tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post850595342652967325..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: The Governor's Report is in...Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-32409908482912239452011-07-08T13:43:06.189-04:002011-07-08T13:43:06.189-04:00I do not often agree with Jim Wooten in the AJC, b...I do not often agree with Jim Wooten in the AJC, but today's column speaks the truth. One thing in particular caught my eye:<br /><br /><i>Investigators attributed a quote to now-retired principal Armstead Salters that explains how wrongdoing by individuals descends into systemic corruption. Said Salters, according to the report, “If anyone asks you anything about this just tell them you don’t know. … Just stick to the story and it will all go away.” That, one suspects, is the defense bureaucracies teach and learn to avoid accountability </i><br /><br />Have we not seen almost the exact phrase here in DeKalb? Does the phrase "Just stick to the story and it will all go away" not ring a bell? In our case, it was said by the chairman of the BOE, which I find quite as unsettling, since it indicates the attitude of someone tasked with oversight of DCSS.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-13289377435271833762011-07-08T13:16:56.906-04:002011-07-08T13:16:56.906-04:00APS had an intimidating culture of corruption. On...APS had an intimidating culture of corruption. On Maureen's blog, one of the pro-Hall posters actually threatened an insider who was critical, saying they knew who he was and would report to his boss.<br /><br />I get the impression, DCSS has a culture of indifference.<br /><br />I'm not sure which is harder to change.bu2https://www.blogger.com/profile/02282186891802527583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36637021278921987832011-07-08T09:03:39.427-04:002011-07-08T09:03:39.427-04:00@stnuocca
#1 Parents who give a rat's behind
#...@stnuocca<br />#1 Parents who give a rat's behind<br />#2 Rigorous curriculum, not teach ing to the CRCT, going way above GA Standards<br />#3 Not tolerating persistent discipline issues<br />#4 High Expectations from teachers & parents<br /><br />These are the major differences. I pulled my child from DCSS for those reasons. I could care less about CRCT or AYP, take a good look at the ITBS scores. What good is meeting or exceeding expectations on the CRCT if you are in the 50 - 60 %tile on the ITBS. Outside of Kittredge, Fernbank and a few others, take a deep look at the ITBS scores, including some of the so called schools of choice (themes, etc)msbssyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196814086394764276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84719397110680108782011-07-07T21:52:03.946-04:002011-07-07T21:52:03.946-04:00@Anon and other faithful bloggers.
a) What are th...@Anon and other faithful bloggers.<br /><br />a) What are the differences between Pace, Lovett, Woodward and Padeia?<br /><br />b) What are the differences between McNair, Lithonia, Redan, Stone Mountain?<br /><br />c) What are the differences between Dunwoody, Chamblee, Druids Hill, and Lakeside?<br /><br />What are the differences between a) Pace, Lovett, Woodward and Padeia and b) McNair, Lithonia, Redan, Stone Mountain?<br /><br />Can we tell it like it is?Stnuoccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542262417320201634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-78485148199193194622011-07-07T21:20:41.206-04:002011-07-07T21:20:41.206-04:00FYI -- Kathy Ashe was a certified teacher... I'...FYI -- Kathy Ashe was a certified teacher... I'm not sure where she taught. She had 2 kids -- living in the APS system during the 80s or 90s. They went to the Children's School and Westminster(I think) -- not public school even though she's a certified teacher. She probably has a very interesting perspective on things. She was a D and then an R and then went back to a D -- there's a great "golden stirrups" story about her in the legislature. Also, Ed Lindsey (Senate Leader for the Rs) sent around an e-mail about APS -- he and his wife are both attorneys and their kids (3) went through Pace. Just gives you some perspective. Once you've seen the differences between public and private (really good private) -- the differences are astounding and I'm not sure that the actual costs are really that different -- the differences are in the better qualified teaching, the more localized curricularm, smallers clases and much less beaurocracy.Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10798969067363633127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14527674651559880542011-07-07T20:46:11.341-04:002011-07-07T20:46:11.341-04:00@ATL
