How Vouchers “Worked” in Cleveland
A reader in Cleveland comments on today’s post about vouchers in Cleveland. He is responding to a comment by another reader, who defended vouchers:
“I’m from Cleveland. The vouchers worked! They raised the cost of per-pupil expenditures in our public schools and resulted in cuts to funding for arts and enrichment programs, making public schools a less desirable “choice.” See Freakenomics for their take on vouchers. That voucher students at best do more or less the same than their peers in public schools misses what I think is the most important point. The fragmenting of public funds through vouchers/charters compromises the opportunities of public school.”
“I’m from Cleveland. The vouchers worked! They raised the cost of per-pupil expenditures in our public schools and resulted in cuts to funding for arts and enrichment programs, making public schools a less desirable “choice.” See Freakenomics for their take on vouchers. That voucher students at best do more or less the same than their peers in public schools misses what I think is the most important point. The fragmenting of public funds through vouchers/charters compromises the opportunities of public school.”
Superintendent: Garfield Teachers Will Not Be Punished
Jose Banda, the Seattle superintendent of schools, will not discipline the Garfield High School teachers who boycotted the MAP tests as a waste of time and resources. He urged them to resume work as usual. They were heard, he said.
This was a wise decision.
Congratulations to the Garfield teachers for your courage and unity!
For a full copy of Superintendent Banda’s statement, and a critical assessment of the story, see the report here.
This was a wise decision.
Congratulations to the Garfield teachers for your courage and unity!
For a full copy of Superintendent Banda’s statement, and a critical assessment of the story, see the report here.
Arthur Camins: What Happens in Schools When Despots Rule
Arthur Camins has written numerous thoughtful essays about the current ruinous trends in American education.
Here he reflects on some important lessons from the Atlanta cheating scandal.
He writes:
“I’m waiting for the national editorials, leading policy makers and major foundations to speak out honestly about the lessons learned from the Atlanta cheating scandal. I’m waiting for them to change course. But, I am not
Here he reflects on some important lessons from the Atlanta cheating scandal.
He writes:
“I’m waiting for the national editorials, leading policy makers and major foundations to speak out honestly about the lessons learned from the Atlanta cheating scandal. I’m waiting for them to change course. But, I am not
Good Grief! Teachers Get High Marks on New Evaluations
This is an unintentionally hilarious story in the New York Times.
Reformers are upset to discover that an astonishing proportion of teachers are getting high marks on the new evaluation systems that have just been set up. The evaluations were supposed to identify the best teachers (to get bonuses, even if no one has any money for bonuses) and most importantly to weed out the “bad” teachers who were causing so many students to get low test scores.
But look at these shocking statistics:
In Florida, 97 percent of teachers were deemed effective or highly effective in the most recent evaluations. In
Reformers are upset to discover that an astonishing proportion of teachers are getting high marks on the new evaluation systems that have just been set up. The evaluations were supposed to identify the best teachers (to get bonuses, even if no one has any money for bonuses) and most importantly to weed out the “bad” teachers who were causing so many students to get low test scores.
But look at these shocking statistics:
In Florida, 97 percent of teachers were deemed effective or highly effective in the most recent evaluations. In
The Latest Idea for Education Reform
EduShyster has noticed a brilliant new reform idea. Tear down the school, build a high-rise with luxury apartments on the site, then let the rich live right on top of the children. What a brilliant idea.
As one young man says in the article quoted, “It’s a win-win.” Or a win-win-win.
As one young man says in the article quoted, “It’s a win-win.” Or a win-win-win.
The New York City Way of Monetizing School Buildings
Jonathan Pelto reflects on the latest educational reform: Tearing down schools and replacing them with luxury apartment buildings.
He writes:
Closing in on Rahm Emanuel’s title as “Emperor” when it comes to closing public schools…
True, few, if any can compete with Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel when it comes to the unprecedented effort to destroy public education by closing public schools, New York’s Michael Bloomberg covets the title and is making a dash to catch up with Emanuel’s unholy track record.
Call it the New York City School Closing Scheme 2.0 – The Bloomberg Way
The notion is built on the concept that why should we simply close neighborhood public schools when private
He writes:
Closing in on Rahm Emanuel’s title as “Emperor” when it comes to closing public schools…
True, few, if any can compete with Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel when it comes to the unprecedented effort to destroy public education by closing public schools, New York’s Michael Bloomberg covets the title and is making a dash to catch up with Emanuel’s unholy track record.
Call it the New York City School Closing Scheme 2.0 – The Bloomberg Way
The notion is built on the concept that why should we simply close neighborhood public schools when private
Vouchers Failed in Cleveland Too
Three cities have had vouchers in recent years. Milwaukee, Cleveland, and DC.
As I pointed out in an earlier post, vouchers did not improve test scores in either Milwaukee or DC.
They also failed to make a difference in Cleveland. See here also.
Voucher advocates should stop lying to poor parents.
Vouchers do not increase test scores.
They just serve to undermine public education.
Isn’t it time to pay attention to evidence?
Why so much faith-based policy?
As I pointed out in an earlier post, vouchers did not improve test scores in either Milwaukee or DC.
They also failed to make a difference in Cleveland. See here also.
Voucher advocates should stop lying to poor parents.
Vouchers do not increase test scores.
They just serve to undermine public education.
Isn’t it time to pay attention to evidence?
Why so much faith-based policy?
Superintendent: Make This the Year We Said No
Bedford Central Superintendent Jere Hochman poses the inevitable questions:
How did we let this happen?
Could we have stopped it?
What can we do now?
It must end. It will end. What is happening in education today is nothing less than educational malpractice. It is not education. It is bad for students.
Hochman writes:
Absolutely no excuse for cheating, threatening teachers, and the culture of lying.
But where were we in 2002 when NCLB was passed unnoticed under the shadow of 9/11? Why did those of us
How did we let this happen?
Could we have stopped it?
What can we do now?
It must end. It will end. What is happening in education today is nothing less than educational malpractice. It is not education. It is bad for students.
Hochman writes:
Absolutely no excuse for cheating, threatening teachers, and the culture of lying.
But where were we in 2002 when NCLB was passed unnoticed under the shadow of 9/11? Why did those of us
David Sirota: Who Is Behind School “Reform”?
This video by David Sirota of Denver gives a clear and concise explanation of how school reform became big bu$ine$$.
Diane in the Evening 3-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Pedro Noguera on Atlanta Cheating Scandal by dianerav Pedro Noguera, my colleague at New York University, said the following in an email this morning: *“How ironic. Not one banker in jail for ruining the economy but a superintendent is under indictment for cheating. Says a lot about our nation’s priorities. – pedro”* I asked and got his permission to post this. He added: “*I don’t condone cheating but I see what happened in Atlanta and the other districts where cheating has occurred as a direct result of th... more »