IN THE FALL OF 2008, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, HAVING JUST COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB, WAS CONFRONTED WITH A MAJOR CHEATING SCANDAL. AN ERASURE ANALYSIS REPORT FROM CTB MCGRAW-HILL, THE PUBLISHER OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC-CAS), DETECTED A HIGH NUMBER OF ERASURES. THEN, D.C. STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, DEBORAH A. GIST, ORDERED THE ANALYSIS AFTER NOTICING SIZEABLE GAINS IN STUDENT READING AND WRITING PROFICIENCY RATES AT SOME SCHOOLS. GIST SUBMITTED A LIST OF 26 SCHOOLS WITH PROFICIENCY GAINS OF 20 PERCENT OR MORE.
FORTY-FIVE OF 150 DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ALMOST A THIRD OF ALL DC SCHOOLS) HAD AT LEAST ONE CLASSROOM WITH AN ELEVATED ERASURE LEVEL IN 2008; THE DATA SHOWED THAT SUSPICIOUS ERASURES WERE MOST HEAVILY CONCENTRATED IN 3RD, 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH-GRADE CLASSROOMS AT A HALF-DOZEN SCHOOLS. (WASHINGTON POST)
SEVERAL SCHOOLS ON THE LIST DEMONSTRATED GAINS IN TEST SCORES BY 40, 50 AND NEARLY 60 PERCENTAGE POINTS. AITON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S TEST SCORES INCREASED IN READING BY NEARLY 30 PERCENT AND IN MATH BY MORE THAN 40 PERCENT.
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -2
HOWEVER, TWO SCHOOLS, SHARPE HEALTH SCHOOL AND MAMIE D. LEE SCHOOL, DEMONSTRATED THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPRESSIVE TEST SCORE GAINS DURING THE 2007/2008 SCHOOL YEAR; THE TWO SCHOOLS NETTED GAINS IN THE 50 TO 60 PERCENT RANGE. THIS FEAT WAS MOST REMARKABLE GIVEN THAT BOTH SCHOOLS ARE SELF-CONTAINED SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS SERVING STUDENTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES INCLUDING:
• MENTAL RETARDATION
• LEARNING DISABILITIES
• SPEECH OR LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT
• TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
• AUTISM
• EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES
• VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
• HEARING IMPAIRMENT
• ORTHOPEDIC DISABILITIES
• SEVERE MULTIPLE DISABILITIES
• OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS
• SEVERE ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT
MAMIE D. LEE, REMARKABLY, POSTED THE EXACT RATE OF STUDENT PROFICIENCY, 88.89%, IN BOTH READING AND MATH.
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -3
ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008, GIST ASKED RHEE TO "PLEASE TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO INVESTIGATE THE RESULTS ENCLOSED AND PROVIDE A REPORT WITHIN 60 DAYS. NO IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION WAS EVER CONDUCTED. ALTHOUGH THE TEST ANOMALIES COULD HAVE INDICATED WIDE-SPREAD CHEATING OR BREACHES IN TESTING SECURITY PROTOCOLS, CHANCELLOR RHEE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NECESSARY. CHANCELLOR RHEE SAID: "GIVEN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE TEST SAID THAT IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE, WE JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE CHEATING.” (WASHINGTON POST)
ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009, WASHINGTON POST STAFF WRITER BILL TURQUE WROTE:
“DESPITE TWO REQUESTS FROM THE DISTRICT'S OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS NEVER PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THEY INVESTIGATED POSSIBLE CHEATING AT SOME SCHOOLS AFTER AN ANALYSIS SHOWED HIGH RATES OF ERASURES ON STANDARDIZED TESTS IN 2008, ACCORDING TO NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS.”
WHY DID THE HIGH NUMBER OF ERASURES ON THE DC CAS NOT MERIT FURTHER INVESTIGATION? WHY DID CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, A “DATA-FOCUSED DECISION MAKER” AND CERTAINLY NO FAN OF DCPS TEACHERS, SQUASH AN INVESTIGATION THAT COULD SUPPORTED HER IN WEEDING OUT POOR PERFORMING, CORRUPT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS? GIVEN THAT STANDARDIZED TEST DATA ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HER REFORM INITIATIVE THAT LINKS STUDENT PERFORMANCE TO TEACHER PERFORMANCE AND PAY, SHOULDN’T SHE HAVE ACTED TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DATA?
