It seems that not only are Joel Klein and company turning their tail and running from their problems. It seems the US Department of Education and Arne Duncan are doing the same thing.
Back in late July, around the time I posted this fiery piece on the cancellation of New York State tests in Social Studies for 5th and 8th grade, I had sent letters to the Board of Regents and the US Department of Education’s pointperson for Race to the Top, James Butler. This is the letter I sent to the Board of Regents on July 20th:
Honorable Members of the Board of Regents,
I write to you to express my disgust and dismay at your recent decision to cut social studies testing in grades 5 and 8. In so doing, I have written a post on my blog that has been sent to thousands of my readers explaining the plight of this situation, the text of which can be found here:I do not want to belittle the fact that in a recession, cuts need to be made. Of course, costs must be diminished in severe economic times. Yet I ask you honorable members one question: How is cutting testing in grades 5 and 8 “appropriate and responsible”, in Commissioner Steiner’s words? If you do care about our high school graduates, who need this knowledge to succeed in the wider world, why take away an effective early indicator of their social studies readiness? Why take away an impetus for instruction from teachers that understand the importance of history, economics, geography and government.?Let us be completely honest with each other. In this world of assessment, if a subject is not assessed in a standardized way, it is not important. Your action has deemed social studies not only unimportant, but unnecessary. Social studies cannot be taught out of the goodness of teacher’s hearts: assessment is necessary to make sure children are ready for higher education. Your action will create children so underprepared that it will make New York the laughingstock of the United States in terms of education.I leave you with a request: please find an alternative solution to this financial problem that does not affect our students. DO NOT blame President Obama or NCLB, for that is an excuse that is too tired to even contemplate. What can YOU, as one of the oldest institutions in the state, predating the US constitution, do to solve this problem?
Thank you very much for your time.
Mr. Butler,My name is [Mr. D’s real name] and I am a teacher in New York City public schools. I wanted to bring to your attention an inaccuracy in New York State’s application for Phase II RTTT funds.
In page 106 of New York’s June 1, 2010 application, it states that:
“New York collects yearly test records of individual students under section 1111(b) of the ESEA [20 U.S.C. 6311(b)] program in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, as well as scores obtained on NewYork’s secondary-level Regents examinations (see Appendix C_1_2).”Yet on June 22, the NY Board of Regents voted to approve the suspension of social studies testing in grades 5 and 8, a serious blow to the achievement of our students. In a more specific way, however, NY is now no longer compliant with the criteria for funding. The NY Board of Regents, just like administrators across the country, must be held accountable to their actions.
Please make sure NY does NOT get any RTTT funds unless it returns to compliance and restores full testing on all levels.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. D’Orazio,
Thank you for your email. We appreciate your attention to the New York Race to the Top application. We deeply appreciate the contributions of teachers like you, who are involved in shaping the education system for our nation’s children. You play the most vital role in ensuring that the next generation is fully prepared for the challenges it will face. Thank you again for sharing your concerns.
Jessica McKinney
Race to the Top Team
Now, I don’t blame Jessica McKinney. My guess is that she’s an eager, go get-em intern type that did what she was told and sent me a form letter acknowledging that they did receive my concerns, albeit almost a month late. She probably’s going off to TFA after her internship is up, so watch out Compton or southside Chicago!
What I am pissed about is that this problem with cutting testing–while at the same time stating the exact opposite on a federal application for funding–isn’t taken more seriously. Isn’t that perjury? I mean, New York State outright lied to the federal government. Yet it seems that the folks running Race to the Top couldn’t care less.
I don’t hate New York: I want it to get the money it should get as one of the larger states. But damnit, it should be doing it in the best interests of children getting a COMPLETE education. I urge everyone in the Neighborhood to spread the word about this tepid response to a travesty occurring among social studies instruction in this state and possibly this country.
Race to the Top can be reached at racetothetop@ed.gov. E-mail Jessica directly and see if it helps.
