 06-07,64.3%, 07-08 65.9%.
That’s our recent history. You be the judge of how we are doing
History will judge the current generation by its ability to solve the public education crisis, is what a local business leader and former governor of West Virginia Bob Wise told Jacksonville CEOs Wednesday at the graduate now summit hosted by the United Way. What a ridiculous statement because if things continue on the path they are now, future generations won’t be able to judge anything through history because they both won’t understand it or be able to read it.
Once again business and community leaders met to discuss the state of education in Jacksonville. If that sounds familiar it’s because it happens every few months or so. They do it so they can both point to statistics that say high school graduates make and spend more money, while shaking their fists, demanding something must be done and so they can appear to be doing something. I say appear because they have been having meetings like this for years now and they have almost nothing to show for them. In fact many people, who are in the know, teachers and parents, think things are getting worse. Jacksonville has a graduation rate of 65% which sadly is a bit misleading because a significant amount of new graduates aren’t prepared for college, working or anything.
If Jacksonville’s business and community leaders are truly interested and serious about improving education and to be honest I have my doubts after all it’s much easier to talk about change than do what is necessary to make sure it happens, the first and far the most important thing they need to do is lobby the state government to properly fund education. Mentors, community tutors and blue ribbon commissions are nice but what the school system needs is money.
Education needs mandatory longer days and summer school opportunities for children who need extra help. Education needs social workers and mental health counselors because quite often why children act up or don’t try at school has nothing to do with what is going on in school. Education needs more restrictive alternative programs to send children that hijack the learning environment to. Then education also needs multiple tracks so children can learn the arts, skills and trades as well. What do all these things have in common besides the fact we aren’t either doing them now or to the degree we should be? They cost money.
At the summit superintendant Pratt Dannals said “…we’re one great community away from being a great school system. It takes both.” In a way he’s right. Schools are not platforms for fixing the ills of society, though if done correctly school districts can enhance a city and can be immensely beneficial. Some cities crown jewels are its school system. Jacksonville’s schools unfortunately aren’t doing it right; instead of making things better they are exacerbating our cities problems. It’s not just the abysmal drop out and graduation rates that I am talking about either. In our city we can’t go a day without hearing about a young person committing some terrible crime. Businesses are likewise having difficult times finding capable, productive, and reliable workers. These are also some of the problems that Jacksonville’s public school system is contributing to.
When children don’t get consequences for their behavior it worsens. When children are pushed along from grade to grade they are rendered incapable of learning or being productive. When all children are forced into a one size fits all curriculum we shouldn’t be surprised when more and more don’t make it. When children drop out of school, don’t know how to behave or function in society we also shouldn’t be surprised that many turn to public assistance, crime or worse.
Jacksonville has serious problems that aren’t going to fix themselves either through cooking the books which is what the school board has been doing, by ignoring discipline, scrubbing children’s grades and encouraging children to take advanced placement tests they aren’t ready for or by having summits where the business elite get together to pat each other on the back and say something must be done. After all this is what we have been doing for a while and if you want proof of how successful it’s been, look at Duval Counties graduation rates over the last few years, 02-03, 63.7%, 03-04, 67.2%, 04-05, 65.5%, 05-06, 60.5%, 06-07,64.3%, 07-08 65.9%.
That’s our recent history. You be the judge of how we are doing
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A loophole big enough to drive a convoy of dropouts through
What really is Jacksonville public schools graduation rate? -cpg
As Saturday's St. Petersburg Times story noted with a brief quote, Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith is not defending the state's graduation rate formula, which has a loophole big enough to drive a convoy of dropouts through. Keep reading to see his comments in more detail.
(To recap: the formula discounts thousands of students who transfer into adult education programs. A Times analysis shows that pumps up the state rate by 6 percentage points and some district rates even more. Hillsborough's much-touted rate falls from 82.3 percent to 70.4 percent when adult ed transfers are factored in. The loophole will close in 2011-12, when the state moves to yet another grad rate formula - the "federal uniform rate.")