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T-4
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
WASHINGTON POST REPORTER BILL TURQUE WROTE: LAST FRIDAY, AFTER SPENDING THREE MONTHS CONSIDERING THE MATTER, DISTRICT OFFICIALS FINALLY RESPONDED TO A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST FOR AN ANALYSIS OF ANSWER SHEET ERASURES ON THE 2008 DC-CAS STANDARDIZED TESTS. WHEN THE DISTRICT FINALLY DELIVERED ITS FOIA RESPONSE, IT CAME WITH DATA TABLES, SOME E-MAILS AND...NO CTB STUDY. NOR WAS THERE A FOLLOW UP ANALYSIS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH (AIR). THAT IS TO SAY, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LOOKED LIKE A GOVERNMENT-COMMISSIONED STUDY, WITH A TRANSMITTAL LETTER, AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, A TABLE OF CONTENTS, ETC.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
ON WASHINGTON POST EDUCATION COLUMNIST, JAY MATHEWS, WROTE: “RHEE SAID SHE DID NOT OVERRULE GIST, WHO HAS SINCE LEFT D.C. TO BECOME RHODE ISLAND'S COMMISSIONER OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. INSTEAD, RHEE SAID, SHE ASKED GIST'S OFFICE FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE ERASURE REPORTS. SHE WANTED TO KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH CLASSES IN EACH SCHOOL SHOWED USUAL NUMBERS OF ANSWER CHANGES. SHE DID NOT GET ANSWERS TO SEVERAL OF HER QUESTIONS, SHE SAID. RHEE SAID THAT THE INVESTIGATOR NOT ONLY HAD SAID THE DATA WAS INCONCLUSIVE, BUT MADE IT CLEAR THAT "YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS THAT ANY CHEATING HAPPENED BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS."
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -5
WHAT WOULD A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY INCREASES IN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ STUDENT TEST SCORES HAVE UNCOVERED INNOVATION AND GENUINE SUCCESS OR A CULTURE OF BRAZEN DECEPTION, CHEATING AND INTIMIDATION, WHICH SERVES TO DEEPEN THE CRISES OF DC’S POOR AND MINORITY CHILDREN WHO HAVE THE GREATEST NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY?
CHANCELLOR RHEE SAID THAT THE STUDENT TEST SCORE GAINS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE APPROACH SHE USED IN HER FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WAS WORKING. MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY PRAISED CHANCELLOR RHEE FOR BRINGING ABOUT A MIRACULOUS RISE IN TEST SCORES DURING HER FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB. CHANCELLOR RHEE IMPLEMENTED NO ACADEMIC INITIATIVES DURING THE 2007/2008 SCHOOL YEAR. FENTY CREDITS RHEE WITH AN 11% INCREASE IN STUDENT TEST SCORES, THE LARGEST GAIN IN THE NATION.
THE MAYORAL TAKE-OVER OF DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS ALL KEY PLAYERS AT BOTH STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES APPOINTED BY OR REPORTING TO MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY INCLUDING: DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, D.C. STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION KERI BRIGGS (DEBORAH GIST'S REPLACEMENT) AND DEPUTY MAYOR FOR EDUCATION, VICTOR REINOSO. THEY FUNCTION AS ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS WHO HOLD ABSOLUTE POWER OVER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM; THERE IS NO SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT GIVES SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS A VOICE INTO ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM AND THE DISTRICT’S CHILDREN.
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -6
DC CAS: SCHOOL YEAR 2008/2009
• MARCH 30, 2009: DURING THE WEEK OF MARCH 30, 2009, THE DC CAS ARRIVED AT DCPS LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS; ACTUAL TESTING DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL APRIL 20, 2009. DC CAS TEST DOCUMENTS REMAINED IN LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS A WEEK AFTER TEST ADMINISTRATION WAS COMPLETED.
• APRIL 20, 2009: ON MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009, STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-8 AND GRADE 10 BEGAN THE 2008-2009 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC CAS).
• NOVEMBER 24, 2009, “TWELVE SCHOOLS CITED FOR SUSPECT TEST RESULTS”
DISTRICT OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED 12 PUBLIC AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH IRREGULARITIES IN THEIR 2009 DC-CAS STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS TO CONDUCT INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS. THAT LITTLE NEWS NUGGET WAS TUCKED INTO THE SEVENTH PARAGRAPH OF A JOINT STATEMENT BY MAYOR ADRIAN M. FENTY AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION KERRI BRIGGS--RELEASED SHORTLY AFTER 6 P.M. MONDAY--ANNOUNCING "IMPROVED AND STRENGTHENED TEST INTEGRITY MEASURES" THAT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE 2010 EXAMS IN MARCH. FENTY AND BRIGGS SAID THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE RELEASED DURING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS. (BILL TURQUE, WASHINGTON POST, NOVEMBER 24, 2009) IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A VERY LOW OPINION FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND AT THE SAME TIME DEMONSTRATE AN UNREASONABLE LEVEL OF TRUST?
