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Rand did the "School Performance Index" study some years back with results that did not in any way contradict what MR wanted to happen. Detailed methodology and data were kept confidential.
The Rand report several years ago was done at the same time as the PA Dept of Ed did the "Quality Review" for Pittsburgh Public Schools. That report was quite extensive and was done by a team of educators with the necessary expertise. That PDE Report was never released either. However, as a fact, MR asked GZ, then, the Secretary of Education to have the PDE report adjusted so that it would not conflict with the Rand Report. Believe it or not, the PDE Report was adjusted three times to comply with MR's request. (Rand was paid a huge amount of money for the report.)
The PDE reports were conducted by the Department of Education for Pennsylvania's 30 lowest achieving DISTRICTS (which includes PPS) at no cost to the Districts, but rather at the expense of PDE. (Taxpayers either way)
Did you know that PDE had scheduled a Team of Educators (with the necessary expertise) to come into PPS for the next several years to remedy the conditions (identified in the Quality Review) that were preventing PPS from achieving academic proficiency?
MR's power and politics CANCELLED the Team of Experts, (who were, again at NO COST to PPS) so that he and Broad/Gates could implement their own changes. NONE of the other 30 Districts were able to cancel their PDE Teams!
So, we are where we are, (494th of 500 in PA) because ego, money, politics, and power were prioritized over the educational advancement of Pittsburgh's children.
Too bad we have no real investigative reporters/education for all children advocates/legal expertise that could've, would've, should've brought this to a resolution for PPS students!
This city is very weak when it comes to the rights of children. Why?
There are two groups that have taken on the challenges in PPS to no avail.
Both groups originated in the Hill District. Both meet regularly with PPS Central Administration.
The are the Hill District Education Council and the Advocates for African American Students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
The HDEC is formulating a plan for changes in Hill schools after 5-10 years of "meeting" with CO only to have achievement a very low levels with little evidence of progress. The Advocates turned their case over to the State Human Relations Commission and after 15-20 years achievement has taken a downward trend from bad to worse.
At what point will PPS Central Office realize that they need a different type of help than the consultants, one after the other, are giving them?
Clearly, they do not know what to do and are now experimenting with "envisioning" with hundreds of thousands going to companies that are conducting focus groups.
In fact, there are those here in this city if convened into a working team could and would solve the problems for low-achieving schools.
Certainly, there is little to be lost by engaging and giving autonomy to local students/parents/community/educators who are dedicated/committed to the children/students.
Perhaps this blog can give them a voice and assist them in their efforts.
The HDEC is formulating a plan for changes in Hill schools after 5-10 years of "meeting" with CO only to have achievement a very low levels with little evidence of progress. The Advocates turned their case over to the State Human Relations Commission and after 15-20 years achievement has taken a downward trend from bad to worse.
At what point will PPS Central Office realize that they need a different type of help than the consultants, one after the other, are giving them?
Clearly, they do not know what to do and are now experimenting with "envisioning" with hundreds of thousands going to companies that are conducting focus groups.
In fact, there are those here in this city if convened into a working team could and would solve the problems for low-achieving schools.
The team 2:15 is referencing were called "Distinguished Educators" and I remember this well because our PTO and PSCC bought into the idea of how much help they might be to our kids and school. I guess they never got their foot in the door.
We need more parent engagement. The parents need to know that the schools are going to try hard, but without some boosters and support at home, then the efforts won't really work in the long run.
I enjoyed meeting the parents of our Summer Dreamer campers when this was possible. But, it isn't woven into the programs as it is now. The kids get on the bus. The kids get off the bus. There are few, if any, times when the kids, their parent(s) / grandmothers / guardians, and their peers and the teachers as well as the activity providers get to interact.
The "night out" was a flop.
The "open house" was a flop. too.
Our swim party and group swim lesson had potential, but it wasn't organized in advance and didn't occur.
Our post camp trips / days were great, but too many were not invested and tied into the program.
I loved seeing some of the parents play SKWIM. That's more of what we need. Then, sky is the limit for the kids and the district.
Once a week, at least, the parents should be able to come and pick-up the kids at the camps. But, it would be much easier to pick up the kids from camp it that happened in their own neighborhoods. Hence, the need for many sites rather than a mega site approach where nearly everyone has to bus.
Nothing wrong with bus in the AM to school and then bus to the neighborhood for activities in smaller groups with parent pickup. That could happen a couple times a week, at least.
Nice to hear from someone first-hand. So much better this way and no consultant was hired to present the thoughts. Mark, if you had some of the same campers two years in a row, were you or any other staffer able to see growth and maturity in the kid?
IN 2013: Only rising 4th graders and rising 9th graders could sign up for the Swim & Water Polo Camp activity as part of the afternoons of PPS Summer Dreamers.
To the Q above:
Two from 2012 were on the rolls for 2013. One pulled out to another activity with heat / outdoors / running issues. The other, as per your question, did show solid improvement.
But, in 2013 we had 90% of our kids who were headed into 4th grade and in 2012 we had 100% of our kids who were going into middle grades. So, the overlap was impossible.
Our other 10% were kids had to be going into 9th grade. So, some of our middle school kids from last year could NOT enroll in Swim & Water Polo even if they wanted as they are going into 7th and 8th grades this year.
Meanwhile, in 2012-13 varsity swim season at PPS Obama Academy, we had 3 former summer dreamers from Swim & Water Polo Camp. Plus about 10 others who were staff.
In the fall of 2018 we might get some of this year's PPS students who did Swim & Water Polo onto our varsity teams. I have something to look forward to I guess.