Said Smith: "We lose track of them (adult ed transfers) and where they end up. They could be transferred to adult ed and be gone in a day and actually be a dropout but disguised ... "
"I wouldn't call it misleading. But it doesn't give you as pure a calculation as we can have, one that would allow us to compare success or lack of success within a school or a district across the state the way we would like to. The more exceptions you add, the more poorly defined it is. And it becomes a problem for us. We end up seeing things like you're identifying now ... "
The rate is "not as clear as it should be. Most people, when they hear the term graduation rate, they expect it to be the kids that march across your stage with a full high school diploma. And that's not what we're reporting today. We report that plus some exceptions. For mom and dad at home, it can lead to a misunderstanding about what the actual graduation rate is ... "
"I think what intensifies the problem is the graduation rate now part of high school accountability ... the increased focus and pressure on increasing the graduation rate, that sometimes could lead to some pretty bad choices with kids. If you don't keep it tight, the way you define it, it leaves it open to be gamed or misused or used inappropriately. I'm not saying that's widespread but it certainly could be something to occur. The way to avoid it is to tighten it up."
Taken from the St. Petersburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/florida-education-commissioner-state-graduation-rate-formula-not-clear-it-should-be
As Saturday's St. Petersburg Times story noted with a brief quote, Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith is not defending the state's graduation rate formula, which has a loophole big enough to drive a convoy of dropouts through. Keep reading to see his comments in more detail.
(To recap: the formula discounts thousands of students who transfer into adult education programs. A Times analysis shows that pumps up the state rate by 6 percentage points and some district rates even more. Hillsborough's much-touted rate falls from 82.3 percent to 70.4 percent when adult ed transfers are factored in. The loophole will close in 2011-12, when the state moves to yet another grad rate formula - the "federal uniform rate.")
Said Smith: "We lose track of them (adult ed transfers) and where they end up. They could be transferred to adult ed and be gone in a day and actually be a dropout but disguised ... "
"I wouldn't call it misleading. But it doesn't give you as pure a calculation as we can have, one that would allow us to compare success or lack of success within a school or a district across the state the way we would like to. The more exceptions you add, the more poorly defined it is. And it becomes a problem for us. We end up seeing things like you're identifying now ... "
The rate is "not as clear as it should be. Most people, when they hear the term graduation rate, they expect it to be the kids that march across your stage with a full high school diploma. And that's not what we're reporting today. We report that plus some exceptions. For mom and dad at home, it can lead to a misunderstanding about what the actual graduation rate is ... "
"I think what intensifies the problem is the graduation rate now part of high school accountability ... the increased focus and pressure on increasing the graduation rate, that sometimes could lead to some pretty bad choices with kids. If you don't keep it tight, the way you define it, it leaves it open to be gamed or misused or used inappropriately. I'm not saying that's widespread but it certainly could be something to occur. The way to avoid it is to tighten it up."
Taken from the St. Petersburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/florida-education-commissioner-state-graduation-rate-formula-not-clear-it-should-be
Monday, December 20, 2010
Is Duval County's graduation rate misleading?
If Hillsborough County's graduation rate falls 12 percent, how far would Duval County’s fall? -cpg
By Ron Matus and Connie Humburg, St. Petersburg Times Staff Writers
When the state of Florida released its official high school graduation figures last month, Gov. Charlie Crist's office said the rates had "soared to new heights." But the numbers are not flying nearly as high as the state proclaims, according to an analysis by the St. Petersburg Times.
Blame a loophole.
Nearly 15,000 students who headed into adult education programs were not counted toward the latest graduation rate. Put them back in the mix, and Florida's graduation rate drops from 79 percent to 73.3 percent.
The numbers fall even further for some school districts, including Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough.
The latter has boasted about having the highest graduation rate among Florida's seven biggest school districts. But when the adult education transfers are included, Hillsborough's rate tumbles from 82.3 percent to 70.4 percent, putting it fourth among the big seven.