A CLOSER LOOK-1
A LITTLE BIT OF CHEATING GOES A LONG WAY IN MICHELLE RHEE’S VERSION OF SCHOOL REFORM; AND A WHOLE LOT OF CHEATING CAN THRUST YOU INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS THE “IT GIRL” FOR EDUCATION REFORM IN AMERICA, BACKED BY CONSERVATIVE THINK TANKS AND PHILANTHROPISTS LIKE BILL GATES, ELI BROAD AND THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION. YOU MIGHT EVEN GET CAST AS A HEROIC PIONEER IN DAVIS GUGGENHEIM'S WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, A ROUSING PROPAGANDA PIECE DESIGNED TO PROSELYTIZE UNINFORMED AMERICAN PEOPLE.
RHEE CREATED A BOILER-ROOM ATMOSPHERE THAT GUARANTEED THAT DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES WOULD DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS IN THE WORST ECONOMY SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. RHEE PRESSURED PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS TURN UP THE HEAT ON TEACHERS AND STAFF. SHE TOOK A PAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE ROD PAIGE PLAYBOOK (FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, HISD). PAIGE GAVE PRINCIPALS ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS; HE GAVE CASH BONUSES TO THOSE WHO MADE HIM LOOK GOOD AND FIRED THOSE WHO DID NOT. DURING PAIGE’S TENURE AS HIS SUPERINTENDENT, THE “TEXAS MIRACLE” HAPPENED; DROPOUT RATES PLUMMETED AND TEST SCORES SOARED.
RHEE CHANGED THE STATUS OF DC’S PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TO “AT WILL” EMPLOYEES; AND LOCAL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS BECAME HER TEAM OF SERVILE HENCHMEN TO DO HER BIDDING. RHEE, LIKEWISE GAVE PRINCIPALS ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS; SHE GAVE CASH BONUSES TO THOSE WHO MADE HER LOOK GOOD AND FIRED THOSE WHO DID NOT. THE “DC MIRACLE” IS IN FULL SWING.
A CLOSER LOOK-2
RHEE’S DEPARTURE FROM THE ROD PAIGE METHOD CAME WITH HER INNOVATIVE USE OF THE DC BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC BAS) THAT IS ADMINISTERED FOUR TIMES A YEAR TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-10. THE ASSESSMENT MEASURES STUDENTS’ PROGRESS ON EACH OF THE CATEGORIES IN READING AND MATH THAT ARE ASSESSED ON THE END-OF-YEAR STATE EXAM, THE DC COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC CAS). SCORING LEVELS ARE: GREEN-MASTERY, YELLOW-JUST IN TIME INTERVENTION AND RED-MAJOR SKILL PROBLEMS. IF A TEACHER’S STUDENTS SCORED AT LEVELS LESS THAN GREEN-MASTERY, INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS FROM RHEE’S OFFICE DESCENDED ON THE SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM WITH CLIPBOARDS AND CHECKLISTS, CONDUCTING FREQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND DELIVERING WARNINGS. THE PRINCIPAL WAS PUT ON HIGH ALERT; HIS/HER JOB WAS ON THE LINE TOO. THE MESSAGE WAS: GET TEST SCORES UP “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.” THERE ARE COUNTLESS INSTANCES WHEN WHOLE CLASSROOMS MOVED FROM RED MASTERY LEVELS TO TOTALLY GREEN MASTERY LEVELS IN JUST SIX WEEKS WHEN THE NEXT ROUND OF TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED. ONLY WHEN STUDENT MASTERY LEVELS MOVED TO GREEN WAS THE “INTENSIVE SUPERVISION” TERMINATED. BY THE TIME THE DC CAS WAS ADMINISTERED IN THE SPRING, EVERYONE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTED TO DO. MICHELLE RHEE HAD OBVIOUSLY SURMISED THAT GOOD EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES WOULD NOT INSTANTANEOUSLY YIELD BOOMING INCREASES IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS.
