My favorite line was this, regarding accoutability and high-stakes testing:
It's like putting a slow runner 50 yards behind at the start line and expecting her to finish with the fastest.
Here's another choice tidbit:
Researchers found the act's two key rules — identifying subgroups within student populations (such as black, Hispanic or disabled), and setting a uniform proficiency goal make it easy for large minority districts to fail. Here's why: large urban districts are more likely to be diverse. If just one subgroup doesn't reach proficiency, or if less than 95% of a subgroup take the test, the whole district fails to make adequate progress.
On a more personal note, I've been out all week from school, which needless to say is driving the wife and friends crazy. I could really have some fun if I wasn't also babysitting my daughter. I would LOVE to drive to Tyler to visit the hobby shop; I haven't flown any model airplanes in months. Having an 11 year old girl along would require we also visit the mall, a proposition I can't afford. You Dads of pre-teen and teen daughters know what I'm talking about.
2 comments:
Every year our administration goes over our sub gourps with a fine tooth comb. There is always one sub group that is so small that just one failure sends our rating plumiting down to "acceptable". There is always a sigh of relief when we don't have enough of that sub group to have to have to count them. Believe it or not, it all hinges on 2 large families and which grades their kids happen to be in!
Hey! When your wife is caring for your daughter, do you call it "babysitting?" Give yourself some credit here: you're parenting, not babysitting.
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