Thompson: More Questions About NYC Success

Questions about the success of the NYC public schools under Joel Klein keep mounting.  As reported in the NYT, a 2009 audit showed that Chancellor Joel Klein had created what one critic called the "Enron of Education."  The transcripts of 25% of the audited student records were altered as the system inflated its graduation rate by playing games with "credit recovery," and "discharge rates."  Now the New York Times describes how these tricks inflated the report card of the highest ranked school in the district.  Teachers were given a quota of assigning no more than five "Ds" and no "Fs."  A student was promoted after missing more than 100 days of school. Another student, who missed 98 days, earned credits for cooking, yoga, and independent study, even though the school does not offer a cooking class.  Credit was awarded for classes that the school does not offer, in the name of a gym teacher who does not work at the school. Students could earn credit by just copying handouts from the teacher because "tasting success motivates."- JT (@drjohnthompson)