"...inconsistencies between schools as to how students are punished..."

Gazette:  Montgomery educators discuss state’s proposed discipline policies at forum

...The state board’s proposed changes, released in February, require school systems to address the suspension disparities among races.
In public high schools in spring 2011, 9.8 percent of black students received out-of-school suspensions, compared to 5 percent of Hispanic or Latino students and 2.1 percent of white students, according to the county school system’s safety at a glance report.
The changes require school systems to come up with a plan within one year to close those gaps, and, within three years, the disparities must be gone.
When Robert Murphy, a specialist of state education department school completion and alterative programs, told the crowd that Thursday, some snickered...

For the Class of ’12, employers still have the upper hand

Slow recovery, tight job market leave many graduates scrambling

...For college graduates between ages 20 and 24, the national unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in the first quarter, down from 8.8 percent last year, according to federal labor figures. Some 19 percent of young grads were underemployed last year, working fewer hours than they would prefer.
The unemployment rate among all young people up to age 25 was 12.8 percent in Maryland in 2011, down from 15.5 percent in 2010. The state rate last year was lower than the national average of 17.3 percent...

This was 2001, has MCPS changed since then?

An unusual lawsuit in Montgomery County Maryland  received much focus...  In this case, Paul Hassler, a teacher with a  high record of student failure and professional abuses, sued a parent and math tutor who alerted school officials. The full trial transcripts are posted here (Day One).(Day Two).    Included in the transcript is testimony by school administrators, John Nori and Steven Seleznow that they shredded all student testimony about the abuses.  

Also included in the transcript is the teacher's abrupt exit as ABC-TV's 20/20 began recording the trial...

...In a school district often touted as the nation's finest, records showed that 75% of Paul Hassler's Algebra II students received D's or E's on the county-wide final exam...

..."There is one person missing in this courtroom," the trial began. "One person who should be here to listen to this testimony. And that is Jerry Weast, the new Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools."
As the facts came to light, the picture emerged of a school system bogged down by bureaucracy and protections for its staff, but without similar protections for children.

"If they can't do anything to remove an abusive and incompetent teacher, fine. Admit that. Just tell us," a parent said. "But to tell us 'we care' and 'we can' and 'we want to hear from you' and then leave a parent hanging out there alone to fight the nightmare of a million dollar lawsuit, for following the exact steps they ask us to follow...this is wrong."

Read the complete summary of this case at this link.  

Parents to Protest at Pearson Headquarters

 JOIN OUR JUNE 7TH DEMONSTRATION !!!

Public school parents from across the [New York]city are gathering outside the headquarters of test publisher Pearson to protest excessive and misguided testing in the public schools.The New York State Education Department* has turned over control of the education system to a private for-profit company with no accountability and no oversight.
It’s time for parents, educators and concerned citizens to say, enough is enough! We want a rich curriculum for our kids – not “teaching to the test.” We believe in our children and our schools, and refuse to continue to stand by silently as they are overwhelmed by more and more standardized testing...

*and Montgomery County's Board of Education has done the same thing! 

Supt. Josh Starr on STEM Education

Scroll through to 1:12:30 to hear Dr. Starr on STEM Education, IQ tests, "EQ" and more!

