Miscellaneous: School Stuff Edition

.: The Strib has been putting out a slew of interesting education articles in the last week or so. This piece explores teacher evaluations at Saint Paul schools that are NCLB-required to restructure. Note as well the boilerplate discussion in the comments section.

.: A significant report on charter schools in the Twin Cities was released just prior to Thanksgiving by the University of Minnesota's Institute on Race and Poverty. Here's the Strib's take and MPR's. (Summary: some work; some don't.) Several interesting data points to look at here, but let me point you to this chart which shows the correlation between reading proficiency and poverty. You might think there's nothing new to see there and, in general you're right. But there is something very important indicated by these data. Look at the data points above the black line. When you see numbers in the 70s and even 80s, that's not random chance. (Same chart for Math results here.) That's effective schools and effective teachers improving the results that they deliver for their students. Many people look at the correlation between poverty and educational performance and assume that there is no possible way to ever expect schools with low-income kids to show improvement. The data clearly show that's not true. Great teachers and great schools can teach students from the most challenging backgrounds. Too many people (including, sadly, some in the schools) don't believe that.

.: How Washington County schools are seeking grants to support their World Cultures Day.

.: Unhappy parents in Eden Prairie.

.: More Michelle Rhee.

.: I want to acknolwedge the fact that I'm not really providing much analysis or insight yet into my posts on school reform. The main reason for this is that I'm still absorbing, still learning. I've got a couple of half-baked opinions already about several things, but I don't have enough experience yet to make the case. So if it seems like I'm just throwing up bland articles to read or non-controversial fluff, I apologize.