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/best-in-class...@ATL<br />http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/best-in-class-993635.html<br />July 5, 2011 7:22 PM<br /><br />There is a reason why you don't put living people on stamps or name national airports after the living. <br /><br />I have faith in K____ but who should be the judge of the quality or efficacy of her 500 computer jiggies? Microsoft? The CRCT? ( 2nd no longer take CRCT, right?)<br /><br />Crawford Lewis was a Miliken Principal (http://www.mff.org/mea/mea.taf?page=recipient&meaID=299) and Beverly Hall was well you know http://www.aramark.com/PressRoom/PressReleases/National-Superintendent-of-the-Year.aspxStnuoccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542262417320201634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-20219434564728738552011-07-07T15:56:31.905-04:002011-07-07T15:56:31.905-04:00Kathy Ashe sent out the following eloquent email:
...Kathy Ashe sent out the following eloquent email:<br /><br /><i>Greetings:<br /><br />Every crisis affords opportunity to learn and to drastically change. Of all of the horrible information we're learning about the APS/CRCT cheating, the most crushing truth may be that "too many Atlantans did NOT believe that all our children can achieve high standards." It must be our mission to create a system where we stop believing that some kids can't learn, and need adults to intervene in inappropriate and unethical ways so they appear to be achieving.<br /> <br />While you will find it heartbreaking, I recommend that you read as much as possible of the state investigators' report issued yesterday. It can be found on the AJC web site by clicking here. All three volumes might be too much for you to read. The overview in volume 1 - pages 2-15 and the summary found in volume 3 - pages 350-411 will give you a clear understanding of the challenges we all now face.<br /> <br />While our community ponders its next steps, our priority right now must be the children. While it is important to hold those responsible accountable, as a city we are immediately challenged to get ready for school to start in August, to figure out ways to remediate the damage done to students we were supposed to be educating, to make certain that this sort of disaster never happens again and to make Atlanta the "most educated City." Dr. Errol Davis (the interim Superintendent) and the APS Board are hard at work BUT it will take us all working together. These are indeed dark days but I do not believe God gives us more than we can handle. I remain confident that together we can restore integrity to the system, be wise and efficient stewards of public funds, and most importantly, educate the next generation of Atlantans - our children.<br /> <br />Thank you,<br /><br />Rep. Kathy Ashe, House District 56</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55092464953103523172011-07-07T14:23:59.675-04:002011-07-07T14:23:59.675-04:00@ Fred
"I don't think anyone in the centr...@ Fred<br />"I don't think anyone in the central office had any direct impact on the schools you mention, "<br /><br />Well, why have a Central Office if you have no impact on our 89 Title 1 schools? <br /><br />DeKalb has 1 Staff person for every 4 teachers. Staff are the personnel certified to teach in classrooms who DO NOT teach in classrooms. No other metro system has these figures except for Atlanta Public. Yet teachers are asked to do the same paperwork over and over. What do these "Staffers" do all day?<br /><br />Certified Staff Position Ratios<br />Teacher/Administrator Ratio<br />13:1<br />Teacher/Support Person Ratio<br />7:1<br />Teacher/Staff Ratio<br />4:1<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=102&CountyId=644&T=1&FY=2010<br /><br />The decisions coming out of the Central Office and most particularly the Office of School Improvement have resulted in a decline in Title 1 schools making adequate yearly progress. Either that, or a significant number of personnel cheated like APS. <br /><br />You can't have it both ways. There has to be a reason for 20 Title 1 schools having such a drop in making adequate yearly progress. If the drop just coincidentally corresponded to the year strict test monitoring was implemented, then we need to look for another reason. I can see if 4 or 5 Title 1 schools dropped out of making AYP, but 20 is just not acceptable. This points to a systemic problem.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55615372649758609352011-07-07T13:28:43.157-04:002011-07-07T13:28:43.157-04:00Are you kidding Fred? Didn't we spend like 8 ...Are you kidding Fred? Didn't we spend like 8 or 9 MILLION dollars on America's Choice??? Was it then left to principals to choose whether or not to use it???? Really????Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72868556840107404742011-07-07T13:14:14.261-04:002011-07-07T13:14:14.261-04:00@atl, I'm sure it doesn't surprise you tha...@atl, I'm sure it doesn't surprise you that I responded to your inquiry. I'd like to know the answers to those questions also. In my opinion, I don't think anyone in the central office had any direct impact on the schools you mention, through approving programs requested by principals or otherwise. It is interesting that you ask for more data linking student progress to funding then immediately aftwards, question whether paperwork and meetings is cutting into instructional time. How can you have one without the other?<br /><br />As I have mentioned to you before, principals are the instructional leaders for their respective schools. They are told the resources they have available and asked how they wish to use them for their school. Every school did not use AC. Those that used AC chose to use it because they thought it could help with their school.<br /><br />Tell you what, pick 1-2 schools. Let's do the analysis you suggested and see what we come up with. If we can answer the WHY question, maybe we can make recommendations that will make a difference.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676448124010158751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69967265417901328362011-07-07T13:01:53.775-04:002011-07-07T13:01:53.775-04:00Totally excellent questions ATL! I guess my point...Totally excellent questions ATL! I guess my point hasn't been clear -- my point is - our test scores are so bad that god help us if we had to cheat to even get scores like these! <br /><br />I think there isn't the high level of cheating in DCSS as elsewhere because we really don't have high expectations ... exactly the opposite of what Fred is saying but sort of the same. The fact is - even if we had high expectations, in order to raise test scores, many of our educators apparently think they have to "cheat" in order to get their students to pass. My question is -- is it REALLY that hard to just properly teach the material? Really??? If so, there is no hope then.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88287664023530057792011-07-07T12:41:18.725-04:002011-07-07T12:41:18.725-04:00@ Cerebration
Let's assume the drop was not d...@ Cerebration<br /><br />Let's assume the drop was not due to cheating since Ms. Tyson concluded cheating was not widespread in DCSS as a result of the in-depth investigation she commissioned. <br /><br />That doesn't negate the fact that 20 DCSS Title 1 schools fell out of the Made AYP category from 2009 to 2010.<br /><br />Is no one interested in why 20 of our Title 1 schools suddenly could not Make AYP? <br /><br />I could not find any other metro school system that saw this degree of decline in Title 1 schools with the exception of APS so we can't say the state made the standardized tests more difficult. <br /><br />Did Dr. Berry and Dr. Beasley introduce a program(s) throughout the Title 1 schools that caused this drop? All the more reason for the BOE to ask for data linking DCSS student progress to funding of educational programs.<br /><br />Did Dr. Lewis's decisions over time to increase class sizes and cut teacher positions finally overwhelm the classroom teachers and adversely impact our neediest students? If so, Ms. Tyson and the BOE need to understand the implications of their balancing the budget by increasing class sizes to preserve non-teaching positions.<br /><br />Did our teacher turnover rate rise in Title 1 schools and impact student progress due to overloaded classrooms, increased paperwork and more meetings? Human Resources computes the Teacher Turnover rate. The DCSS Teacher Turnover rate should be made public since studies show that low income students are negatively impacted more by high Teacher Turnover than their peers in more affluent schools. If the rate is high, DCSS should determine and correct the causes of high teacher turnover.<br /><br />Did Dr. Beasley's No Zero policy and decreased student accountability cause a decrease in student motivation and therefore achievement? In that case, discipline and student accountability need to be repaired.