A CLOSER LOOK-3
GUGGENHEIM'S WAITING FOR SUPERMAN PRESENTS THE VOICES OF POWERFUL BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPISTS TOUTING FAR RIGHT, RELIGIOUS RIGHT, AND NEOCONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGIES. TRAGICALLY, WHAT "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH" AND AL GORE DID FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, GUGGENHEIM'S "WAITING FOR SUPERMAN" AND MICHELLE RHEE COULD DO FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
GUGGENHEIM'S FILM SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THAT TENURE PROTECTS BAD TEACHERS AND THAT UNIONS PROTECT TENURE. “IT IS PURE POLITICAL FABRICATION THAT TEACHER TENURE RULES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET RID OF POOR TEACHERS. A RECENT STUDY BY THE NEW TEACHER PROJECT, THE ORGANIZATION THAT MICHELLE RHEE HERSELF CREATED AND SERVED AS ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT JUST PRIOR TO JOINING DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING INEFFECTIVE TEACHERS HAS MUCH MORE TO DO WITH POORLY TRAINED ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE FEW SKILLS AND INADEQUATE TOOLS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN EXCELLENT, AVERAGE, AND POOR TEACHING.
EDUCATION IS NOW AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BECOME EXTRAORDINARILY CORRUPT. DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS, NEWLY ARRIVING GENTRIFIERS AND BUSINESS INTERESTS HOPING TO EXPAND THE CHARTER SCHOOL INDUSTRY AND DEVELOP PRIME REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE PLAYED MAJOR ROLES IN WASHINGTON, DC’S SHIFTING EDUCATION LANDSCAPE. DC’S FAILING SCHOOLS HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO SPECIAL INTEREST POLITICS; UNDER MICHELLE RHEE’S ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER OR NOT OUR CHILDREN LEARN MATTERS VERY LITTLE, AS LONG AS THERE IS “AN APPEARANCE OF LEARNING.”
A CLOSER LOOK-4
ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, WASHINGTON DC’S LARGELY AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS ENDED THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY AND WERE MOST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE IMPENDING DEPARTURE OF MICHELLE RHEE. EVERYWHERE, REPORTERS, PUNDITS, TALK-SHOW HOSTS AND BLOGGERS WHO OFTEN INUNDATE TV SEGMENTS, PRINT MEDIA AND THE INTERNET WITH INFORMATION SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH, STATED REPEATEDLY: BLACK D.C. RESIDENTS KICKED OUT A MAYOR WHO, ALONG WITH SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR, MICHELLE RHEE, WAS MAKING THE FIRST SERIOUS DIFFERENCE IN DECADES IN THE CITY'S NOTORIOUSLY DECREPIT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. THE WASHINGTON DC VOTERS WHO VOTED OUT THE FENTY/RHEE “DECEPTIVE DUO” KNOW THAT BEYOND THE SOUND BITE, THERE IS NOTHING REMARKABLY VISIONARY GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, DC SCHOOLS.
WHEN BERNIE MADOFF AND HIS ACCOMPLICES EMBEZZLED BILLIONS FROM CLIENTS OUT OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST PONZI SCHEME, IT WASN’T THE TRADERS WHO RAN THE COMPANY WHO WERE SENT TO PRISON. INSTEAD, MADOFF HIMSELF EARNED A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE COLLAPSE OF HIS SECURITIES FIRM. SO, TOO, SHOULD THOSE AT THE TOP OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED WIDESPREAD CHEATING DURING THE GEORGIA CRCT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR SCHOOLS. FOR TOP BRASS TO KEEP THEIR JOBS WOULD BE LIKE BP’S CEO TONY HAYWARD KEEPING CONTROL OF THE COMPANY DESPITE THE LARGEST OIL SPILL IN U.S. HISTORY. BEN SCAFIDI, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
“EDUCATION REFORM IS A POLITICAL PROCESS – IT IS TIED TO POLITICAL POWER AS REPRESENTED BY MONEY AND VOTES. THE INNER CITIES, WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE WORST, DON’T HAVE MONEY AND DON’T VOTE.
