Friday, September 28, 2012

Pittsburgh Promise recipients

PG article states that per the Promise, 76% of 2008 and 2009 recipients returned for their second year of college:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pittsburgh-promise-scholarship-recipients-perform-well-in-college-655193/

- That's nice, but it is 2012; at this point,  can't they tell us what portion of 2008 promise recipients received a college degree so far?  It is 4 years later. 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

PPS school board members must obtain child abuse clearances

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/


P:ttsburgh-public-school-board-voted-to-require-members-to-file-child-abuse-clearances-654983/#ixzz27dXO8wBS

PG article about Schenley

The Board agreed 5-4 to again accept proposals for Schenley.  The PG article is strangely worded, "School Board votes to sell former Oakland High School," when the vote was apparently just to accept proposals for review.  All four African American Board members voted No.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/school-board-votes-to-sell-former-oakland-high-school-654979/#ixzz27dYfhT4L


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

PPS website

On another post Anonymous wrote:

new related topic-- The Website?


I know we let go of most of the tech staff but the website with over year old information does not look like a modern school district. Again, cutting librarians and their supervisor makes pps look bad. All I can figure out is that the broadies dont know, and the public doesnt care that the information is over a year old.



Saturday, September 22, 2012

Manchester library shelves replenished

On another post Anonymous wrote:


Pittsburghers rally to replenish one poor school's library shelves

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Sheila May-Stein, a Pittsburgh Public Schools rotating librarian, is charged with the task of rebuilding Manchester's dismal library as part of a district-wide change in this year's educational delivery model that calls for each school to have a ...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburghers-rally-to-replenish-one-poor-schools-library-shelves-654470/

Is this a relative of David May-Stein, a brand new librarian in Manchester Elem, like Arsenal and Schiller Middles should have been CLOSED due to low enrollment.

This Principal is full of wrong judgments-she does not even have enough of Middle school students to justify this school to a Manchester K-8. Just look at her PSSA numbers.

It is her fault-she made the choice of no librarian.

Getting back to Sheila May-Stein, How did she get this job due to all the furloughs?

Nevertheless, I must give Shelia May-Stein credit with replenishing books. WE as parents feel the school district should be paying out of their tax dollar pockets of to upkeep school libraries.

Just shows it pays to be a relative of a person.
With Perry’s Reading PSSA scores-is library necessary for the whole school?

Let’s be realistic with our tax dollars as finances for relatives to be hired at the Board.

PSSA scores drop statewide

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pssa-scores-drop-few-schools-make-adequate-yearly-progress-654372/

The State Dpt of Ed attributes the drop largely to anti-cheating measures.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Lellock investigation

From the PG:

"Based on the fact that the city school district submitted memoranda of understanding with the Pittsburgh police in 2008 and 2011 with respect to child abuse reporting, it is unlikely that anything the investigation uncovers would implicate either current superintendent Linda Lane or Mr. Weiss."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/police-lacked-assault-details-654305/#ixzz277NlVBWf   - This is a little hard to follow- why would a general memo in 2008 and 2011 about child abuse reporting mean that officials would not be implicated for what they may have done or failed to do before that time, or in connection with a specific situation?  And why isn't Mark Roosevelt mentioned?

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Fadzen speaks out about Lellock

On another post Anonymous wrote:

So let's start a new blog please.


http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/09/20/former-pittsburgh-school-police-chief-speaks-out/

I wonder what Fadzen meant by it's just the tip of the iceberg?



Saturday, September 15, 2012

The schools students deserve

The following was sent to Pure Reform:

Friends and family involved in the fight for public schools,


The wonderful Chicago Teachers Union and their parent/student/community allies have opened doors for all of us.

They have forced even the "mainstream" media to begin to discuss reality. The CTU strike has raised real issues in real ways.

Now, IMO, it's up to all of us to continue what CTU has helped to make possible

May I respectfully suggest that a platform we all can use has been put together by the CTU. This is "research-based" reality. In an excellent report, "The Schools Chicago Students Deserve," they've laid out what we all are trying to work for. They have done a stunning one-page summary which we can put into people's hands now, letting them know the realities of the Chicago fight AND suggesting conversations around our own schools as well as national needs.

Please, please take the time to read this, discuss it, share it. Let's help celebrate our Chicago sisters and brothers by picking up the banner and running with it, together.

http://www.ctunet.com/quest-center/research/the-schools-chicagos-students-deserve

- Once you click the link, choose the 1 page summary or detailed 46 page report.









Class sizes and leveling

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"I just read an article in the Saturday PG about class sizes and "leveling" and I am glad to know the issue is getting needed attention. I do have a question though prompted by the article.


In all the analysis of the PSSA results, does anyone look at the performance of a class of 16-18 and compare it to a class of 22-28? I recall the schools who were featured in presentations for the great performance on the test and wonder now what their class sizes were. Greenfield was one such school I believe in the 2010-11 school year. Don't report anything using average class size that is just so much bs and so a way of placating the public. Someone should build into RISE a variance factor for class size...or does that make too much sense?"

- Can someone post the link?

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Kalamazoo Promise

On another post Anonymous wrote:

The Kalamazoo Promise: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/magazine/kalamazoo-mich-the-city-that-pays-for-college.html?pagewanted=all




What is the definition of an effective teacher?

So, can anyone take a first shot at this question?

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

What is an effective teacher?

This question has been asked but not answered at various board meetings.  Can anyone help out?  We do after all have an Office of Teacher Effectiveness.

Monday, September 10, 2012

PSSA presentation

On another post Anonymous wrote:

New Post


Pittsburgh Schools Sort through Disappointing Results from the Monday night PSSA presentation at the Education Committee Meeting.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-public-schools-sort-through-disappointing-test-results-652733/

Hopefully there will be a full report in tomorrow's PG.



Sunday, September 9, 2012

Won't back down

On another post Anonymous wrote:

wedngovI know this is a different topic but Im not sure how to start a new post. I am interested in a discussion of the new movie wont back down. The union has posted information from the aft against it but yet the movie is tied to the very people Gates, Walden, anschutz. The same people they have welcomed and supported in our district. Hmm? Just curious about thoughts on yet another teacher bashing movie the union is against yet will welcome money from.


State continues to investigate for possible cheating

On another post Anonymous wrote:

A must as a New Blog Entry .. .. .


How long will this go on with PPS. ..Can the local newspapers secure names and schools under the Right to Know Law" ?????

Inquiry continues into cheating on PSSA tests

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent Linda Lane said that the state asked the district to look into 19 teachers whose students' answer sheets had atypical erasure patterns. She declined to name the teachers or the schools and said it is up to the ???


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/inquiry-continues-into-cheating-on-pssa-tests-652513/



Thursday, September 6, 2012

Need for city/ district cooperation/ transportation

From the PG, letters to the editor:

"...there is something almost perverse about the city school district spending its sparse funds on private yellow buses rather that supporting the ailing public Port Authority, which plays such a critical role in Pittsburgh's quality of life. You'd think that city and county officials, who should have saving the Port Authority near the top of their agenda, might get involved in this act involving the city shooting itself in the foot."


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/student-busing-651859/#ixzz25hG53YbX

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Ipads

Any information on which schools they went to and what they will be used for?