Web Log of Tad Coffin
50 New York Schools Fail Under Rating System - 2007.11.05
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/education/06re portcards.html?pagewanted=2&hp
"A "not insignificant number" of those F schools, and even some of the 99 schools that received D's, could be closed or have their principals removed as soon as this school year, Mr. Bloomberg said at a news conference announcing the grades. He added: "Is this a wake-up call for the people who work there? You betcha.""
"The largest portion of a school's grade, 55 percent, is based on the improvement of individual students on state standardized tests from one year to the next, a so-called growth model analysis. Thirty percent of the grade is based on overall student achievement on state tests. Fifteen percent is based on the school's environment, measured by attendance figures and parent, teacher and student surveys."
"Because of the importance placed on progress, the Clove Valley School on Staten Island received an F, though 86.5 percent of the students at the school met state standards in reading on 2007 state standardized tests, above the city average."
Wow. So let me get this straight. what this article tells me is that if you are the principle of a great school that has a very high graduation rate, you can be fired and the school closed if you do not make improvements.
If 55% of the grade is based on improvement, if a school were to score perfectly one year, meaning there could be no improvement, then automatically they would fail the next year. Umm... wow. I mean really... wow. How does this make sense?
Ohhh... now I see...
"Officials computed the grades after assembling a storehouse of data using a new $80 million information system."
Senators Subpoena The White House - 2007.06.27
"A Senate committee investigating the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program issued subpoenas yesterday ordering the White House to turn over documents related to the eavesdropping effort, escalating a legal showdown between Congress and the Bush administration.
...
Lawmakers said their aim is to understand and reconstruct the administration's internal debate about the program's legality, an aim White House officials have resisted."
Sweet! It's about time.
"The White House offered no word on whether it will turn over the documents by the July 18 deadline. "We're aware of the committee's action, and will respond appropriately," spokesman Tony Fratto said. "It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation."
Could this be the straw that breaks the camel's back and gets Bush and Cheney Impeached?
Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/27/ AR2007062701325.html? nav=rss_print/asection
First Post - 2007.06.10
Slowly but surly adding things to the site. I'll post more soon.
