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August 2008
Would you stay or go?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The question many Clayton families and teachers are asking is simple, but hard to answer: Should they remain in a school district that lost its accreditation?
Some already left. As many as 2,000 students failed to return to the district this school year, and officials expect more will leave.
While many would just like to pick up and move, life isn’t that easy. The struggling economy makes it difficult to find jobs and sell homes. And let’s be honest, there won’t be many people running to buy homes in Clayton with what’s happened to the school district.
Students who stay will likely have a harder time finding scholarships and getting accepted to colleges.
Teachers have their own problems. Many systems already filled their open teaching positions. If the teachers transfer to another school system they could lose some of their benefits.
What options do teachers and students really have?
While leaders in Clayton created this situation, can other districts and the state help these students and teachers?
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Clayton’s future?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UPDATE: Clayton has lost its accreditation.
Today is when Clayton County public schools learn whether it will keep its accreditation. The 40-member national Accreditation Commission is scheduled to announce its decision during a 1 p.m. news conference.
It’s unclear what impact Wednesday’s recommendation from a judge will have on the accreditation decision. The judge recommended that Gov. Sonny Perdue remove four Clayton school board members from office.
Perdue hasn’t yet decided what he will do. The judge wrote that the board members “have violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act, have violated the board’s code of ethics for board members, and have engaged in conduct unbecoming of a board member and in breach of the public trust.”
Perdue asked the judge to get involved after five Clayton residents filed a complaint, accusing the board of violating state law when they put the district’s accreditation at risk.
As many of you know, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ordered the district to meet nine mandates by Sept. 1 or lose accreditation.
Three different decisions could be made about the district: retain accreditation, lose accreditation or put the system on probation, which would give them one year to fix the problems.
What do you think should happen to Clayton?
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Principles about principals
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now that the school year is up and running I’m spending a lot more time in schools. In my years covering education I’ve noticed that every school considered good or improving has a strong principal.
The effective principals I’ve met all have similar qualities. They constantly ask, “Will it help the children?” They’re never in their offices, instead they’re wandering the halls talking with students and teachers. Their desks are cluttered and messy. They grant parents and the media access to all parts of their buildings and they don’t require teachers to make appointments to see them.
But it seems as though a lot of principals are failing. The reasons are many. In some cases, it’s a lack of training and support from the central office. For others, it’s the principal’s failure to come up with a long-term plan and implement it correctly.
What training should districts give principals?
Maybe the problem is systems are not hiring the right people. What qualities and skills should district leaders look for when they’re hiring principals?
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SAT scores fall - again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1466 - that’s Georgia’s new average SAT score, according to results released this morning.
The state’s results dropped by six points from last year’s average. Georgia dropped while the national average remained steady at 1511. That’s 45 points higher than Georgia’s average. A perfect score is 2400.
This is the second consecutive year Georgia’s scores dropped. Why do you think Georgia struggles with the test?
More importantly, do you care how Georgia performs on this test?
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Report card confusion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cobb County is rolling out elementary school report cards that would give parents more detailed information about how their kids are doing in school.
Instead of “E” for excellent or “U” for unsatisfactory students will be graded using an extensive rubric measuring students’ abilities in specific skills, like reading orally with speed.
I’ve often heard parents say they want more information about their kids, so in that regard Cobb’s report cards should help. But some parents say the report cards are confusing and difficult to understand.
Schools have tons of data about student achievement. They publish reports and post charts on their Web sites. But what good is this data if the average person can’t decipher it? What is the best way for schools to share their data with parents and the public?
NOTE: SAT results are expected later this morning. I’ll post another blog once I get those results.
Also, here is an update about Gwinnett schools Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks’ recent comments that stirred up some controversy.
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Guns on campus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A state Senate committee began meeting this month to discuss whether people who have concealed weapons permits should be allowed to carry guns on state college campuses.
You may remember that the Legislature decided in the spring to allow people to pack heat on MARTA buses and restaurants that serve alcohol.
Proponents say students who hunt would be allowed to keep their guns and rifles in the trunks of their cars. Faculty and other employees might also be allowed to carry weapons.
The State University System and others have opposed the change, questioning the need and expressing worry that students may be put at risk.
Should guns be allowed on college campuses? If so, what restrictions are needed?
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More budget woes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Everyone is looking for more money.
Fayette County school board members will vote Thursday to increase the school tax rate to offset state cuts because of an estimated $1.6 billion shortfall.
All 180 school districts have been told they will receive 2 percent less funding from the state. The news came after districts approved their budgets and set tax rates. Many school officials said they were already struggling to make ends meet. They’ve held off filling open positions or buying new textbooks, computers and other materials.
But the per pupil funding isn’t the only money they’re losing. The state is also considering eliminating the “taxpayer relief” funding on local property tax bills. The amount school districts will lose varies. Fulton County expects to lose about $13.7 million.
Chuck Burbridge, the chief financial officer for Atlanta public schools, summed up how many educators must feel about these cuts. “It is disappointing that the state treats our children’s education like pothole repair — something that can wait until tomorrow,” Burbridge said.