<br /><br />When the number of DCSS Title 1 schools Did Not Make AYP goes from 23 to 43 (almost double) in one year, then the BOE, Ms. Tyson, Dr Beasley and Dr. Berry need to ask what went wrong at the District level. <br /><br />Has anyone heard the BOE ask Ms. Tyson, Dr. Beasley or Dr. Berry about the negative ROI we are receiving in our Title 1 schools, particularly since we took in more federal dollars for our neediest students in 2010 than 2009. <br /><br />DCSS went from $77,227,391 in 2008-09 to 128,255,748 in 2009-10 in Federal Funding. <br /><br />Look at the DCSS Made AYP data for Title 1 and non-Title 1 schools. <br /><br />DCSS Title 1 Schools:<br />2008-09<br />Title I<br />Meeting AYP Criteria 66 (74%)<br />Not Meeting AYP Criteria 23<br />Total 89<br /><br />2009-10<br />Title I<br />Meeting AYP Criteria 46 (52%)<br />Not Meeting AYP Criteria 43<br />Total 89<br /><br />DCSS Non-Title 1 Schools:<br />2008-09<br />Non-Title 1<br />Meeting AYP Criteria 38 (84%)<br />Not Meeting AYP Criteria 7<br />Total 45<br /><br />2009-10<br />Non-Title 1<br />Meeting AYP Criteria 36 (84%)<br />Not Meeting AYP Criteria 7<br />Total 43 <br /> <br />* These figures do not take into account summer retests. Taking account summer retests, the numbers are even worse as they drive the numbers farther apart.<br /><br />If Ms. Tyson is sure cheating didn't cause this decline, then she certainly needs to be looking for what factors did cause it. <br /><br />Sources:<br />http://app.doe.k12.ga.us/ows-bin/owa/fin_pack_revenue.display_proc<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=104&CountyId=644&T=1&FY=2009<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=104&CountyId=644&T=1&FY=2010Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34442620213053594332011-07-07T10:45:27.884-04:002011-07-07T10:45:27.884-04:00@atl
"20 low income schools (Title 1) droppin...@atl<br />"20 low income schools (Title 1) dropping into the DID NOT MAKE AYP category in one year cannot be blamed solely on 24 DCSS educators. "<br /><br />You see, there are things that you and I agree on! Like Maureen and I have both said, there is plenty of blame to go around.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676448124010158751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-663036585323701912011-07-07T10:44:03.670-04:002011-07-07T10:44:03.670-04:00That whole thing was handled pretty aggressively. ...That whole thing was handled pretty aggressively. Apparently, Tyson more or less "quarantined" all employees within range of suspected cheating while it was investigated. Many who were sent back to their jobs were never found to have done anything wrong, other than hold a job with access to tests in certain schools.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46353902904762440852011-07-07T10:43:27.608-04:002011-07-07T10:43:27.608-04:00@Cerebration,
" rather than focus on the &quo...@Cerebration,<br />" rather than focus on the "pressure" from some mysterious, unnamed outside force, why don't you ask the question, "What is so very wrong with our schools that in order for our students to achieve at what is considered a fairly low bar, teachers and principals feel they must "cheat"?"<br /><br />There are no mysterious, unnamed forces. High stakes testing ultimately goes back to citizens wanting greater accountability with respect to student performance. It also goes back to legislators, responding to citizen and passing legislation such as NCLB to tract this. Add Pay for Performance and you have what partly created the environment we have today. Is anyone interested in the root cause?<br /><br />I and many noted educators have said, I have no problem with accountability. We need to ensure our dollars are being spent in the best way possible. My concern is with the use of High Stakes testing as the measurement tool. How many of you believe someone else can know all there is about you from a standardized test?<br /><br />You should chat with Dr. John Trotter. He and I have been saying this for years, independent of one another. Add the expectation that spending about $620/student via Title 1 is going to make a difference is also unrealistic. <br /><br />Providing more disciplined learning environments with the ability to temporarily remove students that don't want to be in the classroom could do more for schools throughout the country. I say temporary because maybe some students need Alternative schools to help them realize where they don't want to be. Ask any teacher and most will agree with this.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676448124010158751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8491410373265749592011-07-07T10:30:11.456-04:002011-07-07T10:30:11.456-04:00Open+Transparent, most of the educators were CLEAR...Open+Transparent, most of the educators were CLEARED after a thorough investigation. A few retired and a few were demoted. This is old news.<br /><br />Are you suggesting that the school district should essentially haze employees that were suspected of wrongdoing then cleared of it? Perhaps it is that attitude that has helped to create the culture educators face today.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676448124010158751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-49226221344683152232011-07-07T10:13:03.868-04:002011-07-07T10:13:03.868-04:00Maureen Downey said,