Still haven’t heard from the Board of Regents, so here’s there contact info one more time:
To contact the Regents as a whole, use the following:
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Board of Regents, Room 110 EB
Albany, New York 12234
E-mail: RegentsOffice@mail.nysed.gov
The following are the individual Regents and the areas they represent:
2011* Tisch, Merryl H.; B.A., M.A., Ed.D.
Chancellor; At Large
9 East 79th Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10075
Phone: (212) 879-9414 Email: RegentTisch@mail.nysed.gov
2012* Cofield, Milton L.; B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor; Judicial District VII – Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Yates
98 Hickory Ridge Road, Rochester, N.Y. 14625
Phone (585) 200-6284 Email: RegentCofield@mail.nysed.gov
2015* Bennett, Robert M.; B.A., M.S.
Chancellor Emeritus; Judicial District VIII — Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming
201 Millwood Lane, Tonawanda, NY 14150
Phone: (716) 645-1344 Email: RegentBennett@mail.nysed.gov
2014* Cohen, Saul B.; B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
At Large
14 North Chatsworth Avenue, Apt. 3E, Larchmont, NY 10538
Phone: (914) 834-0615 Email: RegentCohen@mail.nysed.gov
2015* Dawson, James C.; A.A, B.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Judicial District IV — Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington
166 U.S. Oval, Plattsburgh, NY 12903
Phone: (518) 324-2401 Email: RegentDawson@mail.nysed.gov
2011* Bottar, Anthony S.; B.A., J.D.
Judicial District V — Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego
120 Madison Street, Suite 1600, AXA Tower II, Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 422-3466 Email: RegentBottar@mail.nysed.gov
2013* Chapey, Geraldine, D.; B.A., M.A., Ed.D.
Judicial District XI — Queens
107-10 Shore Front Parkway, Apt. 9C, Belle Harbor, NY 11694
Phone: (718) 634-8471 Email: RegentChapey@mail.nysed.gov
2015* Phillips 3rd, Harry; B.A., M.S.F.S.
Judicial District IX — Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester
71 Hawthorne Way, Hartsdale, NY 10530
Phone: (914) 948-2228 Email: RegentPhillips@mail.nysed.gov
2012* Tallon, Jr., James R. ; B.A., M.A.
Judicial District VI – Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, Tompkins
United Hospital Fund, Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110
Phone (212) 494-0777 Email: RegentTallon@mail.nysed.gov
2015* Tilles, Roger; B.A., J.D.
Judicial District X – Nassau, Suffolk
100 Crossways Park West, Suite 107, Woodbury, N.Y. 11797
Phone (516) 364-2533 Email: RegentTilles@mail.nysed.gov
2015* Brooks Hopkins, Karen; B.A., M.F.A.
Judicial District II – Kings
30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217
Phone (718) 636-4135 Email: RegentHopkins@mail.nysed.gov
2012* Bendit, Charles R.; B.A.
Judicial District I – New York
111 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1500, New York, N.Y. 10011
Phone (212) 220-9945 Email: RegentBendit@mail.nysed.gov
2013* Rosa, Betty A., B.A., M.S. in Ed., M.S. in Ed., M.Ed., Ed.D.
Judicial District XII – Bronx
Chambreleng Hall, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, N.Y. 10458
Phone (718) 817-5053 Email: RegentRosa@mail.nysed.gov
2015* Young, Jr., Lester W., B.S., M.S., Ed.D.
At Large
55 Hanson Place, Suite 400, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217
Phone (718) 722-2796 Email: RegentYoung@mail.nysed.gov
2014* Cea, Christine D., B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Judicial District XIII – Richmond
NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone (718) 494-5306 Email: RegentCea@mail.nysed.gov
2014* Norwood, Wade S., B.A.
