SFNY Grade Inflation Report 2015

November 23, 2015

StudentsFirstNY

“To hear Mayor Bill de Blasio tell it, New York City’s failing schools are few and far between, and improving quickly. Better yet, New York City’s students are passing their math, science, social studies, and English courses with flying colors. In reality, hundreds of schools – and the majority of students – are failing state tests, a truth that is masked by rampant grade inflation within NYC Schools. This report reveals that schools across the city are misleading parents by giving students high marks on school coursework even though the students are performing below grade level. The vast majority of students are passing their classroom work while failing state tests. The findings of this analysis underscore why state test results play a critical check and balance function – it’s only by reviewing both school coursework and state test results that parents have the full picture of how their children are performing. To address this across-the-board grade inflation, StudentsFirstNY is calling for an independent audit of school coursework in NYC public schools to ensure that it is on grade level.”

Editorial: New Front on the War Over Education Reforms

November 19, 2015

Newsday

“For the vast majority of teachers in New York, there was never going to be a new evaluation system this school year for 2015-2016: At least 90 percent of districts have been granted waivers by the state. And now, education experts and government officials say there will almost certainly be a multiyear moratorium during which evaluations aren’t linked to student testing.

In theory, districts with waivers revert to the last ‘new’ system, basing teacher evaluations 60 percent on classroom observation and 40 percent all on state tests, or 20 percent on state tests and 20 percent on local measures. That’s the system that infuriated everyone already.”

Union Poised to Win New York’s Education Battle

November 18, 2015

By Lane Filler | Newsday

“It is highly likely that teacher evaluations won’t be linked to student test results in New York for the next two to three years, according to education sources.

Any such agreement to the change would represent a huge triumph for New York State United Teachers. The news is a speed bump for State Senate Republicans, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the Board of Regents, and the state and federal education departments.”

2 New Reports Show That We Really Don’t Have a Great Way to Evaluate Teachers

November 17, 2015

By Matt Barnum | The 74

“A pair of recently released reports that each find serious flaws in the two most common methods used to evaluate teachers — observing them in the classroom and trying to pinpoint how much they affect individual student achievement — could leave policymakers wondering where to turn next.

A Nov. 10 statement released by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and picked up by national news outlets calls into question the use of what are known as value-added models. The group cites studies that show flaws in value-added — statistical measures that attempt to isolate a teacher’s impact on student growth — including inconsistency from year to year and the shortcomings of standardized tests in gauging student learning.”

I Know More About Teaching My Black Kids Than You Think

November 3, 2015

By Khulia Pringle | Citizen Ed

“When I wrote my last piece about the need for educators to hear black mothers and stop acting like we’re a problem instead of the solution, I didn’t expect the response it got.

It felt good to see so many black woman share it with others and give me positive feedback. I heard y’all. I am not alone. Many of us are putting in the work only to be talked about as if we are doing the parenting thing all wrong. So we have to speak up, and push back.”

If You Can’t Teach my Black Children, Admit it and Move On

October 30, 2015

Khulia Pringle | Citizen Ed

“Every morning I woke up and got my kids dressed, ready for school. They knew I was serious as a heart attack when it comes to education. I realize this isn’t what the world believes happens when they think of me. As a black mother living in an urban area I’m supposed to be disengaged. I’m supposed to be uncaring or out of touch. That’s the official story about me and others like me. I hear it from so many sources. We’re supposed to be struggling so much that we can’t be trusted to do at home what middle-class America wants us to do.

Message received. Duly noted.”