Documents show that system ignored flawed information in cheating investigation

The Baltimore Sun:  Experts critical of methods of investigation

According to documents obtained by The Baltimore Sun this week, independent hearing officers — attorneys hired by the system to render facts and findings in personnel hearings — found the school system's investigation, triggered by plunging student test scores, to be fundamentally flawed.
"While there is a healthy dose of speculation, suggestion and suspicion that cheating occurred in 2009, there is a lack of credible evidence that cheating actually occurred," one hearing officer wrote. "Not one witness was able to testify with certainty that they knew what happened in Abbottston. To the contrary, witness after witness stated that they did not know what happened at Abbottston."
The hearing officers also said city schools CEO Andrés Alonso knew there were problems with a state analysis of eraser markings in test books but moved ahead anyway to dismiss the principals last year.
The findings also raise questions about how the system determines whether a school cheated and who is responsible...
...The most troubling aspect of the school system investigation, according to the hearing officers, was that the system built its case on a faulty erasure analysis. In his announcement that Abbottston had cheated last year, Alonso said the analysis showed patterns of erasures from wrong to right answers "beyond the realm of probability."
In their findings, the hearing officers called the erasure analysis "incompetent" and "crude," and outside experts have called it an embarrassment to the scientific profession. The erasure analysis, conducted by a longtime state Education Department official, was done manually in a living room. Any documentation that could have authenticated it was destroyed....
...Robert Wilson, the lead investigator of a cheating scandal in Atlanta, considered the largest in the history of U.S. public education, said the Abbottston scores should never have been invalidated based on the analysis because it was so flawed. He reviewed hearing documents in the Baltimore case.
Wilson led the 2011 investigation that uncovered rampant cheating in Atlanta public schools — where his team issued a 171-page report identifying 150 educators, 82 of whom confessed to cheating.
Atlanta's erasure analysis consisted of reviewing more than 100,000 test booklets to establish a benchmark, electronically scanning the test booklets and a manual analysis to verify the results.
"If you showed me 167 booklets, and I did exactly what she did, I might be able to say, 'This is a hell of a lot of erasures,' but I'd have to have a lot more than that," Wilson said.
"I am surprised that someone who claims to a psychometrician would have been willing to draw conclusions from such unreliable work," he added. "That the Baltimore City Public Schools would have relied upon it is even more surprising."...

MCPS Hiring New Administrator!

There's always room for another administrator!  Who knew that "partnerships" were more important than classroom teachers? 

...MCPS seeks candidates with a commitment to academic excellence to apply for the Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer... ...The Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer, working with senior school system leaders, establishes a comprehensive vision for family, community, and business engagement. Oversees the development, design, and implementation of short- and long-term family, community, and business engagement strategies that are aligned with the MCPS strategic plan and Board of Education policies. Plans and manages strategic partnerships between MCPS and businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions, and community organizations to provide families and students with the supports needed to be college and career ready. Develops partnerships with the business community to increase alignment between the K–12 experience and careers. Designs and directs plans for expanding partnership programs to garner additional corporate input and resources and targets new partners based on district and school needs. Supports schools in their efforts to identify, develop, and maintain community and business partnerships. Directs the planning and implementation of parent engagement and community programs and services that promote family support of children’s learning and development and build the capacity of schools to support students and families. Directs the development of a systemic outreach strategy for engagement with traditionally underrepresented and emergent communities. Develops strategies to support and enable parent leadership and empowerment. Develops and implements strategies for improving interagency collaboration among federal, state, county, public, private, and volunteer agencies.

Assoc. Superintendent for Shared Accountability Opening

The MCPS office in charge of not-sharing real public school data is getting a new boss...

MCPS seeks candidates with a commitment to academic excellence to apply for the Associate Superintendent for Shared Accountability. The candidate must hold a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following: educational psychology, research and assessment, school administration or related field.  A doctoral degree is desirable.  Maryland state certification requirements for Administrator I or II is desirable.The position will report to the Deputy Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Programs. The associate superintendent manages the applied research, program evaluation, policy, records, reporting and testing functions of the school system, including the assessment program, the collection and analysis of systemwide data, the definition and implementation of accountability models, the preparation and coordination of statewide/systemwide testing materials and surveys, and the continuous collection and dissemination of education research.  The associate superintendent provides oversight of state and federal reporting requirements as well as the development and revision of school board policies and administrative regulations. Works closely with the deputy superintendents and other executive staff members.http://www.washingtonpost.com/jobs/JS_JobSearchDetail?jobid=32210562&jobSummaryIndex=0&agentID=&QUICK_SEARCH=

Citizens Appeal to State, Seek to Protect Park

Seeking to preserve an important county asset, citizens of Kensington’s Rock Creek Hills community have filed an appeal with the Maryland State Board of Education, asking the State board to overturn the Montgomery County school board’s recent decision to take the site of Rock Creek Hills Park to build a middle school...continues at link below

 http://savekensingtonpark.blogspot.com/2012/06/citizens-appeal-to-state-seek-to.html

Travel for 5 to Cincinnati

There's always room in the MCPS Operating Budget for travel! 


On May 23rd and 24th at least 5 people from MCPS (shown in tweet at left from Superintendent Starr) traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio for the 2012 Labor Management Conference.  The U.S. Department of Education was paying for travel and lodging for 3 representatives from a school district.  
Of course, MCPS sent 5.