At Large
74 Appleton Street, Rochester, NY 14611
Phone (585) 461-3520 Email: RegentNorwood@mail.nysed.gov
Mr. D's Neighborhood 
How’s this for “Full Disclosure”? A Counterproposal for Publishing Teacher Data
Last year, like so many others, I sounded the alarm on the so-called “rotisserie league” system of teacher evaluation, using stats like baseball cards to determine effectiveness. At the moment, I thought my lesson had been learned, at least when using Alex Rodriguez as an example.
(By the way, he again is a failure this season, according to NCLB standards)
The recent release of teacher data by the Los Angeles Times has shown the ghastly effects of such unscrupulous shaming. Morale is at a new low. Attrition is rampant. Few would want to enter a school system where taking the courageous stand of teaching children with special needs could land you on the front page with a noose over your head. Most shockingly, one teacher committed suicide over perceived low scores, even though colleagues and administrators alike touted him as an exemplary teacher.
Now, the grand poobahs in New York City want the same thing.
Last week, the UFT went to court to stop the New York City Department of Education from publishing Teacher Data Report scores for 4-8th Grade teachers in the city. The TDRs, as they were called, were a program designed to show teachers—and only teachers—how their students have done over time via standardized testing and other assessments.
The move is so controversial that even the CSA, the principals’ union, broke ranks with the DOE and sided with the teachers. When the TDRs were implemented last year, principals explicitly told their teachers that the data would be for their eyes only. Publishing these scores would not only undermine teacher morale, but also the integrity of administrators citywide.
Yet even with the injunctions, motions, stoppages, etc. teachers may probably still face the prospect of public data reports.
Harping about the validity (or lack thereof) of the data or the data collection will do little good. Nor will the constant chirping of union reps and teacher advocates, since the education reform crowd has already labeled teachers as the enemy.
What’s needed now is a counter-proposal.
If the city is going to publish teacher data, it must publish student and parent records alongside each teacher’s evaluation.
If the city wants to make everyone accountable in education, then all the cards should be face-up on the table. Let’s make data evaluation truly public—after all, we know all the intangibles and background that surround the stats in baseball, basketball, football, etc. There’s the differences in field surfaces, in flooring, in wind directions, fan attendance: all of which add up to some effect on the overall performance of the individual athletes.
The same could be said for teachers. If a teacher has a class that cannot read at their grade level, show the records that indicate their improvement, as well as any individual needs, problems, situations that help or hinder the classroom experience. If a teacher misses some phony cutoff in test scores for bonuses or whatnot, make sure the record shows the anecdotals of the little bastards who never do squat in the room.
Parents shouldn’t be off the hook, either. Alongside the data reports should be the page upon page of meeting notes with parents—parents who never show up for meetings, parents who get belligerent, parents who “yes” the teacher to death in order to get her off their back. Yet also show that parents who genuinely try to help, but are often frustrated with the curriculum themselves. The problem rarely just stops at teacher and student.
Thanks to privacy laws, this proposal will probably never see the light of day. Yet what makes teachers so worthy of exemption from professional courtesy?
It can’t be because of our status as public employees: no other public agency would allow such open pillorying of their staff. Nor is it because of our special relationship with children: parents have an even more intense bond, yet their results are hardly scrutinized in public.
Perhaps it’s because the inhuman, artificial nature of data allows administrators to show that they care about children without ever being involved with children. It’s like the old line about the imperious city planner Robert Moses, “He loves the public, but he hates people.”
Publishing student and parent data, while a pipe dream, can be an even better way to evaluate a teacher’s performance. It provides a holistic, broad-based picture of the circumstances each teacher must deal with. Then, and only then, should test data be considered.
After all, how can you score a baseball game if you haven’t watched a single inning of it?
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Tagged as Alex Rodriguez, Comedy, Commentary, Curriculum, education reform, Educational leadership, Humor, Humour, Joel Klein, Los Angeles Times, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Mulgrew, NCLB, New York City, New York City Department of Education, Opinion, Robert Moses, Standardized test, Teachers, Teaching, United Federation of Teachers