The state's top education official suggested the revised rate is more accurate.
"That's a group of kids that really we're just not being accountable for," Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith said. "We intend to deal with that and we're moving in the right direction."
Critics say the loophole not only masks how many kids are truly dropping out, but shortchanges students who may have benefited from other options. Though not unique to Florida, it's a big reason why the state's official rates are at odds with credible estimates by independent researchers who say the state's real numbers are much lower.
Change is coming. For the class of 2012, the state will move to a new graduation rate formula, established by the federal government, that does not discount adult education transfers. The new rate will expose districts that have been nudging lots of kids into those programs. It will also whack some high schools, given a new grading system that considers growth in grad rates.
Hillsborough High in Tampa, for example, could see its rate plummet by 20 percentage points while Dixie Hollins High in Pinellas could drop by 17. Their grades could get zapped too.
In the meantime, though, parents and others are left to wonder: What is the real rate? And is it getting better or not?
"Let's deal with reality," said Pinellas School Board member Linda Lerner, who raised the issue at a workshop this week. "It's not a matter of looking at what rate is worse. It's a matter of looking at what's really happening."
The state began excluding adult education transfers more than a decade ago, for reasons the Florida Department of Education could not immediately answer.
Students who transfer to adult education programs must be 16 years old. Many of them are far behind in credits, saddled with low grade point averages and facing an uphill slog to a diploma. In many districts, critics say, the system simply loses track of them.
The response from districts to the revised grad rate depends on how much their numbers drop. Those that suffer by comparison say they're playing by the rules, or doing their best to offer options. Those that don't say they deserve credit for taking the high road.
Hillsborough had 2,138 adult education transfers in the 2009-10 cohort. That's more than any other district and almost twice as many as Miami-Dade, which has twice as many students.
The Times e-mailed district officials questions Thursday, including: Does the revised graduation rate offer a truer picture?
Late Friday afternoon, district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe e-mailed this response: "Our goal is to offer students as many opportunities for success as possible. While we would like every student to get a regular diploma in four years, the reality is that is not possible for some kids."
She also wrote: "We offer far more opportunities in adult education than the other school districts."
When transfer students are considered, Palm Beach County has the best grad rate among the big districts, at 80.1 percent. Palm Beach had 292 adult education transfers in the most recent graduation cohort, about a third as many as Pinellas.
"You know that old E.F. Hutton commercial: We earn our money the old fashioned way?" said Palm Beach County superintendent Art Johnson. "We earn our graduation rates the old fashioned way."
Johnson said the district strives to find better options for at-risk kids than adult education. In the short term, its graduation rates might take a hit. But when the new formula kicks in, it'll be breathing easier.
"We won't have to wean ourself," he said.
Pinellas' graduation rate drops from 78 to 70.7 percent once adult education transfers are included. Pinellas officials wouldn't say which rate is more accurate. That "would depend on what your definition of a graduate is," said Alan Mortimer, director of research and accountability in Pinellas.
Pasco's rate falls from 81.9 to 73.3 percent.
Ramon Suarez, that district's supervisor of graduation enhancement, said Pasco does track adult education transfers. If the student drops out, they're recoded as such at their home school, he said.
But he wasn't sure why Pasco had a higher rate of such students. "That's a good question," he said.
Crunching graduation rates, especially in Florida, is complicated and controversial. Even with calls for a more honest rate, there are gray areas in adult education transfers:
• The number of such transfers is steadily declining. For the 2006-07 cohort, there were 22,724 such transfers, according to DOE figures. For the 2009-10 cohort, there were 14,744.
• It appears Florida's grad rate is inflated and improving. Solid, independent estimates find that while Florida's rate is among the lowest in the country, it is also among the fastest-rising.
• There remains a debate about how to consider GED recipients. The GED route isn't nearly as rigorous as the path to a standard diploma. But many principals and district officials say the gumption it takes for students to successfully navigate it should carry some reward for the institutions that helped them.