Do we think they carpooled and slept at a budget motel?  No. 
In keeping with MCPS past practice local taxpayers would be footing the bill for airfare, limo to and from airports, meals, and luxury accommodations for the 2 extra travelers not covered by the Dept. of Education for at least 2 days and 2 nights.  


What's a few thousand dollars when classrooms are overcrowded and teachers are buying their own supplies? 

A 10-Year Trend in Spending by the Education Industry

Since 1989, spending by the education industry to fund election campaigns and lobbying activities has continuously increased. Also of note is the large disproportional level of spendings on campaigning versus lobbying efforts. The chart below tracks spending reported through 2011. 

See graphs at this link.

National League Leaves Artificial Turf in the Dust

For the first time in four decades the National League will play all its baseball games on real grass instead of artificial turf. Montreal was the last N.L. stadium with fake turf, but the Expos have moved to Washington, D.C., where they will play on natural turf at RFK Stadium.

NPR audio at this link.

How Much Will the Common Core Cost?

States face key spending decisions as they implement the Common Core State Standards, and a new study finds that they could save about $927 million—or spend as much as $8.3 billion—depending on the approaches they choose in three vital areas: curriculum materials, tests, and professional development.
The report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, issued today, examines the net costs of three hypothetical transition routes to the new standards in mathematics and English/language arts.
The “business as usual” approach, which features buying hard-copy textbooks, giving annual paper-based assessments, and delivering in-person professional development to teachers, is the most expensive. Over the next one to three years, it would cost states $8.3 billion, according to the Washington-based think tank...
Real article at this link:  Education Week

Maryland Taxes Spark Largest Exodus of Any State in Region

News Release 5.30.12

Contact: Jim Pettit

301.704.1363

Annapolis, MD - Maryland accounted for the largest migration exodus of any 

state in the region between 2007 and 2010, with a net migration resulting in

nearly 31,000 residents having left the state.  Where did most of them go?
Virginia.  Virginia is now home to 11,455 former Marylanders, taking $390 

million from the tax rolls during this three-year period.

The Old Dominion can claim these former Maryland revenues as part of its 

expanding tax base. Following Virginia, Marylanders opted for North Carolina.

"What happens when you raise taxes and fees 24 times?,"  asked Change
Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "You get people voting with their feet
and moving to tax-friendly states."  Since 2007, Governor O'Malley has raised

taxes and fees 24 times, taking an additional $2.4 billion out of the economy

each year according to a Change Maryland analysis based on state government 

reports.

The analysis, from the non-partisan Tax Foundation, examines IRS tax
return data to determine where individuals are filing.

In the region, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia increased the
number of tax filers.  The District of Columbia and Pennsylvania lost
tax filers, although in these jurisdictions the loss was not nearly as
dramatic as in Maryland.  The District lost just over 1,100, while
Pennsylvania lost just over 8,200.

Nationally, Maryland did not fair much better either.  Maryland joins
high-taxed, rust belt states including New York, California, Michigan,
Illinois, Ohio and New Jersey among states with largest mass exodus
between 2007 and 2010.   Maryland saw the seventh-highest negative net
migration after these states.

In all, Maryland lost $1.7 billion form the tax base due to out
migration during this three year period.

background:

http://interactive.taxfoundation.org/migration/

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/New-York-High-Tax/2012/05/29/id/440517

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/outgoing_income_DzIAeqqqqGOYw30sbfgU1H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local

http://www.changemaryland.org/category/facts/ 

Union-member confidentiality coming to Md.

ANNAPOLIS — Beginning this fall, confidentiality privileges long enjoyed by attorneys and their clients will be extended to labor organizations and their members, raising concerns that these new protections could interfere with federal law.http://thedailyrecord.com/2012/05/29/union-member-confidentiality-coming-to-md/

Buffalo asks about MCPS Conflict of Interest issue for Weast/BOE hire in 2004

When Maryvale Elementary School got a new principal in 2004, Superintendent Jerry Weast represented to the Board of Education that his recommended hire was currently the President/CEO of the Flight to Excellence Educational Consulting company.  


Now that same individual is up for the position of Superintendent of Buffalo, New York public schools and has been asked about his resume by a Buffalo News reporter. 

