Bruce Baker has another brilliant analysis, this time gauging the validity of school ratings just released by the state of New York. A thumbnail sketch: New York is stiffing its neediest schools and districts.
Here are the takeaways:
1. The waiver process is illegal. It is not the prerogative of any federal official–not even a cabinet member–to decide to disregard a federal law and to substitute his own policies for the ones in the law. If the law stinks, as NCLB does, revise it. That’s the way our legal system works. Once the precedent is set, any future cabinet member may decide to change the laws to suit his or her fancy. That’s wrong.
2. New York state released a list of schools in relation to their “performance.” Surprise, surprise! Here is what Baker discovered:
Notably, schools in “good standing” are lowest BY FAR in % of children qualified for free lunch, percent of children who are black, or Hispanic, and are also generally lower in percent of children who are limited in their English Language Proficiency. Race and poverty differences are particularly striking!
In short, the Obama/Duncan administration has given NY State officials license to experiment disproportionately on low income and minority children – or for that matter – simply close their schools. No attempt to actually legitimately parse “blame” or consider the possibility that the state itself might share in that blame.
AFTER ALL, NEW YORK STATE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ONE OF THE MOST REGRESSIVE STATE SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY!
The third takeaway is that the state violates its own funding formula and underfunds all schools, but especially the schools that enroll the neediest students.
“…the current New York State school foundation aid formula is hardly equitable or adequate for meeting the needs of children attending the state’s highest need districts. But to rub salt in the wound – FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE HAVE CHOSEN TO DISREGARD ENTIRELY THEIR OWN WOEFULLY INADEQUATE STATE AID FORMULA.
Even worse, when the Governor and Legislature have levied CUTS TO THAT FORMULA, they have levied those cuts such that they disproportionately cut more state aid per pupil from the higher need districts. As of 2011-12, some high need districts including the city of Albany had shortfalls in state funding (from what would be expected if the foundation formula was actually funded) that were greater than the total foundation aid they were actually receiving.“
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Amazing, Diane, that you are the first and only person in my circles–and the press I read–who seems to have noticed the danger of RTT–waiving the law IF you obey the DOE, etc. It will make it harder to register shock when expanded to any law the President (Romney?) dislikes???? … Thanks. We need you!
Imagine a President Romney….maybe he will waive NCLB if you agree to require school prayer or only for districts that allow vouchers and for-profit charters.
Why not? Duncan set the precedent.
Any interesting note/link, even if not directly related to the NY situation:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/dominican-pius-schools-welcome-chinese-students-2o6m0s7-168052776.html
This appears to me to be another case of charters/voucher schools “gaming” the system, allowing their service to minority students to rise to a higher percentage of population although clearly these are students who have both resources and talent to increase the success reports of the school rather than requiring accommodations or additional support.
And… why is it that the glorified “Asian School Superiority” results in families/students willing to leave their homeland to attend American schools?
I’ve have also had enough.
As Deborah stated, you are the only person who has publicly expressed outrage and concern regarding RttT waivers and governance by fiat. I don’t even think Fox and their allies have raised any concern either. But, as you state it sets a really bad precedent. Even if I agreed with the policy, which I don’t; my concern is with one person, unelected at that, deciding what laws they will and will not enforce. (I guess that swearing in oath was quickly forgotten) Multiply that by a few agencies and we have a rogue government. Not the democracy I grew up with, nor the one I choose to live under.
I guess Arne and others figure it’s OK because they would never abuse the power. But they won’t always occupy that chair and what happens next will be determined by what happened previously.
Anyway, I’ll send along Bruce’s piece to my elected officials (Congress and Senate) and see what they say. I’ll also send along the piece to a few other Congressional Committee chairs, although they aren’t obligated to respond because I’m not a constitute of theirs.
I’ll let you know what they say.
The conservative blogger Rick Hess made the same point when Duncan first announced the waivers, and so did I at the time in my EdWeek blog. I’ll try to find the post.
This seems to be the educational equivalent of eugenics and sterilization. The psychological extension of KIPP jumps to mind.
Even more prestigious than schools in good standing, and adding insult to injury, are the “Reward Schools” that seem to be located in the more affluent communities. Those schools were winning the Race to the Top before it even started, since they already had favorable conditions and resources. Now their lives can get even better based on good performance, but that doesn’t help any of the struggling schools improve.
“The Department identified 250 schools in 164 districts as Reward Schools. Reward Schools are either schools that have made the most progress or schools that have the highest achievement in the state and do not have significant gaps in student achievement that are not being closed. Five (5) schools will each be awarded up to a maximum of $150,000 each year for two years and up to $300,000 for the entire grant period. Additionally, after consultation with representatives of Reward Schools, Department staff will present to the Board of Regents options for consideration by which Reward Schools may seek expanded and/or expedited variances from certain provisions of the Commissioner’s Regulations beginning in the 2013-14 school year.”
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/ESEADesignations.html
Albany area city schools on state list of worst performers; suburbs best
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/State-Local-city-schools-among-worst-performers-3828453.php
Are these the spoils of victory from free-market competition or Robin Hood in reverse to fund some bizarre form of merit pay? What ever happened to the equal opportunity under the law that makes dreams of achievement and success at least possible for all?
Nobody finds it odd that the AFT and all the other education unions’ lawyers are letting this happen?
Where are the checks and balances in government today? What other conclusion can I come to other than the corruption and cronyism and greed is so pervasive that it includes both political parties AND our teachers’ unions? This is all very disturbing and frustrating to me.
I almost feel like maybe I should just stop reading. Ugh. The worst time ever to be a teacher. I am looking at my own situation that it might be a gift that I’m excessed…