Comments on: Hey Educational Reformers: Data This!

By: EdLeadershipcrisis

EdLeadershipcrisis — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:12:00 +0000

This is one of the more dangerous entries you’ve had Jon. The issue isn’t that educators ought not to be using data often and strategically, the problem is knowing what data to examine and how to turn that into better classroom, school house, district and statewide performance of the people we pay to improve schools. Any data team that is spinning their wheels looking at “golden band” students, those just below any given magic threshold, ought to be fired, along with the administrators of the school. The data are hugely important in determining priorities for modifying instruction, altering time structures, targeting PD, budgeting and other important functions that ANY well-run organization uses data to drive. Just because student learning isn’t like making a widget DOESN’T get the system off the hook to be accountable to appropriate uses of data for both support and accountability. Just what is your alternative? Yes, measures need to be valid to be useful, but using a range of data points from classroom assessments to district benchmark assessments to standardized assessments must be used in unison do drive the adult actions in schools. If you want to write a blog about the poor validity of certain data (like holding out special needs students in Hartford a few years ago, some charter schools not having heterogeneous populations to compare to city students, etc.) then I’ll cheer you on, but the problem isn’t over-emphasis on data, it is how it is used by people who don’t know how to use data strategically toward overall educational improvement.

By: Linda174

Linda174 — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:21:00 +0000

Ironic the ones with the questionable ethical standards are the ones who are in charge of the reforms here in CT…we are well aware from past posts and research by Jon of the Vallas and Adamowski tricks and deception…more to be made public soon.

By: Connecticut Adds New Tests for Kindergarten, 1 and 2 Grades « Diane Ravitch's blog

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:17:32 +0000

[...] There, Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy wants to prove he is the biggest and baddest of education r… [...]

By: guest

guest — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 01:03:00 +0000

Great blog, thank you.

By: jonpelto

jonpelto — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 22:50:00 +0000

Two days for the “biggest” curriculum change in decades…. Hooray for America!

Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos

By: Guest

Guest — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 22:38:00 +0000

We will spend two days before school going over the new common core standards that will be drilling this year. Two days.

By: Castles Burning

Castles Burning — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 21:38:00 +0000

I have had trouble with this feature as well. He is a very thoughtful and articulate person and this description of Vallas is dead on.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 21:11:00 +0000

I love his blog! Tried to leave a comment but couldn’t past that moat of “type these totally unreadable symbols to prove you exist” thingie.

By: msavage

msavage — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 20:24:00 +0000

I like that. We can only hope that one day, soon, the true Wizard will be revealed.

By: JM

JM — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 19:19:00 +0000

Not sure if anyone has posted this ever. It’s actually a good metaphor (if that’s what it is).

http://rcsnmi.blogspot.com/2012/08/paul-vallas-fearful-wizard.html