Research: Who's To Blame For The Chicago Illusion?

A new study out of the University of Chicago finds that reported test score increases over 20 years of decentralization and mayoral control were largely illusory, produced by changes in testing, minimum requirements, and other statistical gimmicks rather than any real dramatic improvements that were being claimed at the time. Reading scores in particular have been stagnant, and the acheivement gap has gooten worse.  Who's to blame for the poor showing and deceptive reporting?  It wasn't Duncan's fault:  "By no means did we ever then or now declare mission accomplished.” It wasn't Paul Vallas's, either"  "I don't know what planet [the UofC researchers] are on." The state did it, says Duncan advisor Peter Cunningham: " If anything this is a challenge to the state of Illinois to come up with a better test." That leaves just two remaining culprits:  NCLB and teachers.  Yes, that's it.  It was the federal government and the fat cat teachers who did it.  Or maybe the testing companies, too. Click below to see the contrasting charts, etc.

 The first chart is what was reported to the public at the time:

Looks good, right?  But when test score changes and procedures and demographic changes are factored in, things look a lot less shiny:

The Sun Times coverage focuses on the deceptiveness of what gets reported, how many changes that have been made to testing over the yers and asks some questions about the study methods.  

Comments

[Mary Gail]

I was a tenured teacher at the Deneen Elementary School in 2010 when it was affected by a Board Action. I was laid off, displaced, reassigned, and offered a "honorable termination". I choose resignation and early retirement since there is no honor in termination after thirty plus years of service.
Prior to our school's "turnaround" I did alot of research on turnaround schools and collected data on some of the schools that were put on the "worst schools in Chicago list for the 2009-2010 school year. I bet my odds on winning the lottery would have been better compared to the odds that three of the school had the identical test data scores and principal ratings.

[Mary]

I hear you, Mary Gail. This is a corrupt and rotten scheme, and it's still playing out. Like you, retirement would be a possibility for me, but I can't imagine how i'd live if I wasn't teaching.

Many of the senior teachers being pushed out are a few years short of retirement eligibility, and are really broken and hurting. They're still the mainstay and bedrock for their extended families and young adult children trying to set up their own families. When the Cobra runs out, or they can't afford their health payments, who do you suppose goes without a doctor visit? Yes, it's Grandma and Granddaddy.

I've been doing research on "turnarounds", too. It's like turning over a rock, isn't it? I can't decide whether to take your bet or not, though; something got lost in the translation.

[Mary]

Welcome, young journalist. At first, I wondered if this piece was actually written by Russo, because the edgewise-style is his forte. So I Googled you, Avi. I was delighted to find that you are very real, indeed, and in a very real predicament faced by many young people launching careers.

http://balacynwyd.patch.com/users/avi-wolfman-arent
"A 2010 graduate of Haverford College, Avi is the current Philly Fellowat After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP) and an enthusiatic member of Patch's freelancing corps."

http://www.phillyfellows.org/11-12placements.html
"After School Activities Partnerships Research and Communications Coordinator
The fellow will engage in research, evaluation and communication to improve and expand after school programming for Philadelphia youth."

http://www.phillyasap.org/home.aspx
"Look Who’s Reading the After School Directory!
Congressman Bob Brady reviews ASAP's After School Programs Directory, which includes more than 1,000 sites and provides resource information for parents, caregivers and youth workers. ASAP is grateful to the Congressman for recently facilitating a large donation from Students First."

Oh, my. Will there eventually be no more journalists, only "communications directors"?

I actually think not; but I wonder about this piece. Is it one of your freelancing efforts, or is it somehow connected to a Students First agenda? The reform movement is in the throes of some bubble bursting, wagon circling, rats-deserting-the-sinking-rats retrenchment. Do you think you might have been brought onboard to stake out a fallback position, where you defend teachers and NCLB together, to blunt the drive to free our schools from the corporate reform plague?

Russo has been staking out some such territory, though he plays his real cards close. Who put you in touch with him, anyway?

Do you think you could get Russo to let you interview him? He suggested reform movement mea culpas were in order; maybe you could hear his confession.

I have one other piece of professional advice. Take the "Look who's reading the After School Directory" to the streets. That smug focus on political movers, shakers, and poverty pimps is unseemly and, frankly, revolting. Is that who you're publishing it for?

Go out and show it to real youth workers and even grandparents (hint: you will find them in run-down spaces with real youth, not in handsome offices). Look it over with them. Look it over with a kid (go down on one knee, it will spare your back, over the decades). Get pictures of kids connecting with activities. Research its usefulness by trying to use it. Report that.