10 comments:
Rand did the "School Performance Index" study some years back with results that did not in any way contradict what MR wanted to happen. Detailed methodology and data were kept confidential.
The Rand report several years ago was done at the same time as the PA Dept of Ed did the "Quality Review" for Pittsburgh Public Schools. That report was quite extensive and was done by a team of educators with the necessary expertise. That PDE Report was never released either. However, as a fact, MR asked GZ, then, the Secretary of Education to have the PDE report adjusted so that it would not conflict with the Rand Report. Believe it or not, the PDE Report was adjusted three times to comply with MR's request. (Rand was paid a huge amount of money for the report.)
The PDE reports were conducted by the Department of Education for Pennsylvania's 30 lowest achieving DISTRICTS (which includes PPS) at no cost to the Districts, but rather at the expense of PDE. (Taxpayers either way)
Did you know that PDE had scheduled a Team of Educators (with the necessary expertise) to come into PPS for the next several years to remedy the conditions (identified in the Quality Review) that were preventing PPS from achieving academic proficiency?
MR's power and politics CANCELLED the Team of Experts, (who were, again at NO COST to PPS) so that he and Broad/Gates could implement their own changes. NONE of the other 30 Districts were able to cancel their PDE Teams!
So, we are where we are, (494th of 500 in PA) because ego, money, politics, and power were prioritized over the educational advancement of Pittsburgh's children.
Too bad we have no real investigative reporters/education for all children advocates/legal expertise that could've, would've, should've brought this to a resolution for PPS students!
This city is very weak when it comes to the rights of children. Why?
There are two groups that have taken on the challenges in PPS to no avail.
Both groups originated in the Hill District. Both meet regularly with PPS Central Administration.
The are the Hill District Education Council and the Advocates for African American Students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
The HDEC is formulating a plan for changes in Hill schools after 5-10 years of "meeting" with CO only to have achievement a very low levels with little evidence of progress.
The Advocates turned their case over to the State Human Relations Commission and after 15-20 years achievement has taken a downward trend from bad to worse.
At what point will PPS Central Office realize that they need a different type of help than the consultants, one after the other, are giving them?
Clearly, they do not know what to do and are now experimenting with "envisioning" with hundreds of thousands going to companies that are conducting focus groups.
In fact, there are those here in this city if convened into a working team could and would solve the problems for low-achieving schools.
Certainly, there is little to be lost by engaging and giving autonomy to local students/parents/community/educators who are dedicated/committed to the children/students.
Perhaps this blog can give them a voice and assist them in their efforts.
The HDEC is formulating a plan for changes in Hill schools after 5-10 years of "meeting" with CO only to have achievement a very low levels with little evidence of progress.
The Advocates turned their case over to the State Human Relations Commission and after 15-20 years achievement has taken a downward trend from bad to worse.
At what point will PPS Central Office realize that they need a different type of help than the consultants, one after the other, are giving them?
Clearly, they do not know what to do and are now experimenting with "envisioning" with hundreds of thousands going to companies that are conducting focus groups.
In fact, there are those here in this city if convened into a working team could and would solve the problems for low-achieving schools.
Oops! Always good to review the post before it is submitted. PLEASE EXCUSE the repetition of paragraphs in the 3:04 post.
The team 2:15 is referencing were called "Distinguished Educators" and I remember this well because our PTO and PSCC bought into the idea of how much help they might be to our kids and school. I guess they never got their foot in the door.
We need more parent engagement. The parents need to know that the schools are going to try hard, but without some boosters and support at home, then the efforts won't really work in the long run.
I enjoyed meeting the parents of our Summer Dreamer campers when this was possible. But, it isn't woven into the programs as it is now. The kids get on the bus. The kids get off the bus. There are few, if any, times when the kids, their parent(s) / grandmothers / guardians, and their peers and the teachers as well as the activity providers get to interact.
The "night out" was a flop.
The "open house" was a flop. too.
Our swim party and group swim lesson had potential, but it wasn't organized in advance and didn't occur.
Our post camp trips / days were great, but too many were not invested and tied into the program.
I loved seeing some of the parents play SKWIM. That's more of what we need. Then, sky is the limit for the kids and the district.
Once a week, at least, the parents should be able to come and pick-up the kids at the camps. But, it would be much easier to pick up the kids from camp it that happened in their own neighborhoods. Hence, the need for many sites rather than a mega site approach where nearly everyone has to bus.
Nothing wrong with bus in the AM to school and then bus to the neighborhood for activities in smaller groups with parent pickup. That could happen a couple times a week, at least.
Nice to hear from someone first-hand. So much better this way and no consultant was hired to present the thoughts. Mark, if you had some of the same campers two years in a row, were you or any other staffer able to see growth and maturity in the kid?
IN 2013: Only rising 4th graders and rising 9th graders could sign up for the Swim & Water Polo Camp activity as part of the afternoons of PPS Summer Dreamers.
To the Q above:
Two from 2012 were on the rolls for 2013. One pulled out to another activity with heat / outdoors / running issues. The other, as per your question, did show solid improvement.
But, in 2013 we had 90% of our kids who were headed into 4th grade and in 2012 we had 100% of our kids who were going into middle grades. So, the overlap was impossible.
Our other 10% were kids had to be going into 9th grade. So, some of our middle school kids from last year could NOT enroll in Swim & Water Polo even if they wanted as they are going into 7th and 8th grades this year.
Meanwhile, in 2012-13 varsity swim season at PPS Obama Academy, we had 3 former summer dreamers from Swim & Water Polo Camp. Plus about 10 others who were staff.
In the fall of 2018 we might get some of this year's PPS students who did Swim & Water Polo onto our varsity teams. I have something to look forward to I guess.
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