How are districts dealing with these cuts? They’ve asked different departments to trim their budgets. Some will use money from reserves. Metro school systems are better off than many rural districts who have said they may go into deficit spending.
If the situation worsens, local school leaders warn about fewer field trips, summer school offerings and bus services.
How worried are you about these reductions? How do schools slash their budgets without taking anything away from students?
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What should Wilbanks do?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some Gwinnett County parents are demanding Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks resign because comments he made last week during a discussion about student discipline could be viewed as racist.
The discussion focused on how minority students make up a disproportionate number of children disciplined in Gwinnett. An administrator cited a study saying the issue is a problem everywhere, except Idaho.
Wilbanks then said: “Do they have any blacks in Idaho? They don’t have many.”
Some parents questioned why the long-time superintendent made a racial comment. The president of the Gwinnett chapter of the NAACP scolded Wilbanks and said he should apologize.
Wilbanks has since said his comments were not meant to be racist or insensitive.
What do you think of Wilbanks’ comments? What should happen to him?
On a much, much lighter note: State schools Superintendent Kathy Cox will appear on “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”
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Where’s the flexibility for teachers?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two state laws excuse school districts from some rules, provided the systems improve student learning.
There are charter school districts, which include Decatur and Marietta. And there’s a new state program, which Gwinnett County school leaders are eager to join.
Leaders in the school districts talk about how freedom and flexibility will let them try new teaching methods and set up the school day in ways to improve student achievement.
I bet that a lot of teachers would appreciate some freedom over how they run their classrooms. They spend the most time with the students and should know best what these kids need.
Where are the programs to give teachers greater flexibility?
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The real “partner” in education
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Whenever I meet with a school official - doesn’t matter if it is a teacher, principal, superintendent or school board member - they always talk about how important parents are. Parents need to partner with the school for their child to succeed, they say.
Educators may say that but when you look at when they hold certain events the timing is more convenient for business leaders, not parents.
Atlanta Public Schools is holding its annual State of the Schools address at 7:30 a.m. today, a time when most families are getting ready for school.
This isn’t just an Atlanta issue. Few schools provide day care when they hold events in the evening. I’ve heard parents say they would go to a meeting if there was a place where kids could do their homework or read.
One can understand why schools reach out to business leaders. They have money to donate and connections to lobby on behalf of the district. But they’re not a school’s only audience.
Who do you think has become a school’s target partner?
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Report cards for teachers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maureen Downey now writes a weekly column about education and she started with a strong topic: why don’t schools give report cards on teachers.
Schools and principals have plenty of data showing how each teacher’s class performed on state tests, but that information is never shared with parents.
We always hear principals and teachers saying how important a child’s parents are to that student’s success in school. But we also know how much harder it is for children to succeed if they have a weak teacher.
What information should schools share about teachers? How do you go about learning if your child’s teacher is effective?
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Protecting students from harm
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s an interesting story today about a lawsuit filed after a 13-year-old hanged himself while he was locked in the school’s seclusion room.
The Alpine Program in Gainesville works with students with severe behavioral or emotional disabilities. The school places students in seclusion rooms — small spaces with four concrete walls —- for a time out if they become a physical danger.
The article and lawsuit raises questions about when these seclusions should be used and for how long students should spend in one. Records show the boy twice spent more than 7 hours in the room.
The lawsuit is about more than one child. It raises important questions about how children with severe disabilities should be treated in this state. It asks what parents can expect and what schools can realistically deliver.
What does Georgia and local educators owe these children and their parents?
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The other college test
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia school officials released results on how students did on the ACT college admissions test. Scores went up, but what surprised me was how many students are taking this exam.
About 40 percent of Georgia’s college-bound seniors took the ACT. The SAT remains more popular, but I wonder why more students are turning to the other exam.
The ACT tests students’ mastery in English, reading, math and science. The SAT focuses on English, reading and math skills.
In the past few years, more colleges have questioned the validity of the SAT. And there has been a growing backlash against the test, as parents, students and educators wonder whether it accurately measures how well students will do in college.
Do you think the ACT is more reliable than the SAT? Or are we at the point where all these admissions tests should be thrown out?
(NOTE: SAT results should be coming out within the next couple of weeks.)
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Will CRCT history repeat itself?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teachers and students in grades six and seven will soon get revised social studies curriculum.
State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox ordered the extensive revisions after more than 70 percent of sixth- and seventh-graders failed the new social studies CRCT. Cox, a former social studies teacher, said there was breakdown between the test questions and the new curriculum.
Many of the comment cards turned in by teachers and others say the changes are an improvement. But many worry whether it is enough to prevent a repeat of low scores.
Are you worred about social studies this year? What else do you think the state needs to do to prevent a repeat of widespread failure?
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Male call for teachers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I spent the first day of school with Terrance Mitchell, a recent Morehouse College graduate and a first-year teacher at Gideons Elementary in Atlanta.
Several parents nodded with approval when they saw that their child’s teacher was a strong male role model. Parents of younger children started plotting to get their child in Mitchell’s class next year.