Still, it's not hard to back the idea of a better formula, said Sherman Dorn, a University of South Florida professor who has rapped the state's rate for years.
"Graduation rates are sort of like mortality rates . . . they don't help you intervene at the time," Dorn said. "But it should lead to more honest discussions about what to do down the line."
Ron Matus can be reached at matus@sptimes.com and (727) 893-8873.
Taken from the St. Peterburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/graduation-rates-soar-through-loophole/1140805
By Ron Matus and Connie Humburg, St. Petersburg Times Staff Writers
When the state of Florida released its official high school graduation figures last month, Gov. Charlie Crist's office said the rates had "soared to new heights." But the numbers are not flying nearly as high as the state proclaims, according to an analysis by the St. Petersburg Times.
Blame a loophole.
Nearly 15,000 students who headed into adult education programs were not counted toward the latest graduation rate. Put them back in the mix, and Florida's graduation rate drops from 79 percent to 73.3 percent.
The numbers fall even further for some school districts, including Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough.
The latter has boasted about having the highest graduation rate among Florida's seven biggest school districts. But when the adult education transfers are included, Hillsborough's rate tumbles from 82.3 percent to 70.4 percent, putting it fourth among the big seven.
The state's top education official suggested the revised rate is more accurate.
"That's a group of kids that really we're just not being accountable for," Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith said. "We intend to deal with that and we're moving in the right direction."
Critics say the loophole not only masks how many kids are truly dropping out, but shortchanges students who may have benefited from other options. Though not unique to Florida, it's a big reason why the state's official rates are at odds with credible estimates by independent researchers who say the state's real numbers are much lower.
Change is coming. For the class of 2012, the state will move to a new graduation rate formula, established by the federal government, that does not discount adult education transfers. The new rate will expose districts that have been nudging lots of kids into those programs. It will also whack some high schools, given a new grading system that considers growth in grad rates.
Hillsborough High in Tampa, for example, could see its rate plummet by 20 percentage points while Dixie Hollins High in Pinellas could drop by 17. Their grades could get zapped too.
In the meantime, though, parents and others are left to wonder: What is the real rate? And is it getting better or not?
"Let's deal with reality," said Pinellas School Board member Linda Lerner, who raised the issue at a workshop this week. "It's not a matter of looking at what rate is worse. It's a matter of looking at what's really happening."
The state began excluding adult education transfers more than a decade ago, for reasons the Florida Department of Education could not immediately answer.
Students who transfer to adult education programs must be 16 years old. Many of them are far behind in credits, saddled with low grade point averages and facing an uphill slog to a diploma. In many districts, critics say, the system simply loses track of them.
The response from districts to the revised grad rate depends on how much their numbers drop. Those that suffer by comparison say they're playing by the rules, or doing their best to offer options. Those that don't say they deserve credit for taking the high road.
Hillsborough had 2,138 adult education transfers in the 2009-10 cohort. That's more than any other district and almost twice as many as Miami-Dade, which has twice as many students.
The Times e-mailed district officials questions Thursday, including: Does the revised graduation rate offer a truer picture?
Late Friday afternoon, district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe e-mailed this response: "Our goal is to offer students as many opportunities for success as possible. While we would like every student to get a regular diploma in four years, the reality is that is not possible for some kids."
She also wrote: "We offer far more opportunities in adult education than the other school districts."
When transfer students are considered, Palm Beach County has the best grad rate among the big districts, at 80.1 percent. Palm Beach had 292 adult education transfers in the most recent graduation cohort, about a third as many as Pinellas.
"You know that old E.F. Hutton commercial: We earn our money the old fashioned way?" said Palm Beach County superintendent Art Johnson. "We earn our graduation rates the old fashioned way."
Johnson said the district strives to find better options for at-risk kids than adult education. In the short term, its graduation rates might take a hit. But when the new formula kicks in, it'll be breathing easier.
