In this edition of In the News:
- 2010 Student Enrollment Data Analyzed
- Report Shows Race to the Top Scoring Was Flawed
- Firing Decisions Based on Teacher Tenure, Not Effectiveness
- Comparing Teacher Effectiveness in High- and Low-Poverty Schools
- Focusing on College and Career Readiness
- Michelle Rhee Will Lobby for Students Rights
- Gates Foundation Brings Charters and Traditional Schools Together
2010 Student Enrollment Data Analyzed
Enrollment Data Show More Students, More Diversity, More Charters
Educate Now! – December 13, 2010
The Department of Education released the October 2010 student enrollment data. The number of public school students in Orleans continues to increase; the % of students in charters rose from 61% to 71%; and the makeup of our student population is becoming more diverse.
Report Shows Race to the Top Scoring was Flawed
Report Picks Apart Race to Top Scoring
Education Week – December 9, 2010
A new analysis argues that the Race to the Top competition used flawed and inconsistent scoring where different states were held to different standards. For example, no evaluator awarded Louisiana 10 out of 10 points for annual teacher evaluations, even though Louisiana has a state law requiring annual evaluations with written feedback within 15 days and a data system providing access for educators to student data. In contrast, Hawaii received 10 points from every single reviewer even though the state currently mandates evaluations for experienced teachers every five years and is only beginning to shift to annual evaluations.
View the Race to the Top study from the New Teacher Project.
Firing Decisions Based on Teacher Tenure, Not Effectiveness
When Layoffs Come to L.A. Schools, Performance Doesn’t Count
Los Angeles Times – December 4, 2010
Los Angeles’ first-hired, last-fired policy resulted in hundreds of promising young teachers being laid off. Many of those fired were among the highest performing teachers in the district, and a disproportionate number worked in high-poverty schools.
Comparing Teacher Effectiveness in High- and Low-Poverty Schools
Comparing Teacher Effectiveness in High- and Low-Poverty Schools
Education Week – December 9, 2010
While teachers in high-poverty schools in Florida and North Carolina are only slightly less effective than teachers in low-poverty schools, there is a broader range of talent in high poverty schools. Students attending high poverty schools have a greater likelihood of getting a really ineffective teacher than students attending more affluent schools.
Focusing on College and Career Readiness
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: The College- and Career-Ready Agenda and Economic Development
Achieve – December 2010
The path to long-term economic recovery must include a focus on education with a push toward college- and career-readiness. In 1973, over 70% of the workforce was comprised of workers with a high school diploma or less. Within the next 10 years, over 60% of workers will have some college, an associate’s degree or higher. Many jobs that used to require at most a high school diploma – manufacturing technicians, auto mechanics, electricians and others – now typically require some postsecondary education or certification.
Study: Most U.S. Students Couldn’t Master Common Standards
Education Week – December 6, 2010
In a recent study, the ACT matched its test questions to knowledge required by the new Common Standards and determined that only one-third to one-half of the country’s 11th graders would be considered college-ready according to the new standards.
Michelle Rhee Will Lobby for Students Rights
What I’ve Learned
Newsweek – December 16, 2010
Former D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee is not done fighting for school reform. She’s starting StudentsFirst, a national, nonpartisan organization that will lobby against the status quo for the rights of students to a quality education. Her goal: sign up 1 million StudentsFirst members and raise $1 billion in year one.
Gates Foundation Brings Charters and Traditional Schools Together
Gates Foundation Forges Education Partnerships
Associated Press – December 7, 2010
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is helping traditional school districts in nine cities (including New Orleans) form partnerships with charter school organizations to improve student learning.
View the Draft Compact for New Orleans, which will be refined over the coming months.