I am aware the fairtest hates testing, and that unions bomb their members with a steady diet of their views.

If however you will go to the NAEP data explorer and examine trends in student achievement in states that implemented reform programs bitterly opposed by teacher unions, a pattern emerges. MA, TX, DC and FL all serve as examples.

You don’t need to trust me on this- you can look the numbers up for yourself. I’m willing to predict that Indiana is next on the list, and that the most bitter opponents of the reforms will have the most crow to eat. It will take time, but just be aware that others have made complete fools out of themselves in similar situations in the past.

As for the various foundations that seek input to the public education system, are you suggesting that only those of whom you approve ought to have input to the political process that is public education? Sorry, democracy doesn’t work that way.

There is no need to update my “mental models of reality” on improvement under current “reforms,” as 10 years of research shows us that such measures are not working. However, I can, and do, update my reality based on the needs of my students on a daily basis – changing my lesson plans based on observation and daily assessment in my own classroom, observing how many of my students come to school hungry and tired and not ready to learn, and continuing my own research and reading to make sure that I am providing the best daily learning environment possible for every subject that I teach.

While I agree more progress is needed in Indiana literacy scores, increased use of high-stakes standardized testing that utilizes mostly a multiple choice format and then using those results to punish schools and teachers is not the way to make such progress. The use of authentic assessments and teacher-driven and local-school-driven measures of growth are the best ways for each local district to increase achievement according to the needs of its local community. Additionally, to overlook the effects of ever-increasing poverty on our students’ scores is short-sighted and damaging to real reform efforts such as school-community partnerships that could help mitigate the disadvantages students face in their home lives.

Finally, the influence of corporate money on these education policies and political campaign finances by such entities as the Walton family foundation, Gates foundation, the Koch brothers, and numerous others has been well-documented.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/15/alec_exposed_state_legislative_bills_drafted

Jolie, why would corporations make such donations? Their rapacious profit-mongering can hardly find fulfillment in the public education system which, as one and all know, is severely under-funded.

As for those “local school district superintendents and boards”, if they suck at their jobs why should they remain in charge? It’s supposed to be the public education system. If there’s not enough educating going on then one perfectly appropriate response is to make a couple of little changes to the system.

Sadly my conspiracy calendar is totally booked for as far as the eye can see.

Jolie-

Please note the use of the phrase “districts and states” in the post. In some places these reforms are developed at the district level, and others at the state level.

I’m guessing that you meant “universally” rather than “unilaterally” but that is (unfortunately) to be expected. I hope that you guys will keep an eye on student performance metrics and update your mental models of reality when they begin to improve.

For instance on the 2011 8th Grade Reading NAEP, 32% of Indiana low-income children scored “Below Basic” while only 19% scored “Proficient or Better.” Thus after nine years of schooling, illiteracy outranks solid to outstanding reading performance by a wide margin. Indiana schools can/should/must/will do much better.

When the needle starts moving in the right direction for disadvantaged children, as it has in other places, those complaining the loudest will have gambled and lost their credibility. Please place your bets with care.