“MONEY EQUALS POWER IN THE SCHOOL REFORM EQUATION. WHO CONTROLS THE FLOW OF MONEY WILL DETERMINE WHAT REFORMS TAKE PLACE.” JERRY HUME, JANUARY 30, 2003 EDUCATEEMPOWER
IN THE FALL OF 2008, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, HAVING JUST COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB, WAS CONFRONTED WITH A MAJOR CHEATING SCANDAL. AN ERASURE ANALYSIS REPORT FROM CTB MCGRAW-HILL, THE PUBLISHER OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC-CAS), DETECTED A HIGH NUMBER OF ERASURES. THEN, D.C. STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, DEBORAH A. GIST, ORDERED THE ANALYSIS AFTER NOTICING SIZEABLE GAINS IN STUDENT READING AND WRITING PROFICIENCY RATES AT SOME SCHOOLS. GIST SUBMITTED A LIST OF 26 SCHOOLS WITH PROFICIENCY GAINS OF 20 PERCENT OR MORE.
FORTY-FIVE OF 150 DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS (ALMOST A THIRD OF ALL DC SCHOOLS) HAD AT LEAST ONE CLASSROOM WITH AN ELEVATED ERASURE LEVEL IN 2008; THE DATA SHOWED THAT SUSPICIOUS ERASURES WERE MOST HEAVILY CONCENTRATED IN 3RD, 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH-GRADE CLASSROOMS AT A HALF-DOZEN SCHOOLS. (WASHINGTON POST)
SEVERAL SCHOOLS ON THE LIST DEMONSTRATED GAINS IN TEST SCORES BY 40, 50 AND NEARLY 60 PERCENTAGE POINTS. AITON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S TEST SCORES INCREASED IN READING BY NEARLY 30 PERCENT AND IN MATH BY MORE THAN 40 PERCENT.
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -2
HOWEVER, TWO SCHOOLS, SHARPE HEALTH SCHOOL AND MAMIE D. LEE SCHOOL, DEMONSTRATED THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPRESSIVE TEST SCORE GAINS DURING THE 2007/2008 SCHOOL YEAR; THE TWO SCHOOLS NETTED GAINS IN THE 50 TO 60 PERCENT RANGE. THIS FEAT WAS MOST REMARKABLE GIVEN THAT BOTH SCHOOLS ARE SELF-CONTAINED SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS SERVING STUDENTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES INCLUDING:
• MENTAL RETARDATION
• LEARNING DISABILITIES
• SPEECH OR LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT
• TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
• AUTISM
• EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES
• VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
• HEARING IMPAIRMENT
• ORTHOPEDIC DISABILITIES
• SEVERE MULTIPLE DISABILITIES
• OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS
• SEVERE ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT
MAMIE D. LEE, REMARKABLY, POSTED THE EXACT RATE OF STUDENT PROFICIENCY, 88.89%, IN BOTH READING AND MATH.
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -3
ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008, GIST ASKED RHEE TO "PLEASE TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO INVESTIGATE THE RESULTS ENCLOSED AND PROVIDE A REPORT WITHIN 60 DAYS. NO IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION WAS EVER CONDUCTED. ALTHOUGH THE TEST ANOMALIES COULD HAVE INDICATED WIDE-SPREAD CHEATING OR BREACHES IN TESTING SECURITY PROTOCOLS, CHANCELLOR RHEE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NECESSARY. CHANCELLOR RHEE SAID: "GIVEN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE TEST SAID THAT IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE, WE JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE CHEATING.” (WASHINGTON POST)
ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009, WASHINGTON POST STAFF WRITER BILL TURQUE WROTE:
“DESPITE TWO REQUESTS FROM THE DISTRICT'S OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS NEVER PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THEY INVESTIGATED POSSIBLE CHEATING AT SOME SCHOOLS AFTER AN ANALYSIS SHOWED HIGH RATES OF ERASURES ON STANDARDIZED TESTS IN 2008, ACCORDING TO NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS.”
WHY DID THE HIGH NUMBER OF ERASURES ON THE DC CAS NOT MERIT FURTHER INVESTIGATION? WHY DID CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, A “DATA-FOCUSED DECISION MAKER” AND CERTAINLY NO FAN OF DCPS TEACHERS, SQUASH AN INVESTIGATION THAT COULD SUPPORTED HER IN WEEDING OUT POOR PERFORMING, CORRUPT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS? GIVEN THAT STANDARDIZED TEST DATA ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HER REFORM INITIATIVE THAT LINKS STUDENT PERFORMANCE TO TEACHER PERFORMANCE AND PAY, SHOULDN’T SHE HAVE ACTED TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DATA?
