Here are some useful links that are worth watching.
I am weary of folks being critical and not offering actionable ideas. So I have posed a challenge on both Speed and 281 Exposed. Let's see where the comments go.
Speed - Achievement Gap
281 Exposed - Tyrrell quote
Please feel free to leave improvement ideas here if you have some. Remember the goal is to close the achievement gap without increasing the budget.... This is a brainstorming exercise, all ideas are welcome. Thanks
One correction: leaving things as they are isn't an option, it just isn't working...
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6 comments:
With the onset of diversity and mobility, the one size fits all traditional K-12 model is looking a bit shopworn. Ultimately, I think 281 must increasingly look to breaking the stratifications, like Grade must equal Age minus five. State law, MnDoE policies, and union contracts stand in the way, but it seems there's always a way, especially in politics.
If not, there has to be competitive alternatives for those students who don't fit the K-12 mold.
For the record, I don't like framing the dialogue around the assumption that the district needs fixing...many things about it are pretty awesome. I know you agree with me about that. This heading just got me riled up.
Many things that could make it awesomer (yes, it's a word...one I made up for special occasions), definitely; and there are things about it that aren't so great. But spend any time in a school or with some of the staff and volunteers and you'll know that it's not broken.
JGW,
You are correct in that it is pretty great for the lucky kids. Lord knows we love it most days.
Not so sure the kids and families on the other end of the academic achievement gap would agree. Or those in the schools and communities where all those uppity folks are running from.(maybe they would...) And yes, I used uppity...(seemed more positive and more fun than some of the other labels)
However riled up is good, other than strangling G2A, what creative ideas are being generated by the adrenaline? What should the district try in order to close the achievement gap and get those uppity folks back in their communities and community schools?
Summary of Ideas so far:
- Put kids in capability based classes, not age based Elementary grades. Simplifies matching kid to class, hold back in only 1 or 2 subjects and reduces stigma.
- Use more Computer Aided Instruction. Pay for technology through higher teacher/student ratios or higher class sizes.
- Montessori methods ?
- Expand parent and pre-school education. (kids and parents ready for Kindergarten)
- Use vouchers to promote competition and promote creativity/productivity gains. Free more folks to pursue best fit, not just the wealthy.
Oops forgot one:
- Increase length of school year for those that need extra help. This likely means using Summer school more extensively. This way kids get a second chance to learn it. Thus avoiding being held back in the course or grade.
To rethink/restate my thought:
What's shopworn is group measurements as predictors of individual potential. The ultimate question is, can a given student/family get a good education if they want one? Generally yes in 281, everything's available to you (except RSI).
But also remember: the concepts of providing a good education and paying too much for that education are not mutually exclusive.
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