"I think there is plenty...Maureen Downey said,<br />"I think there is plenty of blame to go around, including the media, but I have to wonder about the role of the state Department of Education. The agency mandates and administers all these tests. Should the agency make any effort to validate scores? If not, how can it eventually use the scores to reward or punish teachers?"<br /><br />This is in her GetSchooled blog titled "Dr. Hall: I knew nothing about cheating in Atlanta schools". Seems like we heard this somewhere else before. I wonder where????Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676448124010158751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-38546699467317111592011-07-07T09:54:13.877-04:002011-07-07T09:54:13.877-04:00Restored to their old jobs...way to bring on the r...Restored to their old jobs...way to bring on the reform Ramona, Morcease, Audria and the great Ron Ramsey.<br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.ajc.com/news/scores-rise-fall-at-1002523.html<br /><br />In DeKalb's sweep of testing impropriety 24 educators were removed but later most all were restored to their original jobs and stricter protocol was instituted to protect tests.Open+Transparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248529568051717909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46331707575485514992011-07-06T21:50:13.064-04:002011-07-06T21:50:13.064-04:00Cere,
20 low income schools (Title 1) dropping in...Cere,<br /><br />20 low income schools (Title 1) dropping into the DID NOT MAKE AYP category in one year cannot be blamed solely on 24 DCSS educators. <br /><br />DCSS needs an investigation just as thorough as APS. Our low income schools declining MADE AYP rate was almost identical to APS. How is this possible with only 24 educators at fault? <br /><br />APS:<br /><br />I. 2009 (BEFORE strict test monitoring):<br />81% of APS Title 1 schools Made AYP (75 out of 93)<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=104&CountyId=761&T=1&FY=2009<br /><br />II. 2010 (AFTER strict test monitoring):<br />58% of APS Title 1 Made AYP (53 out of 91)<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=104&CountyId=761&T=1&FY=2010<br /><br />DCSS:<br /><br />I. 2009 (BEFORE strict test monitoring):<br />74% of DCSS Title 1 Schools Made AYP (66 out of 89)<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=104&CountyId=644&T=1&FY=2009<br /><br />II. 2010 (AFTER strict test monitoring):<br />52% Made AYP (46 out of 89)<br /><br />http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=104&CountyId=644&T=1&FY=2010<br /><br />No other school systems have these figures, even schools with 100% of their schools low income (title 1).Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46026194155601388572011-07-06T21:43:58.500-04:002011-07-06T21:43:58.500-04:00In honor of the Atlanta cheating scandal, I’m post...In honor of the Atlanta cheating scandal, I’m posting an excerpt from my novel, Chain Gang Elementary. This section–in the middle of the book–highlights the overreactions by parents and educators to high-stakes testing, which, as we see in both art and life, can yield disastrous consequences. As we wait for more shoes to drop, we wonder: Is truth stranger than fiction? You can check out the state investigators’ report, then read this section and judge for yourself: http://chaingangelementary.com/?p=284JGranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490222382009896857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36660415007458400782011-07-06T21:35:44.212-04:002011-07-06T21:35:44.212-04:00@ Anon
Well, DCSS had the same drop in test score...@ Anon<br /><br />Well, DCSS had the same drop in test score percentages as APS. Why has no one addressed this? Is it because Crawford Lewis is no longer at the helm so it's hard to find someone to pin the blame on? Does that make it less tragic for students?Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-19168631785533155332011-07-06T21:34:32.885-04:002011-07-06T21:34:32.885-04:00I pray that we didn't have anyone who had to &...I pray that we didn't have anyone who had to "cheat" to get the scores we got in some of our schools ---<br /><br />Here is the link for the entire DCSS CRCT Scores. It is formattable also.