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T-4
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
WASHINGTON POST REPORTER BILL TURQUE WROTE: LAST FRIDAY, AFTER SPENDING THREE MONTHS CONSIDERING THE MATTER, DISTRICT OFFICIALS FINALLY RESPONDED TO A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST FOR AN ANALYSIS OF ANSWER SHEET ERASURES ON THE 2008 DC-CAS STANDARDIZED TESTS. WHEN THE DISTRICT FINALLY DELIVERED ITS FOIA RESPONSE, IT CAME WITH DATA TABLES, SOME E-MAILS AND...NO CTB STUDY. NOR WAS THERE A FOLLOW UP ANALYSIS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH (AIR). THAT IS TO SAY, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LOOKED LIKE A GOVERNMENT-COMMISSIONED STUDY, WITH A TRANSMITTAL LETTER, AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, A TABLE OF CONTENTS, ETC.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
ON WASHINGTON POST EDUCATION COLUMNIST, JAY MATHEWS, WROTE: “RHEE SAID SHE DID NOT OVERRULE GIST, WHO HAS SINCE LEFT D.C. TO BECOME RHODE ISLAND'S COMMISSIONER OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. INSTEAD, RHEE SAID, SHE ASKED GIST'S OFFICE FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE ERASURE REPORTS. SHE WANTED TO KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH CLASSES IN EACH SCHOOL SHOWED USUAL NUMBERS OF ANSWER CHANGES. SHE DID NOT GET ANSWERS TO SEVERAL OF HER QUESTIONS, SHE SAID. RHEE SAID THAT THE INVESTIGATOR NOT ONLY HAD SAID THE DATA WAS INCONCLUSIVE, BUT MADE IT CLEAR THAT "YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS THAT ANY CHEATING HAPPENED BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS."
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -5
WHAT WOULD A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY INCREASES IN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ STUDENT TEST SCORES HAVE UNCOVERED INNOVATION AND GENUINE SUCCESS OR A CULTURE OF BRAZEN DECEPTION, CHEATING AND INTIMIDATION, WHICH SERVES TO DEEPEN THE CRISES OF DC’S POOR AND MINORITY CHILDREN WHO HAVE THE GREATEST NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY?
CHANCELLOR RHEE SAID THAT THE STUDENT TEST SCORE GAINS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE APPROACH SHE USED IN HER FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WAS WORKING. MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY PRAISED CHANCELLOR RHEE FOR BRINGING ABOUT A MIRACULOUS RISE IN TEST SCORES DURING HER FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB. CHANCELLOR RHEE IMPLEMENTED NO ACADEMIC INITIATIVES DURING THE 2007/2008 SCHOOL YEAR. FENTY CREDITS RHEE WITH AN 11% INCREASE IN STUDENT TEST SCORES, THE LARGEST GAIN IN THE NATION.
THE MAYORAL TAKE-OVER OF DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS ALL KEY PLAYERS AT BOTH STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES APPOINTED BY OR REPORTING TO MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY INCLUDING: DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE, D.C. STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION KERI BRIGGS (DEBORAH GIST'S REPLACEMENT) AND DEPUTY MAYOR FOR EDUCATION, VICTOR REINOSO. THEY FUNCTION AS ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS WHO HOLD ABSOLUTE POWER OVER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM; THERE IS NO SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT GIVES SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS A VOICE INTO ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM AND THE DISTRICT’S CHILDREN.
THE WASHINGTON, DC MIRACLE THAT WASN'T -6
DC CAS: SCHOOL YEAR 2008/2009
• MARCH 30, 2009: DURING THE WEEK OF MARCH 30, 2009, THE DC CAS ARRIVED AT DCPS LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS; ACTUAL TESTING DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL APRIL 20, 2009. DC CAS TEST DOCUMENTS REMAINED IN LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS A WEEK AFTER TEST ADMINISTRATION WAS COMPLETED.
• APRIL 20, 2009: ON MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009, STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-8 AND GRADE 10 BEGAN THE 2008-2009 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC CAS).
