Feb
13
2008
Philadelphia Schools Work Towards Reform
Posted by admin in Middle School Article, tags: Independent Research Firm, Management Organizations, Philadelphia Public Schools, Recruitment And Retention, Teacher InductionResearch for Action (RFA), an independent research firm, is currently leading a program of study called Learning from Philadelphia Public Schools Reform. This is a comprehensive, multi-year study of Philadelphia Schools and their complex and radical reform effort. The schools system has been taken over by the state, in the hopes of drastically improving the services and learning students receive. RFA is examining the impact of the state takeover, with specific areas of focus, such as:
Data Use: This research is an in-depth study of data use in low-performing Philadelphia Schools. And asks how schools and communities within those schools are using the data to inform instructional decision-making. The ways in which external entities (including the district and providers) are influencing those practices is also taken into consideration.
Teacher Quality: Over the past four years significant strides have been made in improving teacher quality, recruitment and retention for all Philadelphia Schools. In fact, since 2002, Philadelphia Schools have drastically cut the number of teachers with emergency certifications, have reduced classroom vacancies, and raised the certification rate, especially among new teachers. This has been accomplished by providing more curricular and coaching support, by expanding a school-based hiring process, and by training principals in new teacher induction.
Governance: The current reform in Philadelphia Schools is like no other. It has seen a state take over, the replacement of the school board with a School Reform Commission, and contracts with Educational Management Organizations.
Student Outcomes: The bottom line continues to be student achievement and performance in all Philadelphia Schools. RFA is collaborating with Johns Hopkins University and the RAND Corporation to study student test scores.
Small High Schools: Philadelphia Schools are Continue Reading
Feb
09
2008
Long Island Schools Rate Well on Math Test
Posted by admin in Middle School Article, tags: Congressman Steve, Dramatic Improvements, Math And Science, Math Test, Welcome New YorkLong Island Schools show marked improvements on statewide math tests for grades three through eight. Albany educational authorities announced the dramatic improvements this month. Long Island Schools tend to mirror statewide improvements across the board. According to Newsday, Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, “The fact that children are achieving higher standards in the middle grades is especially significant.” Long Island Schools, and many across the nation, have faced the challenge of test scores dropping in the middle school years.
In its second year of reporting steady improvements, Long Island Schools are up in every grade and show impressive results. 85.2% of third graders passed, as opposed to 80.5% last year. And seventh graders increased scores from 55.6% to 66.4%. While not all residents in the Long Island Schools district support mandatory testing, these results are still welcome. New York State has the second largest per pupil spending of the 50 states, and often shows the results in impressive test scores. Even so, New York City districts, like the Long Island Schools, have felt pressure to attain the No Child Left Behind mandate to get all children to a proficient ranking by 2014.
Congressman Steve Israel is pushing for funding for the Keeping Our Promise to America’s Children Act to help fund the efforts. Supporting NCLB is costly for Long Island Schools due to lower teacher to student ratios that require more teachers and classrooms, time-consuming but federally mandated paperwork, and the requirement for highly qualified teachers in math and science. While most Long Island Schools’ educators support those actions, finding the methods to make them happen has been challenging. Fortunately, with the over $11,000 per pupil funding through New York State, Long Island Schools are more successful than most schools around the nation.
Of courses this isn’t Continue Reading