Sunday, June 12, 2016

Let the fact checking begin

"The Legacy of Linda Lane," Post Gazette September 8, 2015

From an op-ed about Linda Lane's legacy as superintendent:

"...the number of students who enroll in post-secondary education within two years of leaving high school has risen to 68 percent from 58 percent..."

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2015/09/08/Gregg-Behr-Pittsburgh-schools-must-continue-the-legacy-of-Linda-Lane/stories/201509080021


Pittsburgh Promise Website

"58%  => 68%
PPS students who are enrolled in post-secondary education during the first two years after high school ('05 - '10)"

http://www.pittsburghpromise.org/about_dashboard.php


... So, this progress to 68% took place before Linda Lane even became superintendent!  Who would know that the figures cited were from 5 years earlier?  Fact checkers, check yourselves!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Look who wrote the piece:

Gregg Behr is president of the Grable Foundation. This was submitted also on behalf of The Buhl Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.

They had someone (Lane) in place who would work for and with them. They want to call the shots.

Anonymous said...

In this piece Dr. Lane says she reduced suspensions 40%. To do this she took the year with the highest suspensions (the year AFTER she started) and the lowest (the year BEFORE she resigned). Who is ready to call her a liar? http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2016/05/26/superintendent-linda-lane-thank-you-pittsburgh/

Anonymous said...

These examples above need to be sent in a letter to the PG.

Anonymous said...

Great schools just issued statement supporting Hamlet and the school board.

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/2016/06/12/Great-Public-Schools-Pittsburgh/stories/201606120198

Questioner,

Can these comments and links from above showing how Lane & Co. manipulated data be left in the comment section of this PG article?

Anonymous said...

Linda Lane did have a LEGACY the main one when she help sponsor the LABOR DAY PARADE πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°that would help
Decrease SUSPENSION RIGHT!!!!! Oh the $15,000.00 payraise another LEGACYπŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°do
We need to talk about more of her LEGACY I don't think so

Questioner said...

She has a right to bonuses available per her contract, as long as the data used in support is accurate. Labor Day may or may not be a good showcase for PPS but right now we need to focus on fact checking and selective fact checking.

Anonymous said...

The reason suspensions are lower is because the principals are told not to suspend and our schools are in shambles because of that. If these students did the same behavior on the streets, the cops would not be as sympathetic.

Questioner said...

What was the suspension rate the year LL started?

Let's look further at the claims in the courieronline article cited abovehttp://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2016/05/26/superintendent-linda-lane-thank-you-pittsburgh/,

such as "The rate of passing scores for our African American students on the advanced placement tests, which carry college credit when passed, have gone from 20 percent to 45 percent."

Huh? The PPS Final General Fund budget posted online indicates that the rate of passing scores for African American students on AP tests went from 20 OF 393 (6.8%) TO 48 OF 566 (8.48%).

This same report shows that over 100 AP tests were taken by students at U Prep, Westinghouse and Perry. Not a single one of these students earned a score qualifying them for any AP credit whatsoever. So are these AP classes really AP classes or are they just being called AP classes?

People can and should post this information on PG comments and ask why the extensive fact checking of claims made by Hamlet but not the last 2 supers, or by foundation supporters on their behalf.

Questioner said...

Access the AP data by going to http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/budget and downloading the report for the 2015 Final General Fund Budget (the 10.67 MB file), page 24.

Questioner said...

From that same Courier article, consider the phrase "Love them enough to do what is best". Googling will find various prior uses of the same phrase, such as this one "Giving kids perimeters shows them you love them enough to do what is best for them."

http://hubpages.com/family/Help-I-Hate-My-Step-Kids

Plagiarism? Or just a generic sentiment?

Anonymous said...

PPS suspensions (**Source: PA Safe Schools Reports: https://www.safeschools.state.pa.us/%28S%28msaz5lvgahm4frbpq3iapfmx%29%29/Home.aspx?App=Empty&Menu=dbd39a1f-3319-4a75-8f69-d1166dba5d70)

2010-11 = 12, 606
2011-12 = 15,522
2012-13 = 10,896
2013-14 = 9,382
2014-15 = 9,920

Dr. Lane's tenure started on Dec 13, 2010. She claims a reduction in suspensions of 40% in the New Pittsburgh Courier. http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2016/05/26/superintendent-linda-lane-thank-you-pittsburgh/

To get 40%, she must have used 2011-12 as the baseline year and 2013-14 as the other. 15,522 to 9,382 is a 39.6% reduction.

12,606 to 9,920 is a 21.3% reduction, that is the most accurate depiction of suspension reductions in her tenure.

Anonymous said...

