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Chicago Schools "Asked To Do the Impossible By the Ungrateful"
Unless they show strong improvement, nearly half of all Chicago public schools could be on academic probation next year, based on a proposed policy change unveiled Monday that would ramp up the pressure on hundreds of schools but offer no new dollars.
If enacted now, the policy would more than triple the number of Chicago public schools on probation, from 82 to 293, and strip local school councils in 49 percent of all schools of final say over their school budgets. However, such schools can avoid probation if their test scores rise enough this spring, or hit high enough levels.
Critics immediately blasted the policy as everything from unrealistic to a power grab sure to erode the power of LSCs in mostly African-American and Latino schools, rather than largely white ones. They said it could trigger cuts to arts classes, parental stipends or security guards.
But Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan and School Board President Michael Scott insisted Monday the change was necessary to shake hundreds of schools out of mediocrity.
"We have too many students and schools just below the middle, and it's time to challenge ourselves and our schools to do better,'' Duncan said.
At the same time, Duncan said, "We have schools that are spending lots of money on things that are not having an impact.'' Too many schools, he said, are hiring experts who aren't producing test gains, giving parents jobs that don't impact achievement, and funding unnecessary administrators.
Under the new policy, due for a vote Wednesday, area instructional officers would work with principals to ensure that schools fund a list of mandated programs, including two reading specialists in each elementary school and an additional freshman counselor in each high school.
Although probation schools will not get new money, Duncan said that half of each school's discretionary dollars and other funds should cover mandated programs, so there's "no excuse'' not to implement them. However, Duncan said each school will be assessed individually to ensure the School Board's mandates are realistic for them.
Under the policy, elementary schools with fewer than 40 percent of students at state standards in all state tests and at national reading norms will be placed on probation, based on spring 2004 results. That probation threshold is up from 25 percent last year -- an "enormous jump,'' said Gary Moriello, principal of Gladstone, which worked its way off probation.
"[You're] making the bar so high it's going to push people out the door,'' Moriello said.
However, a school can avoid probation by posting a 10-percentage-point gain over 2002 scores, board of education officials said.
Derrick Harris of the North Lawndale Local School Council Federation called the unfunded plan "ridiculous.''
"We're being asked to do the impossible by the ungrateful,'' Harris said.
Sidebar
RAISING THE BAR ON SCHOOLS
Chicago Public Schools Proposed New Standards For Academic Probation, starting with Spring 2004 tests.
Probation Criteria:
Elementary schools would be placed on probation if both the percent of students at national norms in reading on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and a school's state ISAT composite* falls below 40 percent. This threshold is up from a current 25 percent.
High schools would be placed on probation if their state PSAE composite* falls below 30 percent. This threshold is up from a 15 percent.
NOTE: Such schools would be exempted if the 2004 test that would have placed them on probation reflects a gain of at least 10 percentage points from their 2002 score.
To get off probation:
Elementary schools must increase one test score by 10 percentage points over the prior two years; or make an overall 10 percentage point gain in the Iowas and ISATs combined in one year; or have one test score of at least 40 percent for two years in a row.
High schools must increase their PSAE state test composite by at least 10 percentage points over the prior two years, or have a PSAE composite of at least 30 percent for two years in a row.
Consequences of probation:
Local school councils would offer only advice on school budgets, rather than craft and vote on them.
In elementary schools, principals would work with area instructional leaders to ensure that discretionary dollars first go towards: ensuring a pre-school or full-day kindergarten program; offering after-school programs for all students below grade level; providing two reading specialists; creating smaller K-3 classes where possible.
In high schools, principals would work with area instructional leaders to ensure that discretionary dollars first go towards: a reading specialist; one additional freshmen counselor; Advanced Placement courses; extra-curricular activities; reduced courseload for department heads; mandatory monthly training for teachers of English, math, science and social science.
*a composite score reflects the number of state reading, writing, math, science and social science tests that met or exceeded state standards.
SourcCommunications Department
e: Chicago Board of Education
— Rosalind Rossi
Nearly half of schools face probation threat
Chicago Sun-Times
2004-02-24
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-skul24.html
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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