Posts
Those who
have worked with, for, or against me all know that I am
pro-accountability. I keep score
and push limits. Not just in my chosen profession but in almost every other
facet of my life. I don’t apologize for it; it’s who I am. But even as an accountability advocate I
have to admit that what we have now, both at the federal and state level is a
hijacked program designed for the specific purposes of furthering
anti-egalitarian agendas and dismantling public education. As an educator, I
behoove you, please quit voting for these people.
However, no
accountability (which seems to be a rallying cry for many in our profession) is
not the answer. What is needed is a replacement system that is logical, fair
and holds all schools accountable to increasing student opportunity. To start
the discussion, here is the plan I would start with for traditional and magnet
schools.
The Cain Plan
Prerequisites:
1. The state
must clearly outline the content that must be taught and the rigor level to
which that content must be taught.
In Texas, this is the TEKS. In other states, this could be the Common
Core.
2. The state
assessment must be 100% aligned to both the required content and the required
rigor. In Texas, because the state
has not released the STAAR tests, we cannot say if this is the case. In many other states, we know this is
not the case.
Exemptions:
1. For the
state assessment, allow a district to exempt up to 2% of its non-LEP student
population from taking the accountability test, for any reason. This resolves the issue of the empty
exercise of testing students with severe and profound learning
disabilities.
2. For the
state assessment, non-English speaking (generally recent immigrant) students
may be exempted from the accountability test for up to three years. This
resolves the issue of the extreme difficulty of teaching content and a new
language at the same time.
Tested
Content (Grades 1 - 8):
Reading –
Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Writing – 4,
6, 8
Mathematics –
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Science – 3,
5, 7
U.S. History
– 5, 8
Tested
Content (Grade 9 – 12):
English – I,
II, III, IV
Mathematics –
Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry
Science –
Chemistry, Biology, Physics
Social
Studies – U.S. History I, U.S. History II, World History I, World History II
Standards /
Rankings:
Acceptable
A.
90% of the
students in each disaggregated student population answer 70% of the assessment
questions correctly; and
B.
For high schools: 80% of students graduate within 4 years; A dropout rate of less than
8%; 25% of graduating seniors enroll in some post-secondary program (examples –
technical program, 2-year college, 4-year college, military enlistment).
Recognized
A.
90% of the
students in each disaggregated student population answer 70% of the assessment
questions correctly; and
B.
50% of the
overall student population answers 80% of the assessment questions correctly;
and
C.
For high schools: 88% of students graduate within 4 years; A dropout rate of less than
6%; 50% of graduating seniors enroll in some post-secondary program (examples –
technical program, 2-year college, 4-year college, military enlistment).
Exemplary
A.
90% of the
students in each disaggregated student population answer 70% of the assessment
questions correctly; and
B.
50% of the
overall student population answer 80% of the assessment questions correctly;
and
C.
25% of the
students in each disaggregated student population answer 90% of the assessment
questions correctly.
D.
For high schools: 92% of students graduate within 4 years; A dropout rate of less than
4%; 70% of graduating seniors enroll in some post-secondary program (examples –
technical program, 2-year college, 4-year college, military enlistment).
This plan
would require schools to teach the appropriate content. It would require schools to meet
minimum standards. But most
importantly, it would require a school to systematically work to raise the
ceiling of student performance if it is to be considered a top-tier school. Also, notice that 100% is never in
play. I want 100% of my students
to be successful, but the reality is that we are in the people business not a
simple manufacturing business.
Even if the assessment is a simple as, “Show up on test day,” 100% is
not going to happen. But because the ceiling standards are aggressive, the
motivation to reduce marginal performance and failure is maintained.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
- Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5
- Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
- Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
- Upcoming Presentations: Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), TASSP Assistant Principals’ Workshop (Featured Speaker), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
- Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
