CER NEWSWIRE
Vol. 4, No. 4
January 28, 2002

* ACHIEVEMENT: Scores for Maryland’s state test—the MSPAP—are out today after a two month review by the state was prompted by "irregular" scores. It appears that the test was validated and that the irregularity the state noticed was a "broad decline" in test scores. For example, according to the Washington Post, prestigious Montgomery County had only "43.7 percent of elementary and middle school students at or above the satisfactory level," putting it down to 8th in rankings statewide, from a showing of fourth best last year. "Nearly three times the number" of schools from last year saw drops. Local school officials were quick to blame the test, which has been criticized widely. Superintendents don't like the drop in scores, while teachers claim that the scoring instructions for those grading the tests were vague and required them to rush. But parents and some long-time Maryland activists have long argued that MSPAP does not measure content knowledge at all. A review of the MSPAP from scholars last year found the test lacking in concrete skills and too open-ended about what is acceptable in writing passages, for example. While the state superintendent is right to caution people not to blame the test for how schools perform, the MSPAP is very different from most other widely-acclaimed tests that seek to assess student learning, and some dramatic revisions may be in order if Maryland is to comply well with new federal accountability requirements. For more, see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51577-2002Jan28.html.  For more info about MSPAP's foibles, see MSPAP FAILING By Bill Evers, Baltimore Sun, January 3, 2001, as well as the Humberton study of the test commissioned last year by Abell.

* STANDARDS: Calling all Garden State residents, friends and historians! The New Jersey State Department of Education is in need of your guidance. It seems that the state's proposed new history standards do not include significant founders or historical figures, such as George Washington or Benjamin Franklin, while they do include reference to less significant ideas or events. The situation has created somewhat of a public outcry outside of the state among standards experts, and within New Jersey, many school officials see proposed standards in several areas being pushed through the state before people have had time to really review what is being recommended. In response, it appears that acting assistant commissioner Jay Doolan has invited people to attend any one of 20 public hearings leading up to the adoption process. To notify him of your interest, please call his office at (609) 292-1083.

* CHARTERS: New Mexico's charter climate, which requires proposals to be routed through school boards, continues to disappoint charter watchers. Of twelve charter school applications to school districts, only two were approved. Six potential schools in Albuquerque were denied without even a hearing. The State Board of Education stepped in to hear appeals, with 8 of the 10 being "remanded" back to their districts for approval. This is a step in the right direction, but demonstrates again why school boards can no longer continue to hold onto their "exclusive franchise" in public education. Even with the resolve of state leaders strengthening this year to rank New Mexico's law 20th strongest out of 38, some review of the law there is again in order.

* ACHIEVEMENT II: Some Florida observers say that yet another indication of the success of the state’s choice and accountability program is the increase in the number of minority children who passed the state's math and reading tests. In 1999, 56 percent of 4th grade black students failed. That figure dropped 13 points to give black students a 57 percent passing rate. Hispanic failures went down 4 percentage points. Officials credit the improvements to additional work with these children, which many argue was stimulated by the passage of the state’s reform plan in 2000. For more on this, see http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/local/broward/digdocs/104899.htm.

* SURVEY: True or False: Seventy-three percent of Miami school principals feel pressure to make political contributions to campaigns such as school board races. Sadly, it's true. In the Florida district known as Miami-Dade, a clear majority of principals believe that the district is "riddled by cronyism, incompetence and political interference," according to a survey commissioned by the Superintendent. For example, 84 percent of principals "believe the system does not weed out bad or marginal employees." Eighty-seven percent think that promotions have been influenced by cronyism, and a slightly smaller number think the same applies to teachers. The survey will be used to restructure the system and empower principals.

* A PRESCRIPTION FOR REFORM?: According to the Boston Globe, "Lawmakers in Vermont have introduced a bill that could reduce the state’s high use of Ritalin. Vermont ranks among the top states in the nation for per-capita use…" The bi-partisan group of legislators called in child psychologist David Egner who said that schools are overmedicating children in an attempt to address behavioral problems. "You severely sedate them and use a drug that will make students, quote, manageable. It's teaching the kid that you can't function unless you’re drugged." The same philosophy is held by a group called the Citizens Commission for Human Rights, based in California, whose brochures and websites have an abundance of information attesting to the divide in the medical community about just what constitutes ADD and what Ritalin may do. Many reformers are persuaded by these arguments, which we think deserve attention, and point to a greater problem. Check out their website at http://www.cchr.org/children/.

* CHARTERS II: And for more insights into how the unions view charter schools and what charter schools can do about their "embrace," check out the report by the Education Intelligence Agency, "Due & Forfeit: The Absorption of Charter Schools," at http://members.aol.com/educationintel/.

* UPCOMING EVENTS:

As you know, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Cleveland Scholarship program on February 20th. If you'd like to know how to support school choice for all parents, call CER for more info at (800) 521-2118.

March 7-9, Nashville, TN: The 11th Annual Core Knowledge Conference. For more information, call (800) 238-3233. Website: http://www.coreknowledge.org.

March 14-16, San Francisco, CA: Annual California Charter Schools Conference. Sponsored by California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC). Contact: 650-654 6003. Website: http://www.canec.org.

April 29-30, Galveston, TX: Sixth Annual Texas Charter School Conference at the Moody Gardens Hotel. Sponsored by the Charter School Resource Center of Texas, 210-348-7890. Website: http://www.charterstexas.org/.

Your copy of the National Charter School Directory, 7th Edition, is waiting for you! This compendium features profiles of 2,431 open and approved to open charter schools. The Directory includes new and updated information in the growth and development of charter schools in the decade since the passage of the first charter law in 1991.

Call to order the Nation's only charter school directory today by calling 800-521-2118 or right here on-line.

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