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Education experts discuss PA graduation exam plan On April 24, 2008, CEO hosted a discussion about the proposed graduation exams for Pennsylvania public school students. A panel is education leaders discussed the consequences of implementing a system of high-stakes graduation exams. The State Board of Education and Department of Education declined invitations to be on the panel. To read a Post-Gazette article, click here.
Success of Federal Reading First Program Questioned A report from the Institute of education Sciences found that students in Reading First programs scored no better on reading comprehension tests than students who did not participate. To read more, click here. 5/2/08 SAT predicts college success A validity study by the College Board that included more than 151,000 freshmen at 110 colleges and universities found that "the new SAT college entrance exam is just about as good as high school grades - and in some cases better - in predicting college freshman grades." To read the rest of the Post-Gazette article, click here. Girl Violence Increases "According to the Pennsylvania Electronic Juvenile Justice Databook, there were 26,430 females younger than 18 arrested in the state during 2001. In 2006, the number rose to 29,693, an increase of more than 12 percent." To read more about the causes of girl violence, click here. Teens not in touch with cultural and historical references Another study indicates that "high schoolers still lack important historical and cultural underpinnings of a 'complete education.'" AMong 1,200 students surveyed, only 43% could place the Civil War between 1850 and 1900, Only 52% could identify the theme of 1984. To read a USAToday article, click here. Teen writing changes with the times "Despite best efforts to keep school writing assignments formal, two-thirds of teens admit in a survey that emoticons and other informal styles have crept in." To read the rest of this AP article, click here. 4/25/08 Another look at the Graduation Crisis A new report from America's Promise Alliance reveals some startling graduation statistics. Across America:
This report studies the fifty largest urban centers and finds students have only a 50% chance of graduating. In some cities, the graduation rates are abysmal:.
And there are stark gaps between each of these four urban areas and their suburban areas:
To read the report, click here. To read a USA Today article, click here. 4/2/08 Understanding PVAAS Most Pennsylvanians are familiar with the PSSA – the sometimes-controversial annual state assessment tests in math, reading, writing, and science that measure achievement, or how well students are learning the state standards. Now the state has a companion assessment instrument - PVAAS – the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System that uses PSSA results to measure academic progress, or how much an individual student grows over time. The state Department of Education refers to this combination as the “Power of 2.” PVAAS is a “value-added” or “growth model” that uses a complex statistical method to analyze students’ PSSA scores, plot prior academic growth of individual students and groups, and project how individual students should perform in the future. Students with teachers and schools that effectively teach to the state standards should gain a full year of education “value” or “growth” every year. PVAAS shows whether this occurs. To read more in the CEO newsletter, click here. Go to page 2. To read a Post-Gazette article, click here. 3/10/08 Do students need more music and phys ed? Two recent studies indicate that music and phys ed have positive effects on student learning. These findings are especially significant for schools that are reducing physical education, recess, and music in efforts to spend more class time in preparation for state math and reading tests. 1. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that K-5 girls who received between 70 and 300 minutes of physical education a week scored consistently higher on tests than those who received less than 35 minutes a week. The findings were not replicated with boys, perhaps because boys need an even higher level of physical activity than girls. To read the study, click here. 2. An extensive report from the Dana Foundation advanced the understanding of the effects of music, dance, and drama education on other types of learning. For example, performing arts foster sustained attention; high levels of music training relates to the ability to manipulate information; music training and practice is related to better skills in geometrical representation and reading acquisition. These findings begin to explore the question of whether arts training changes the brain to enhance general cognitive capacities. To read the report, click here. 3/5/08 High stakes exit exams coming to PA The wheels are now in motion for the PA Board of Education and Department of Education to mandate exit exams. The plan also calls for development of a state curriculum. The authority of local school boards will be further diminished. Education will be further reduced to test prep and test taking. To read a CEO newsletter article, click here. To read more about the Pennsylvania plan, click here. PA State Board of Education approves graduation exams With an 11-0 vote, the State Board of Education gave initial approval yesterday to the plan that would further diminish local control by mandating state graduation exams for public school students. Critics believe the tests will increase the dropout rate, turn most high schools into "test-prep factories," and put too much weight on standardized testing. The plan would start with the class of 2014 - students who are in sixth grade right now. During the next few months the plan will be reviewed by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and legislative committees before final approval. To read more, click here. To read the State Board of Ed proposal, click here. 1/18/08 Graduation Exit Exams Likely in PA The PA Department of Education announced recently that exit exams are being planned for high school students. Why? Because the PDE believes that not all local diplomas are equal and a set of state exit exams will standardize the process. Twenty-two states now give such exams. It is suggested that 10 subject-specific tests be available, with proficiency required on six. Other details are being discussed. Secretary Zahorchak expects the program to begin with the Class of 2014, which coincides with the NCLB goal date for 100% student proficiency in reading, science and math. To read more, click here. Pittsburgh Public School District is hoping to be in the forefront, instituting the exams with the class of 2012. To read more, click here.
Elementary Math Changes Coming If American students are to take algebra in middle school, the elementary math curriculum needs to be more rigorous and the teachers need to know more math. To read more, click here. 1/11/08 Can more money fix education? In November a state report determined that there is a $5 billion funding gap for Pennsylvania schools! The link is below. Based on this one report, lawmakers are considering creating a commission to examine new funding and school funding in general. Some districts spend in excess of $20,000 a student and still have low academic proficiency. Money is not the answer in many districts that are already far exceeding state average cost-per-child amount. To read a Tribune-Review article, click here. 12/10/07 Previous information: According to a $648,000 study completed for the state Legislature by a Denver-based consulting firm, Pennsylvania must increase annual education spending by $5 billion in order to meet state standards. The current average cost per student is $9,512. This report asserts that districts need to spend $12,057 per student! Seven area school districts already spend that exorbitant amount: Allegheny Valley, Duquesne, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Quaker Valley, and Wilkinsburg. Three problematic districts are on this list - districts that are spending at least $12,057 per student and still cannot successfully educate most of its students. To read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, click here. 11/15/07 |
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