From last week's NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/nyregion/02math.html?ref=education
The article reports that 82% of NYC students in grades 3-8 passed the NY state math test, up from 74% the previous year and 57% the year before that, and that similar gains in English tests were posted recently.
NYC's mayor is citing the gains as evidence of the benefits of mayoral control of icty schools. Others, however, take the position that the tests had become too predictable, and that gains are "mostly about educators getting used to the exams." A graph of passing rates since 1998 show a dip in scores the year a new test was introduced. Commentators also note that other New York cities showed similar gains in achievement, and that scores of city students improved by an average of 8 points compared to 6 points statewide. Are there significant improvements statewide, or is the test getting easier or more familiar or just being taken more seriously?
It may be difficult to determine based on state tests the extent of gains in achievement. SAT scores may prove to be a better measure of whether real progress has been attained.
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I agree that SAT scores are a better measure of progress, as are the number of students taking the SAT. As an aside, and to be specific about PPS procedures, this post reminds me of something. In May, my darling daughter asked is she could stay home on a Tuesday. She is a healthy kid and missed about two days all year. She explained that they were taking the 4Sight tests, which in May are "pointless." This "pointless" word is very common among teenagers. I said NO. If NCLB and PPS reforms have done nothing else, they have made our students saavy consumers of education. Kids who really DREAM BIG AND WORK HARD do not want their time wasted. I am not close enough to the work to dispute the kid I send to school. Based on her explanation I kind of like the word "pointless" in this case.
And so why did you say NO, parent one?
I am old school. You do not miss a day without being sick. The kid understands that too. She attends school even when she feels slightly under the weather. I have also seen her sick as a dog and still drag herself to school to avoid missing something significant. For this I take no credit.
It would probably help if more students had that attitude. The A+ report shows daily attendance at some schools in the 75%-80% range. Relative ttendance rates are pretty much correlated with relative performance of the schools.
Regular attendance is important for achievement but going to school when sick as a dog is irresponsible, exposing other students and teachers.
Anonymous, forgive my exaggeration.
I used the phrase to underscore the point that far too many kids take days just for kicks or to get their nails done or to get extra sleep.
That must be the case, because a 75% attendance rate means, incredibly, that on average kids are taking one of every four days off.
Does anyone know how attendance problems are addressed, other than making reasonable attendance a requirement for the Pittsburgh Promise? Are different steps taken for students age 16 or under, and that average attendance for grades 11 and 12 is even lower?
I understand the use of exaggeration; I have said the same thing, at times, about sending my kid. The sad thing is that some parents do send their kids when they are sick, exposing others to all sorts of things. And there are the parents that let their kids stay home for trivial reasons, like they were tired because they stayed up late to watch tv.
City schools supposedly tightened up the attendance policies when NCLB was enacted since attendance is a major component. If a child had more than 6 unexcused absences in a grading period, the child would fail. I think there has been very uneven enforcement of the policy.
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