Here’s hoping DCTA doesn’t derail DPS momentum
Tuesday, July 29, 2008Written by: Uncle Charley
Seems like Denver Public Schools is overdue for some good news: Even as the rest of the state treads water, today’s release of CSAP results underscores a positive trend in Colorado’s 2nd largest school district:
Denver Public Schools made substantial 3.6 percentage point gains in reading scores, according to an internal memo obtained by Education News Colorado.
DPS also outpaced the state in terms of reading gains at all eight grade levels tested, the memo said. However, the urban district still lags far behind Colorado’s overall reading scores.
The Denver district made more modest gains in writing, mathematics and science, though even those gains – in the vicinity of 1 percent – bested the state, which had a flat year.
“Though we always aspire for better outcomes, we are pleased with this year’s CSAP results,” DPS’ departing Chief Academic Officer Jaime Aquino wrote in an email to district staff. “The scores are a validation of the work we are doing. It shows that we are heading in the right direction and that our trends are promising since we continue to outpace the state’s change.”
Time for the crack research teams to dig deeper. What factor(s) might be making a difference here? Or is Denver’s performance just a fluke? Inquiring minds demand answers, while experienced souls anticipate a long time to learn any answers, if any are to be learned.
In the meantime, news like this just might give Superintendent Michael Bennet the momentum he needs to continue pushing his ambitious reform agenda.
But it doesn’t put the teachers union in a good place. Already having struggled to shed the well-earned mantel of obstructionists in the Bruce Randolph autonomy struggle, the DCTA’s latest position against a proposed upgrade in the innovative and nationally-observed ProComp teacher pay program now becomes more precarious.
The district still has a long way to go in raising performance and closing the achievement gap, but today brings more solid proof that it’s moving in the right direction. So does DCTA tout the improvement and concede that Superintendent Bennet has earned the benefit of the doubt in moving forward? Not likely. Or does DCTA downplay the news and forfeit what remains of the good faith earned as original partners in ProComp?
My guess is they stay silent as the mediation process continues and they ponder the potentially suicidal strategy of a strike during the Democratic National Convention. At least the intrigue keeps us paying attention during the slow summer months.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Now wait a minute! Test scores are up in DPS and your first reaction is to attack teachers? Who exactly do you think works directly with kids day in and day out to help them gain the knowledge and skills that help them improve those scores? Hint: It ain’t Michael Bennet. As for ProComp, many teachers (including my son, who has worked closely with PEBC and won your recognition) are finding it is not in their best interest to participate. How about giving some credit where it’s due.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Sarah, not all the bloggers here are affiliated in any way with the PEBC, nor do their views necessarily reflect the organization’s positions. However, I do work for the PEBC, and yet I must say that your equating criticism of the DCTA with attacking teachers is ludicrous, as well as an age-old diversionary tactic, used by organizations to deflect legitimate criticism. The DCTA is an organization created to represent teachers. It is an institution, and like all human institutions, it has its flaws. Criticizing the DCTA is not the same as criticizing teachers. Surely you know that.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I need to second Alan’s point. It is an absurd fallacy to equate the union organization with teachers in general - especially considering the number of DPS teachers I’ve talked to who are critical of DCTA.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Yes, criticizing the DCTA is not equivalent to attacking teachers. But I think Sarah’s point nonetheless has merit, restated as “Now wait a minute! Test scores are up in DPS and your first reaction is to attack the local teachers union?” It’s still a Pavlovian reaction for some here.
To mix canidae metaphors, some bloggers here cry wolf so often and so predictably that the criticisms become almost meaningless.
Alan, I’m sure your feelings about union obstructionism are very sincere, but please don’t lose your ability to see shades of gray and the full picture.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Quique:
I promise not to lose my ability to see shades of gray. But I defend Uncle Charley’s right to take from yesterday’s news what he will. For my part, the media’s breathless praising of DPS seems a bit excessive. Almost 4 percentage points in reading is a nice bump, but please, people, let’s not dislocate our shoulders patting ourselves on the back. Michael Bennet himself did a good job of putting things in perspective. Others seem pretty Pavlovian in their headlong rush to declare victory. Gov. Ritter went so far as to call DPS’ gains “historic.” That’s a bit hyperbolic, wouldn’t you agree?
July 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am
My question is “What were you expecting?” With any data set this big, major bumps in reading and other areas will not be coming. You have to break the data down and find the areas of improvement, and then, and this is the major point, keep doing it and get others to do it as well. My other point is that CSAP results should not be looked at as a crap shoot. DPS and all other districts should have a good idea as to what the results will look like before they are released. If they don’t then they have some work to do with formative assessments. If we continue to look at CSAPs as autopsies, then we will never improve, at least at a relative rate. We should not be crossing our fingers, teaching to the test and hoping for the best. As a classroom teacher, I should have data at any point and time of the year to be able to predict how that student will do on any assessment of a standard. That way I can remediate BEFORE the CSAP! The sad point is that educators know this. What is the barrier in moving from “knowing to doing?”
July 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Let’s also not forget that DCTA leadership is touting strikes and job actions early in the school year. A strke over potentially earning more money than ever before - if that’s not a possible derailment, I don’t know what is. I can see the headline now “DPS: Historic Gains DCTA: Historic Pains.”
July 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Agreed, Alan. The media’s coverage has been indeed “a bit hyperbolic”. The progress demonstrated in yesterday’s results is unmistakable, but it is small and only a piece of a larger picture.
Sorry to Quique, if you see signs of drool any time written speculation appears about the largest political player in education - a player traditionally obstructive to reforms. Nobody else had explored the angle. In the spirit of this blog, I sought to be provocative and speculative. I wasn’t writing a comprehensive analysis.
You act as if the teachers union is not that significant and doesn’t receive enough coverage. I happen to disagree. The fact that some are complaining about my small, passing observation gives me reassurance that I’m on the right track.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
HATS Off to Denver Public Schools. The growing performance of a diverse student population with a broad range of economic attainment, ethnicity, and citizentries is commendable.
It is the challenge of the American public to address the challenges that face Denver Public Schools. That these changes in student achievement are being attained is what the public education hope is about.
Learn from your successes DPS and continue to nurture a climate that aspires to excel.