<br /><a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/20112011-georgia-crct-results-1000807.html?appSession=693303930552819&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=4&CPISortType=desc&CPIorderBy=Science__Met_or_Exceeded_the_sta" rel="nofollow">2011 Georgia CRCT results, by school</a><br /> <br />Click on the Science scores and it put them in descending order.<br /><br />We have 95 ES and MS that has a 50% pass / fail rate for Science scores in DCSS!<br /> <br />We have 57 schools for MATH that are at 50% failure rate.<br /> <br />We have 130 schools with 50% failing Social Studies!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7842524129673705882011-07-06T20:14:40.413-04:002011-07-06T20:14:40.413-04:00The APS debacle has made NATIONAL news -- both NBC...The APS debacle has made NATIONAL news -- both NBC and ABC covered it tonight and it made the NY Times today... it's huge. Time to get our ducks in a row at DCSS very quickly and get our story to the National press as quickly as we can.. .the time is ripe.Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10798969067363633127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-90983782077665630542011-07-06T18:21:36.952-04:002011-07-06T18:21:36.952-04:00@ Stnuocca
The Office of School Improvement and t...@ Stnuocca<br /><br />The Office of School Improvement and the enormous growth of the non-teaching bureaucracy has used NCLB adherence and the need to Make AYP as the reason for their existence. <br /><br />NCLB and federal requirements to Make AYP has been used for years by low income schools districts to install armies of non-teaching coordinators and coaches and supervisors and managers and counselors and facilitators and lead teachers and additional assistant principals and on and on and on. <br /><br />The cry of "we have so much federal paperwork and the Feds require this or that program" has been used as the excuse to drain our classrooms of resources and personnel directly instructing students. In DCSS, Upper management has diverted funds into a Friends and Family plan of highly paid non-teaching positions. <br /><br />NCLB has been the best career builder in the history of the U.S. for non-teaching personnel within low income school systems (DCSS is not alone in this respect). Georgia DOE statistics show the increase in non-teaching admin and support personnel and the decrease in teaching personnel as a relative measure in all school systems. But the imbalance between non-teaching and teaching personnel is particularly egregious in systems with a considerable number of low income schools.<br /><br />The main problem I see with testing is that upper level administrators have perverted the process so that funding has left the classroom and ended up in the pockets of a swollen non-teaching bureaucracy. DCSS is not alone in this. Most low income school systems have done this. <br /><br />This phenomenon is limited in high income systems because the lack of Title 1 schools makes AYP a moot point. AYP and test "failure" are ONLY applicable to school systems that accept federal funding, and in particular the sanctions are only applicable to Title 1 schools. Since high income systems get much less federal funding, the problem is pretty much non-existent. <br /><br />It's discouraging that the children who need the resources and direct instruction the most end up getting the least.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-61650787766984331792011-07-06T17:16:23.474-04:002011-07-06T17:16:23.474-04:00APS shows that there were always only 2 choices av...APS shows that there were always only 2 choices available to teachers in at risk schools:<br /><br /><br />a) VAINLY ( I stress vainly) long hours to achieve both UNREASONABLE and IMPOSSIBLE results----and INEVITABLY failing to meet these expectations BE FIRED or TRANSFERRED while in a HOSTILE work environment.<br /><br />b) CHEAT ( cheat or allow cheating on one's behalf or tolerating cheating)<br /><br />Let's be honest with ourselves, were not the cheating schools in APS very much like our own Dekalb schools? <br /><br />Good people like Cere see "mismanagement or incompetence" in Dekalb schools. We all do. However, the making AYP and the improving test scores (some already based on previous cheating) standard is already too high. As long as we hold that impossible standards (not impossible to the higher socioeconomic strata of our diverse county), we are in effect ENABLING the current modus operandi because this modus is ACTUALLY what is advocated by all these charlatans who are now "mainstream" everywhere.(Polititians, educrats, pundits...etc..)<br /><br />Read the report from the APS scandal--especially Volume 3 of the report<br /><br />http://www.ajc.com/news/volume-3-conclusions-why-1000781.htmlStnuoccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542262417320201634noreply@blogger.com