• NOVEMBER 24, 2009, “TWELVE SCHOOLS CITED FOR SUSPECT TEST RESULTS”
DISTRICT OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED 12 PUBLIC AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH IRREGULARITIES IN THEIR 2009 DC-CAS STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS TO CONDUCT INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS. THAT LITTLE NEWS NUGGET WAS TUCKED INTO THE SEVENTH PARAGRAPH OF A JOINT STATEMENT BY MAYOR ADRIAN M. FENTY AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION KERRI BRIGGS--RELEASED SHORTLY AFTER 6 P.M. MONDAY--ANNOUNCING "IMPROVED AND STRENGTHENED TEST INTEGRITY MEASURES" THAT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE 2010 EXAMS IN MARCH. FENTY AND BRIGGS SAID THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE RELEASED DURING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS. (BILL TURQUE, WASHINGTON POST, NOVEMBER 24, 2009) IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A VERY LOW OPINION FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND AT THE SAME TIME DEMONSTRATE AN UNREASONABLE LEVEL OF TRUST?
A CLOSER LOOK-1
A LITTLE BIT OF CHEATING GOES A LONG WAY IN MICHELLE RHEE’S VERSION OF SCHOOL REFORM; AND A WHOLE LOT OF CHEATING CAN THRUST YOU INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS THE “IT GIRL” FOR EDUCATION REFORM IN AMERICA, BACKED BY CONSERVATIVE THINK TANKS AND PHILANTHROPISTS LIKE BILL GATES, ELI BROAD AND THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION. YOU MIGHT EVEN GET CAST AS A HEROIC PIONEER IN DAVIS GUGGENHEIM'S WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, A ROUSING PROPAGANDA PIECE DESIGNED TO PROSELYTIZE UNINFORMED AMERICAN PEOPLE.
RHEE CREATED A BOILER-ROOM ATMOSPHERE THAT GUARANTEED THAT DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES WOULD DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS IN THE WORST ECONOMY SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. RHEE PRESSURED PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS TURN UP THE HEAT ON TEACHERS AND STAFF. SHE TOOK A PAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE ROD PAIGE PLAYBOOK (FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, HISD). PAIGE GAVE PRINCIPALS ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS; HE GAVE CASH BONUSES TO THOSE WHO MADE HIM LOOK GOOD AND FIRED THOSE WHO DID NOT. DURING PAIGE’S TENURE AS HIS SUPERINTENDENT, THE “TEXAS MIRACLE” HAPPENED; DROPOUT RATES PLUMMETED AND TEST SCORES SOARED.
RHEE CHANGED THE STATUS OF DC’S PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TO “AT WILL” EMPLOYEES; AND LOCAL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS BECAME HER TEAM OF SERVILE HENCHMEN TO DO HER BIDDING. RHEE, LIKEWISE GAVE PRINCIPALS ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS; SHE GAVE CASH BONUSES TO THOSE WHO MADE HER LOOK GOOD AND FIRED THOSE WHO DID NOT. THE “DC MIRACLE” IS IN FULL SWING.
A CLOSER LOOK-2
RHEE’S DEPARTURE FROM THE ROD PAIGE METHOD CAME WITH HER INNOVATIVE USE OF THE DC BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC BAS) THAT IS ADMINISTERED FOUR TIMES A YEAR TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-10. THE ASSESSMENT MEASURES STUDENTS’ PROGRESS ON EACH OF THE CATEGORIES IN READING AND MATH THAT ARE ASSESSED ON THE END-OF-YEAR STATE EXAM, THE DC COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (DC CAS). SCORING LEVELS ARE: GREEN-MASTERY, YELLOW-JUST IN TIME INTERVENTION AND RED-MAJOR SKILL PROBLEMS. IF A TEACHER’S STUDENTS SCORED AT LEVELS LESS THAN GREEN-MASTERY, INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS FROM RHEE’S OFFICE DESCENDED ON THE SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM WITH CLIPBOARDS AND CHECKLISTS, CONDUCTING FREQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND DELIVERING WARNINGS. THE PRINCIPAL WAS PUT ON HIGH ALERT; HIS/HER JOB WAS ON THE LINE TOO. THE MESSAGE WAS: GET TEST SCORES UP “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.” THERE ARE COUNTLESS INSTANCES WHEN WHOLE CLASSROOMS MOVED FROM RED MASTERY LEVELS TO TOTALLY GREEN MASTERY LEVELS IN JUST SIX WEEKS WHEN THE NEXT ROUND OF TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED. ONLY WHEN STUDENT MASTERY LEVELS MOVED TO GREEN WAS THE “INTENSIVE SUPERVISION” TERMINATED. BY THE TIME THE DC CAS WAS ADMINISTERED IN THE SPRING, EVERYONE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTED TO DO. MICHELLE RHEE HAD OBVIOUSLY SURMISED THAT GOOD EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES WOULD NOT INSTANTANEOUSLY YIELD BOOMING INCREASES IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS.
