Peter Goodman is one of the most astute observers of education in New York City.
His blog “Ed in the Apple” is a must-read for education buffs.
In this one, he says that the Department of Education puts more emphasis on burnishing the Mayor’s education reputation than on actually solving any problems.
The Mayor has had unlimited control of the city’s public schools for a full decade. No one could challenge his decisions. The laughable “board” rubber stamps whatever he wants.
He has relied on two strategies only: testing and choice.
He has closed over 100 schools, opened hundreds of small schools, and to the extent possible, eliminated neighborhood schools. Every parent is supposed to be a smart shopper.
The mayor’s PR machine works overtime. Every initiative is a success the day it is announced. When the initiative disappears, it happens quietly without press releases. Test scores went through the roof, until they collapsed in 2010 after the state admitted score inflation. At that time, the New York Times pointed out that there was no change in the black-white achievement gap over the previous eight years.
Data rules, except when it doesn’t.
The graduation rates have gone up but 80% of the city’s graduates who apply to the city’s community colleges require remediation in basic skills.
The Mayor’s one-man reign comes to an end in 2013 unless he anoints his successor and pours millions into his or her campaign coffers.
The Mayor is generally well-liked but parents don’t approve of his education policies, and voters are ready for him to ride off into the sunset.
The one thing he has proved beyond dispute is that a full 10 years of “reform” based on testing, choice and school closings does not improve education or the lives of children.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Failure just like New Orleans after seven years of the same madness.
It should be required that the Mayor and the Board actually send their own children to a public school. Remember how nice Cunningham in Brooklyn became when the Superintendants children and grandchildren attended that school. Look at Murrow today compared to when you had to “Know somebody” to get your child a seat.
Bloomberg’s takeover was supported by Weingarten (just sayin’)
“Bloomberg’s takeover was supported by Weingarten…”
Yes, twice, the second time (2009) in unilateral disregard of the report of her own governance committee (which Peter Goodman sat on).
And let’s not forget her silence as he bought a third term, and how the UFT sat on its hands in the 2009 mayoral election.
If you think it’s only about Bloomberg, you’re sadly mistaken: unless confronted directly, GERM is going to proceed no matter who is in City Hall.
“Data rules, except when it doesn’t.”
I’m going to put this on the cover of the “data binder” my department gave me this year, with credit to Diane.
“Realize that agendas drive data, not the other way round” — Joel Salatin, author of “Folks, This Ain’t Normal; A Farmer’s Advice For Happier Hens, Healthier People, And A Better World.”
Here is a must read and see from Chicago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-farmer/cps-gets-a-lesson-in-soci_b_1853230.html
Do you wonder who was going to be given this school, like the king to his knight?