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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Notes from Starr's Road Show

Here is the Forum Brief from Superintendent Starr's February 4, 2013, presentation to the American Youth Policy Forum:

Joshua P. Starr, PhD, Superintendent of Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, oversees the 17th largest school district in the United States. With nearly 150,000 students, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is growing by 2,500 students per year. The student population is 33 percent white, 26 percent Latino, 22 percent African American, 14 percent Asian, and 4 percent multi-ethnic. Thirteen percent of MCPS students are English language learners, and 33 percent receive free or reduced price lunch. 

Starr suggested educators are faced with two gaps in their ability to use research evidence. First, the ineptitude gap: We know a lot, he argued, but we cannot apply it. As a superintendent he considers it his job to bring what is known together with strategies for applying it. Second, the credibility gap: Even with hard evidence, in certain areas it is hard to convince people about some things. 

His systemic implementation strategy involves taking what we know works and 
applying it, understanding the associated political and communication issues.
Starr discussed a number of MCPS initiatives and practices closely aligned with research, such as the district's long-standing support for wraparound services, early childhood education, clear focus on close attention to data, comprehensive professional development systems, and regular on-going assessments. He then posed the question, "How do we take all the work we've done, which is very research-based, and recognize that now we have a different challenge ahead of 
us?" The MCPS core purpose of educating children remains the same, but the mission changes because we are preparing our children for a different world.

Children, he argued, need not only to continue to have very strong academic backgrounds, but also to have 21st century skills 
(creative thinking, problem-solving) and socio-emotional competence (how to fail, how to reflect, how to work well with others). How do you take an organization and suggest the architecture that took the district one place is not what is needed to go to a new place? 

In order for change to be possible, asserted Starr, it is very important to focus on the culture of the organization. Our focus must be on relationships, he argued, and the more we understand the research about organizational change and human change, the better off we will be. 

2 comments:

  1. I have a couple of reactions to this interesting post.

    First, I wish he would share the research he is using. I have written to him in the past asking him to back some claims, but did not get any response.

    Second, sometimes it is the objective that is questioned by others, not the research. Closing the achievement gap is not everyone's objective. Another objective such as maximizing everyone's educational experience may be at odds with closing the achievement gap under certain strategies. Above, he just assumes he has the right objective and research to support the strategies needed to implement that objective.

    Third, I am glad he recognizes it, but I don't think he get's it. How is a top-down, central-office controlled organization that doesn't communicate with parents/taxpayers and that dictates policies to schools going to teach innovation and collaboration. It's just not going to happen. If he wants to change the organization, he needs to cut the central office to a much smaller size and start practicing what he is preaching by opening up the place to all stakeholders. Having town halls where he gives vague answers is not the solution. Working with his critics (CC, parents coalition, GTA, etc), rather than shutting them out, would give me some sense that he practices what he preaches on 21st century skills.

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  2. @Anonymous, if the BOE or MCPS hasn't given you the research or data you want, I suggest you file a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request. They are very simple to send, and you can email them also. Directions are here at the MD Attorney General's website: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/pia.htm, and here (below) is a template cut-and-pasted from that website, to be found at http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Appendix_A.pdf. I would encourage everyone to use your rights as a Maryland citizen to get information for which the citizens are paying. This is public information.

    Mr. Freeman Information
    Executive Director
    License Commission
    110 First Street
    Baltimore, Maryland 21200

    Dear Mr. Information:
    This is a request under the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article §§10-611 to 630. I am making this request on behalf of my client, Wanda Know.

    In this capacity, I wish to inspect all records in your custody and control pertaining to the following:
    (A) the denial by the Commission of the license or permit to Wanda Know which occurred on December 1, 2010;
    and
    (B) any studies, statistics, reports, recommendations, or other records that treat in any fashion the
    Commission's actions, practices, or procedures concerning the granting or denial of licenses or
    permits during the last three fiscal years.

    If all or any part of this request is denied, I request that I be provided with a written statement of the grounds for the denial. If you determine that some portions of the requested records are exempt from disclosure, please provide me with the portions that can be disclosed.

    Please advise me as to the cost, if any, for inspecting the records described above.

    I anticipate that I will want copies of some or all of the records sought. If you have adopted a fee schedule for obtaining copies of records and other rules or regulations implementing the Act, please send me a copy.

    I look forward to receiving disclosable records promptly and, in any event, to a decision about all of the requested records within 30 days. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions regarding this request, please telephone me at the above number.

    Connie Have
    Attorney-at-Law

    cc: Evan Hand
    Commission Attorney

    ReplyDelete

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