http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-03/news/bs-md-ci-msa-score-follow-20110703_1_schools-ceo-andr-s-alonso-school-system-msa
After many years of increasing assessment scores, Baltimore City’s 2011 MSA scores have fallen three percentage points in reading and five percentage points in math. This small decline is considered normal for large urban districts, but is being referred to as a “wake up call” for the city’s educational leaders. In explaining this decline, Dr. Alonso cited ongoing problems with lack of quality instruction and teachers. He also reported cheating scandals at a few city schools, and noted that tackling teacher contract reform this year removed some of the focus on what was happening inside schools and classrooms. In the short-term, Alonso is doing an individual analysis of each school whose scores declined and considering opening weekend academies for 5th and 8th graders to remedy the decline in scores. In the long-term, Alonso plans to continue to implement innovative school choice options and to hold principals and teachers accountable for student achievement.
I am interested in learning more about Alonso’s potential short solution of weekend academies. Although I believe in the benefits of additional instruction time, I am skeptical that many educators and students would embrace weekend academies, especially if these academies were mandatory and did not generously compensate teachers. I therefore am wondering about the structural components of the academies, including whether or not they would target failing students and/or schools. In addition, I question why Alonso would limit these academies to 5th and 8th graders. While I understand the idea of targeting the weaker performing grades, it would seem to me that as many students as possible should get access to this supplementary program.
1 comment:
Cara, you bring up some very interesting ideas concerning Dr. Alonso's newfound top-down management style. To this point in his career, Dr. Alonso has adopted a relatively hands-off approach to leading the system. He has done nearly everything in his power to trim down the central office and empower local decision making. The contract places even greater trust in teachers than ever before. And now, when scores are in decline for the first time during his tenure, when all of the "easy" tricks, such as raising attendance, have been accomplished, he turns inward. By mandating after-school programs, instead of making them available for communities to select these as options if they so choose, Dr. Alonso seems to be taking a step in the wrong direction, away from the methods that have made him such a successful leader of education reform.
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