Data-Driven, Accountability vs. Decision-Making

Before NCLB ushered in data-driven accountability, our school system had a glimpse of the potential of data-driven decision-making. This week I had a reminder of why the two are just as incompatible as they were during World War II when Joseph Heller’s squadron had to produce "tight bombing patterns" because they looked good on the cover of Life Magazine. And I should say up front that I again have access to data because our new administration is committed to transparency.

According to the data-driven accountability of NCLB, our school must have had miracle workers, raising the Algebra I "pass rate" by 1400%. So, why do we have the lowest ACT test scores of any urban school in Oklahoma?

Under NCLB rules, it is easy to show promising numbers if you have a) an Attendance Rate of 77.8%, an unbelievable ANNUAL (2007) dropout rate of 33.9%, and the state changes the cut scores. Combine the cumulative costs of reducing class size in those math classes; curriculum facilitators; professional development and travel; the software, hardware, and training required for benchmark testing; and the various remediation programs and our school has invested hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of extra dollars. According to a comprehensive cost benefit analysis, did it cost many tens of thousands of dollars, or hundreds of thousands of dollars for every child moved from "Limited Knowledge" to "Satisfactory?" I’m confident the price tag would be on the high end.

By returning to data-driven decision-making, we are honestly facing our situation. Our school started the year with 135 6^th graders, 123 freshmen, and we are up to 54 seniors, and hundreds of students will again transfer in and out. Last spring, we had 20 sixth graders who passed the math test, as did 14 freshmen. Because of a new graduation law, we have three years to triple our pass rate and we must do it at a time of fiscal austerity. The good news, however, is that our district is back to the principle of "You are not the problem. I am not the problem. The problem is the problem."  -  John Thompson