At the start of the day Mitchell told the boys they must dress with respect. No pants or shorts hanging below the waist. If they wanted to be taken seriously, they must dress that way. The 23-year-old teacher wore dress slacks with a matching vest and a button-down shirt.
It’s obvious Mitchell will teach the students more than the school curriculum. So why aren’t there more men like him?
He’s one of only two male teachers at Gideons. I know of some elementary schools with no male teachers, although principals say they’re on the hunt for them.
Less than 20 percent of Georgia’s teachers are men. More than half of those men work in high school and about 15 percent work in elementary schools.
There are several groups trying to get more men to teach, such as MenTeach and Call Me MISTER.
What should schools, colleges and the state be doing to encourage more men to teach?
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Are more kids riding the bus?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s the first day of school in the state’s largest school systems - Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton.
Drive by a school today and you’ll dozens of parents dropping their kids off, wishing them good luck as they start a new school year. But I wonder how kids will get to school Tuesday.
With today’s high gas prices, how many parents will continue to drive their kids to school? Is the school bus becoming a more attractive and affordable option?
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Steroids for school
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A middle school teacher sent me a note asking if other teachers are seeing an increase in “academic doping.”
Academic doping is when students use Ritalin and other stimulant drugs prescribed for ADHD to get ahead in school. The idea is similar to athletes taking steroids.
We’ve heard of kids taking and swapping pills from their siblings and parents. But that’s not what this teacher is talking about.
She said parents are getting their pediatricians to prescribe the drug even though there is nothing wrong with their children. Instead these parents think the drugs will help their kids focus and give them more stamina so they can do better in school.
We’ve discussed parents pushing their children to be the best and excel, but lately it seems as though more parents are using dangerous methods.
Teachers, are you seeing and hearing more about this academic doping? Parents, how far will you go to help your child succeed?
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What is an “adequate” education?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A deposition filed in a lawsuit challenging the way the state funds schools includes some interesting remarks about what students need to get an “adequate education.”
Responding to questions, an education department director said schools “can do without science” and that students “can fail social studies and get an adequate education.”
The chief deputy state superintendent wrote a column saying these quotes follow a series of questions about No Child Left Behind, which focuses on reading, English and math only. He says the state has invested in science and social studies through its new curriculum and graduation requirements.
The heart of the lawsuit is whether the state provides enough money for schools to deliver an adequate education to students.
What do you think of the state’s comments? What is needed for a child’s education to be adequate?
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Who can transfer now?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb Superintendent Crawford Lewis said the district can no longer afford to bus students who want to attend better schools under No Child Left Behind.
Instead the district will reimburse families for the mileage, a practice permitted under federal law and already used in Gwinnett County.
Lewis said rising gas prices and the large number of students who want transfers led to the change. About 2,300 children requested to switch schools.
DeKalb schools, the state’s third largest school district, typically has the most transfer requests. Gwinnett, the state’s largest system, received 189 requests last school year.
Why are DeKalb’s numbers higher? I expect it’s because parents knew their child could ride a bus to the new school. Many working parents don’t have the time to drive their child to and from a different campus.
Do you think the new rule will lead to fewer students changing schools? Does that undercut the law’s intention of helping students attend better performing schools?
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First day expectations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last night I got emails from two parents upset with their child’s first day of school. Both have kids in high school.
One was horrified her child got homework. She was upset that teachers acted like it was a typical day of school and taught new material. She wanted her child to ease into a new school year.
The other parent was annoyed that her child had the exact opposite experience. Her child didn’t get any homework and said all his teachers just gave out textbooks and reviewed class rules and expectations. She wondered where the academics went.
(Before you ask, neither child is in honors or Advanced Placement classes.)
Which high school student had the correct first day of school? Should learning begin on day one or should kids be allowed to ease back into it?
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Some ethical problems
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An audit shows Clayton school board members used intimidation and other unethical behavior to try and get jobs for friends and family members. This behavior is one of the reasons why the school district may lose its accreditation.
While the audit focused on Clayton, it makes me wonder whether this micromanaging and abuse of power can be found in other districts.
Have you seen similar problems in your school districts? Principals and teachers, have you ever been pressured or intimidated by a board member?
On a lighter note, here’s hoping the students and teachers returning to school today have a good first day back. Other metro school systems will start Thursday and Aug. 11.
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What board members didn’t know
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lots of education stories to choose from today.
There’s a vendor found guilty of bribery in connection with Atlanta’s former E-rate scandal. Then we have a poll showing Georgians support universal vouchers. And over in Clayton we have few people showing up to ask school board members about what’s happening with the system’s accreditation.
But the story that jumped out to me involved Cobb County. Some board members are saying they didn’t know the person they approved to be the new principal at North Cobb High School had been under investigation for sexual harassment.
The school system found insufficient evidence to support the charges, but a letter of reprimand was placed in Lawrence Bynum’s file for violating equal opportunity employment practices.
The superintendent stands by his recommendation for Bynum to lead North Cobb High. But the superintendent called for a review of how the charges against Bynum were investigated.
Should Bynum remain at North Cobb? Did the district need to tell board members about the investigation? What should the district do to fix this situation?
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