I won't even look at the suspension rate baloney. Is a decrease a decrease when it is caused by not applying the rules; not enforcing discipline? Any touting is disgraceful. The last year we had restorative practices making any comparisons a waste of time. When I use "we" I mean the district or the city. I really would not believe discipline data from a suburban district either since there is not uniformity in applying the rules anywhere. Connections and past behavior are always considered.

Anonymous said...

Building on what 7:39 said, I have heard of situations where a principal just tells a severely misbehaving student to go home for the rest of the day. That's probably illegal, but it does reduce the suspension rate.

Then there are principals who send a severely misbehaving student back to class with a note. Sometimes the note just tells the teacher to call the student's home. Sometimes the note says that the student has been "counselled". If you think that will correct severe or violent misbehavior, you're wrong.

Then there is the so-called in-house suspension. That does not count as a real suspension. So if a severely misbehaving student is sent to in-house, it will not show up on the district's suspension record. And if you think in-house will correct severe or violent misbehavior, again you're wrong.

A creative administrator can literally reduce his/her suspension rate to next to nothing.

Questioner said...

So often this administration has congratulated itself for reducing testing or suspensions or whatever and then if you look closely at the numbers the "reduction" consists largely of reversing increases that took place earlier under that same administration.

Anonymous said...

So if all the reporting of these unreliable data points is proving to be suspect even with the current supt, where is the line of demarcation drawn for Hamlet? Manipulation seems to be the norm so why not follow the status quo? Oh my goodness, who and what can be trusted anymore??

Questioner said...

The line of demarcation might be the occasional unintentional error v extensive and frequent misrepresentation with the intent to deceive.

We all make mistakes. We do not all purposely deceive.

Anonymous said...


Explanations and explanations...clever consolations...places to hide.

When will the standard be... transparency?

If not now...when?

Anonymous said...


Hamlet is gridiron tough. He doesn't need coddling , sympathy, empathy or the making excuses for him. He's not asking for it.

Put forth your vision for the district and it's students Dr. Anthony Hamlet. Defend that vision. Make your case. Lead.

Questioner said...

People are human, they will occasionally get their facts wrong. You won't get transparency by firing them for it. It will just be "no comment."

Anonymous said...


Does it occur to anyone that maybe the PPS doorway (door #1) is not the right door chose for Hamlet?

He may find a better fit elsewhere for his journey. Who knows? One door closes another opens.
This isn't the end all for anyone.

Questioner said...

Sure, there are always options, but having newspaper articles question his integrity will not be a plus when searching for a position.

Anonymous said...

Agree with all about suspensions-- dangerous students keep returning the class- during same period they assaulted someone-- It is NO accomplishment to just "not suspend"
at least the principals that just send home, separater danger from the non troubled kids--
I've seen student assault adults and students-- and no one does anything It is easy to say- dont suspend- but when you are assaulted- and often it isnt the incident in question-- but just a lashing out kid- wheree is a teacher to turn? You cant "engage" a person who is bringing their troubles with them in as class of 25-- they need individual help- out of the classroom- never enough counselors, behavior specialists, etc.
Talking about issues with the victim may work- "restorative justice"- but think through the time involved-- please see that THIS is why we have any kid of gap- economic etc-- some kids spend alot more time on their "head issues" than on school. Yes we want to help them-- but someone another kid is putting the whole day into school and will achieve more-- it is just a fact

Anonymous said...

I think many would justify artificial numbers not so much as intentional deception, but PR spin and something good for the district's image. When my kids were young I was a "bandwagon parent" always ready to toss support to what I was told were good ideas. Many want to believe the numbers to calm their worries.

Questioner said...

There is definite spin to make districts and administrators look good, but at some point the line is crossed and it becomes manipulation and deception. And when the media refuses to call them on it, it just gets worse.

Will the Courier issue a correction? We'll see.

Anonymous said...

heck yes, duped is an accurate description of how we are led to believe numbers.

Questioner said...

It started when big money and high stakes entered the picture. Still, sometimes people just make mistakes.

Anonymous said...

Well questioner, if the board decides to support Hamlin as their selection for Supt and it proves to be a 'mistake' then by all means we can console ourselves by saying "everyone makes mistakes"

Hey, we can console ourselves in that manner going forward forever.


I'd rather hold people accountable at the beginning . Its a good way to start.

Questioner said...

Hold them accountable for what exactly?

Intentionally misrepresenting their record? No argument here. Being clueless about information they should be expected to know cold? Absolutely.

Failing to verify their recollection of the exact state grade given to a school where they worked years ago? I'd give them a pass with a warning to verify everything next time.