- Newsome's resume lists him as president and CEO of Flight to Excellence Educational Consultants, from 1995 to present. I asked him about that, wondering how a sitting school administrator could have a private consulting firm without any conflicts of interest.
"I started that as potential for when I actually stop (working in) public education," he said. "But I haven't done anything with it because of potential of conflict of interest."

"...Board's decision to provide 2 raises in one year may have an adverse impact on the classroom..."

Letter from County Executive Ike Leggett and Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner to Superintendent Joshua Starr and Board of Education President Shirley D. Brandman.

Letter_CE-CCL_MCPS_5-23-2012

Are you smarter than a Board of Education member?

Take the test and find out! 


The Maryland Open Meetings Act Compliance Board has set up an Online Course for members of the public and elected officials to learn about the Maryland Open Meetings Act.  
If you pass the course, they issue you a certificate!  


Send us your completed certificate and we will post them on this blog.  


Lifelong learning for Board of Education members includes knowing Maryland law.


We look forward to seeing the completion certificates for Shirley Brandman, Christopher Barclay, Judy Docca, Phil Kauffman, Mike Durso, Laura Berthiaume and Patricia O'Neill. 



  

Memorial Day

O my soldiers twain! O my veterans passing to burial!
What I have I also give you.
The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music,
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.

From
Dirge for Two Veterans, Walt Whitman

---

Do Our Public Schools Threaten National Security?

From this week's New York Review of Books, article by Diane Ravitch, reviewing the new report.

US Education Reform and National Security
by Joel I. Klein, Condoleezza Rice, and others
Council on Foreign Relations, 103 pp., available at www.cfr.org

In his Pulitzer Prize–winning book, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, Richard Hofstadter characterized writing on education in the United States as

a literature of acid criticism and bitter complaint…. The educational jeremiad is as much a feature of our literature as the jeremiad in the Puritan sermons.

Anyone longing for the “good old days,” he noted, would have difficulty finding a time when critics were not lamenting the quality of the public schools. From the 1820s to our own time, reformers have complained about low standards, ignorant teachers, and incompetent school boards.

And:

Now comes the latest jeremiad, this one from a task force sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and led by Joel I. Klein, former chancellor of the New York City public schools (now employed by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation to sell technology to schools and to advise Murdoch on his corporation’s hacking scandals), and Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state during the administration of President George W. Bush. This report has the cumbersome title US Education Reform and National Security and a familiar message: our nation’s public schools are so dreadful that they are a threat to our national security. Once again, statistics are marshaled to prove that our schools are failing, our economy is at risk, our national security is compromised, and everything we prize is about to disappear because of our low-performing public schools. Make no mistake, the task force warns: “Educational failure puts the United States’ future economic prosperity, global position, and physical safety at risk.”

Despite its alarmist rhetoric, the report is not a worthy successor to the long line of jeremiads that it joins. Unlike A Nation at Risk, which was widely quoted as a call to action, this report is a plodding exercise in groupthink among mostly like-minded task force members. Its leaden prose contains not a single sparkling phrase for the editorial writers. The only flashes of original thinking appear in the dissents to the report.

What marks this report as different from its predecessors, however, is its profound indifference to the role of public education in a democratic society, and its certainty that private organizations will succeed where the public schools have failed. Previous hand-wringing reports sought to improve public schooling; this one suggests that public schools themselves are the problem, and the sooner they are handed over to private operators, the sooner we will see widespread innovation and improved academic achievement.

The report is a mishmash of misleading statistics and incoherent arguments, intended to exaggerate the failure of public education. Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, introduces the report with this claim: “It will come as no surprise to most readers that America’s primary and secondary schools are widely seen as failing.” Many scholars of education would disagree with this conclusion; they would probably respond that the United States has many excellent public schools and that the lowest-performing schools are overwhelmingly concentrated in districts with high levels of poverty and racial isolation. Haass then writes, “High school graduation rates, while improving, are still far too low, and there are steep gaps in achievement between middle class and poor students.” He does not seem aware that, according to the latest federal data, high school graduation rates are at their highest point in history for students of all races and income levels. Certainly they should be higher, but the actual data do not suggest a crisis.

To read the entire article go here.