More info on the Sanders study of learning benefits of board certification

The Greensboro News-Record provides a little more detail on the study done by William L. Sanders "found that students of nationally certified teachers make no greater classroom gains than do other students".

Not exactly what folks arguing for greater professionalization and higher qualitative standards in the teaching workforce are the key to greater student learning. One worry is that tying incentives to board certification may overlook equaly effective teachers.

Chris

North Carolina - Sorry about that test, do your best.

It turns out that North Carolina decided not to use this year's new test to evaluate student performance. Teachers are instructed to use grades, classroom tests, and other tradtional measures to judge student proficiency for promotion. Hmmmm. This is one of the two states that is going to be allowed to use growth modelling? It seems that the last time the state delivered new tests, it go the cut points for proficiency wrong - based on the fact that too many students scored poorly on the tests. The state plans to spend the summer getting those numbers correct.

That seems a little strange that the numbers can be so subjective. I guess the right percent proficient is the one that shows most schools making their AYP numbers. That must be right.

Riiiiiiight.

Chris

Even Florida doesn't get the Growth thing right.

Florida is widely thought to have to most comprehensive student information system in the US. This piece lays out the impact of not being selected for as a growth model pilot in pretty stark terms.

If it had been accepted, an estimated 43 percent of Florida's schools would have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under NCLB. Without it, only 29 percent are expected to make AYP, down from 36 percent last year.

With numbers like that, it is no wonder that states are concerned about access to this alternate method to show student progress.

Chris

Schools Matter - A not very flattering analysis of the recent growth model choices (and NCLB in general)

Schools Matter takes on both the recent decision to allow only North Carolina and Tennessee and tinkering with sanctions to allow more supplemental services before schools become accountable. Blogger Jim Horn notes (as do many others) that NCLB seems designed to crush public schooling by showing nearly all schools to be failing under the law's inflexible and (probably) unachievable metrics.

Chris

NSBA outlines recommendations for the next round of NCLB modifications

While most observers do not expect there to be significant changes in NCLB until an eventual reauthorization in 2009, the National School Boards Assocation is pushing for a series of fixes to the existing legislation.

Chris