"We won't have to wean ourself," he said.
Pinellas' graduation rate drops from 78 to 70.7 percent once adult education transfers are included. Pinellas officials wouldn't say which rate is more accurate. That "would depend on what your definition of a graduate is," said Alan Mortimer, director of research and accountability in Pinellas.
Pasco's rate falls from 81.9 to 73.3 percent.
Ramon Suarez, that district's supervisor of graduation enhancement, said Pasco does track adult education transfers. If the student drops out, they're recoded as such at their home school, he said.
But he wasn't sure why Pasco had a higher rate of such students. "That's a good question," he said.
Crunching graduation rates, especially in Florida, is complicated and controversial. Even with calls for a more honest rate, there are gray areas in adult education transfers:
• The number of such transfers is steadily declining. For the 2006-07 cohort, there were 22,724 such transfers, according to DOE figures. For the 2009-10 cohort, there were 14,744.
• It appears Florida's grad rate is inflated and improving. Solid, independent estimates find that while Florida's rate is among the lowest in the country, it is also among the fastest-rising.
• There remains a debate about how to consider GED recipients. The GED route isn't nearly as rigorous as the path to a standard diploma. But many principals and district officials say the gumption it takes for students to successfully navigate it should carry some reward for the institutions that helped them.
Still, it's not hard to back the idea of a better formula, said Sherman Dorn, a University of South Florida professor who has rapped the state's rate for years.
"Graduation rates are sort of like mortality rates . . . they don't help you intervene at the time," Dorn said. "But it should lead to more honest discussions about what to do down the line."
Ron Matus can be reached at matus@sptimes.com and (727) 893-8873.
Taken from the St. Peterburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/graduation-rates-soar-through-loophole/1140805
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Graduation rates up -- thank you, teachers
Scott Maxwell’s
TAKING NAMES
I know it's not terribly popular nowadays. But I thought I'd take a moment to say thanks and congratulations to one of Florida's favorite punching bags — the public school teacher.
The latest reports show that Florida has its best graduation rate ever. And there will be all manner of politicians, bureaucrats and pundits heaping praise upon themselves for supposedly making this happen.
But I had a novel idea — thanking the teachers.
See, teachers have become the boogeymen in most of the efforts to dismantle public schools. They are portrayed as lazy incompetents who don't care about education, their students or anything other than collecting a union-protected paycheck.
We see these unfair portrayals in the halls of Tallahassee, from think tanks eager to siphon money away from public schools and into private ones, and even in the pages of this newspaper.
Quite simply, I reject it.
Most of the teachers I know got into their profession for the right reasons. They work hard. Some even change lives. And they don't exactly get rich for doing so.
Certainly there are exceptions to the rule. There are in every profession. But there's no denying that these most recent gains were made with the very same people leading the classrooms that many try to demonize.
Former State Sen. Charlie Justice — the husband of a teacher — once had a great line about school achievement in Florida. He said: "Every academic success we have in Florida, credit is given to some acronym-riddled program that's created in the halls of Tallahassee. And every failure is laid at the feet of our hardworking teachers like my wife. It's just wrong."
So today, I think I'll just say thanks.
Thank you, teachers, for doing the best you can with what little you get.
Thanks for making a difference in so many lives.
And thanks for doing it in spite of those who constantly try to tear you down.
Taken from the Orland Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-scott-maxwell-thanks-teachers-120120101130,0,136683.column
TAKING NAMES
I know it's not terribly popular nowadays. But I thought I'd take a moment to say thanks and congratulations to one of Florida's favorite punching bags — the public school teacher.
The latest reports show that Florida has its best graduation rate ever. And there will be all manner of politicians, bureaucrats and pundits heaping praise upon themselves for supposedly making this happen.
But I had a novel idea — thanking the teachers.
See, teachers have become the boogeymen in most of the efforts to dismantle public schools. They are portrayed as lazy incompetents who don't care about education, their students or anything other than collecting a union-protected paycheck.