A CLOSER LOOK-3
GUGGENHEIM'S WAITING FOR SUPERMAN PRESENTS THE VOICES OF POWERFUL BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPISTS TOUTING FAR RIGHT, RELIGIOUS RIGHT, AND NEOCONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGIES. TRAGICALLY, WHAT "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH" AND AL GORE DID FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, GUGGENHEIM'S "WAITING FOR SUPERMAN" AND MICHELLE RHEE COULD DO FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
GUGGENHEIM'S FILM SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THAT TENURE PROTECTS BAD TEACHERS AND THAT UNIONS PROTECT TENURE. “IT IS PURE POLITICAL FABRICATION THAT TEACHER TENURE RULES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET RID OF POOR TEACHERS. A RECENT STUDY BY THE NEW TEACHER PROJECT, THE ORGANIZATION THAT MICHELLE RHEE HERSELF CREATED AND SERVED AS ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT JUST PRIOR TO JOINING DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING INEFFECTIVE TEACHERS HAS MUCH MORE TO DO WITH POORLY TRAINED ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE FEW SKILLS AND INADEQUATE TOOLS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN EXCELLENT, AVERAGE, AND POOR TEACHING.
EDUCATION IS NOW AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BECOME EXTRAORDINARILY CORRUPT. DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS, NEWLY ARRIVING GENTRIFIERS AND BUSINESS INTERESTS HOPING TO EXPAND THE CHARTER SCHOOL INDUSTRY AND DEVELOP PRIME REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE PLAYED MAJOR ROLES IN WASHINGTON, DC’S SHIFTING EDUCATION LANDSCAPE. DC’S FAILING SCHOOLS HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO SPECIAL INTEREST POLITICS; UNDER MICHELLE RHEE’S ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER OR NOT OUR CHILDREN LEARN MATTERS VERY LITTLE, AS LONG AS THERE IS “AN APPEARANCE OF LEARNING.”
A CLOSER LOOK-4
ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, WASHINGTON DC’S LARGELY AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS ENDED THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY AND WERE MOST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE IMPENDING DEPARTURE OF MICHELLE RHEE. EVERYWHERE, REPORTERS, PUNDITS, TALK-SHOW HOSTS AND BLOGGERS WHO OFTEN INUNDATE TV SEGMENTS, PRINT MEDIA AND THE INTERNET WITH INFORMATION SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH, STATED REPEATEDLY: BLACK D.C. RESIDENTS KICKED OUT A MAYOR WHO, ALONG WITH SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR, MICHELLE RHEE, WAS MAKING THE FIRST SERIOUS DIFFERENCE IN DECADES IN THE CITY'S NOTORIOUSLY DECREPIT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. THE WASHINGTON DC VOTERS WHO VOTED OUT THE FENTY/RHEE “DECEPTIVE DUO” KNOW THAT BEYOND THE SOUND BITE, THERE IS NOTHING REMARKABLY VISIONARY GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, DC SCHOOLS.
WHEN BERNIE MADOFF AND HIS ACCOMPLICES EMBEZZLED BILLIONS FROM CLIENTS OUT OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST PONZI SCHEME, IT WASN’T THE TRADERS WHO RAN THE COMPANY WHO WERE SENT TO PRISON. INSTEAD, MADOFF HIMSELF EARNED A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE COLLAPSE OF HIS SECURITIES FIRM. SO, TOO, SHOULD THOSE AT THE TOP OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED WIDESPREAD CHEATING DURING THE GEORGIA CRCT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR SCHOOLS. FOR TOP BRASS TO KEEP THEIR JOBS WOULD BE LIKE BP’S CEO TONY HAYWARD KEEPING CONTROL OF THE COMPANY DESPITE THE LARGEST OIL SPILL IN U.S. HISTORY. BEN SCAFIDI, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
“EDUCATION REFORM IS A POLITICAL PROCESS – IT IS TIED TO POLITICAL POWER AS REPRESENTED BY MONEY AND VOTES. THE INNER CITIES, WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE WORST, DON’T HAVE MONEY AND DON’T VOTE.
“MONEY EQUALS POWER IN THE SCHOOL REFORM EQUATION. WHO CONTROLS THE FLOW OF MONEY WILL DETERMINE WHAT REFORMS TAKE PLACE.” JERRY HUME, JANUARY 30, 2003 EDUCATEEMPOWER
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