Monday, August 31, 2015

"Understanding rather than punishment"

* New Post * 
~ 22 Pittsburgh schools to use discipline aimed more at understanding than punishment 

I held my breath as I read the schools listed and am glad to see my child's school not listed. Sad to see that RAND Corp will receive a chunk of the $3 million grant (!) to evaluate whether Restorative Practices works... I would have been glad to inform PPS as to the effectiveness of "reducing punishment" for disruptive students and "hearing from the person who is harmed". 

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/08/31/22-Pittsburgh-schools-to-use-discipline-aimed-more-at-understanding-than-punishment/stories/201508280271 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Raises

Anonymous wrote:

"New Post 

Can anyone tell me why the School Police received SEVERAL raises and the Security Officers that work in the schools have not received a raise in 22 years other than one percent a year? "

Politics and hiring decisions

Anonymous wrote:

"New Post 

Are people that apply and deserve School District jobs being passed by because of politics in the district?" 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Looking for PSSA data

Anonymous wrote:

"New post please 

Has anyone seen any PSSA data? I tried looking online and read that PA had approved a change in cut scores for proficiency. It said the scores would be delayed. Apparently the cut score were raised after the tests were initially scored. Has anyone seen any data or heard anything? Thanks! "

Sunday, August 2, 2015

PPS grads require remediation

Anonymous wrote:

"New Post 
The PG article chart shows that 90% of Pittsburgh Public Schools students enrolled at CCAC take REMEDIAL classes!!!!!! 

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/08/02/More-CCAC-students-need-remedial-classes/stories/201505300026 

WOW! The article states that ____ 
“In some school districts, all of the students entering CCAC from the high school class of 2014 needed at least one remedial class. That includes East Allegheny, Highlands, Northgate. Steel Valley and Wilkinsburg high schools. In Pittsburgh Public Schools, the average was 90 percent overall. The largest number of city students — 45 — came from Brashear, and 96 percent of them needed to take remedial classes.” 
The article chart shows that 90% of Pittsburgh Public Schools students enrolled at CCAC take REMEDIAL classes!!!!!!! "