We see these unfair portrayals in the halls of Tallahassee, from think tanks eager to siphon money away from public schools and into private ones, and even in the pages of this newspaper.
Quite simply, I reject it.
Most of the teachers I know got into their profession for the right reasons. They work hard. Some even change lives. And they don't exactly get rich for doing so.
Certainly there are exceptions to the rule. There are in every profession. But there's no denying that these most recent gains were made with the very same people leading the classrooms that many try to demonize.
Former State Sen. Charlie Justice — the husband of a teacher — once had a great line about school achievement in Florida. He said: "Every academic success we have in Florida, credit is given to some acronym-riddled program that's created in the halls of Tallahassee. And every failure is laid at the feet of our hardworking teachers like my wife. It's just wrong."
So today, I think I'll just say thanks.
Thank you, teachers, for doing the best you can with what little you get.
Thanks for making a difference in so many lives.
And thanks for doing it in spite of those who constantly try to tear you down.
Taken from the Orland Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-scott-maxwell-thanks-teachers-120120101130,0,136683.column
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Liars and politicians
There is an old adage that only, liars and politicians use statistics. I’ll let you decide what the superintendent is because you should know he sure likes to use statistics. In his state of the district speech he said Jacksonville’s graduation rates increased 3.2%. As far as I can tell that’s pretty accurate, though I do find it a bit opf a coincidence that the entire state improved by 3.2% as well. In case you are wondering that leaves us 11.8% behind the state average for graduation (76.3%). Three years ago it was 10.5%.
He also talked about how more minorities are taking more advanced placement classes than ever before, though surprisingly he didn’t mention how the percentage of students passing advanced placement tests have plummeted. Then he mentioned the forty-nine percent drop in suspensions, though he didn’t mention how part of a principals evaluation is tied to suspensions and that many teachers prefer to endure toxic learning environments rather than write students up and see the only person to receive a consequence (poor evaluations) is them. Finally he mentions that we are a “B” district according to the states grading formula, which coincidently factors in suspensions and minority students taking advanced placement tests. Amazing. Right?
There is one stat he didn’t mention and that’s how our drop out rate increased by nearly forty-five percent this past year, though since it is nearly impossible to remove kids for non attendance and we don’t start compiling the rate till high school it might actually be hirer. The rate went from 3.3 percent of our students to 4.8. Though why would he mention that statistic, after all it doesn't fit in with his smoke and mirrors we’re heading in the right direction message.
We have a lot of good things going on in the district, no make that amazing. I just happen to think the vast majority are the indiviual and class interactions between teachers and students and very few are happening at 1701 prudential drive.
Yep, there is an old adage; only liars and politicians use statistics.
Chris Guerrieri
City Stakeholder
He also talked about how more minorities are taking more advanced placement classes than ever before, though surprisingly he didn’t mention how the percentage of students passing advanced placement tests have plummeted. Then he mentioned the forty-nine percent drop in suspensions, though he didn’t mention how part of a principals evaluation is tied to suspensions and that many teachers prefer to endure toxic learning environments rather than write students up and see the only person to receive a consequence (poor evaluations) is them. Finally he mentions that we are a “B” district according to the states grading formula, which coincidently factors in suspensions and minority students taking advanced placement tests. Amazing. Right?
There is one stat he didn’t mention and that’s how our drop out rate increased by nearly forty-five percent this past year, though since it is nearly impossible to remove kids for non attendance and we don’t start compiling the rate till high school it might actually be hirer. The rate went from 3.3 percent of our students to 4.8. Though why would he mention that statistic, after all it doesn't fit in with his smoke and mirrors we’re heading in the right direction message.
We have a lot of good things going on in the district, no make that amazing. I just happen to think the vast majority are the indiviual and class interactions between teachers and students and very few are happening at 1701 prudential drive.
Yep, there is an old adage; only liars and politicians use statistics.
Chris Guerrieri
City Stakeholder
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