Comments on: Cox Academy charter: denied

By: Steven Weinberg

Steven Weinberg — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:23:05 +0000

Reach probably avoided the state’s list of unperforming schools because it has shown 100 points of API growth in the last two years. Normally the state looks at 5 years of growth, but apparently it does not count years in which a school has fewer than 100 students tested, so 2007, when Reach had a 108 point drop did not count against it since it had only 42 students counting for API in 2007 and only 19 the year before.
This is another piece of evidence for why formula driven systems do not work. Reach made its greatest gains in the year they added fourth graders. This is no surprise to anyone who has made a study of California CST results. The fourth grade test always produces higher scores than the tests for other elementary grades. Either the bar for fourth grade is too low, or the bars for the other grades are too high. Given the defects of these tests, we should not base any decisions based solely on the results they generate.

By: TimeForChange

TimeForChange — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:19:35 +0000

Well, something is fishy when a school like REACH isn’t even on the state intervention list. I don’t know if it was a true oversight or if someone made a deal with state officials to ignore REACH’s poor academic performance. It’s wrong.

By: Havehadenough

Havehadenough — Sun, 02 May 2010 06:43:13 +0000

In response to TimeForChange:
Because it is in OUSD!!!

By: TimeForChange

TimeForChange — Sun, 02 May 2010 05:00:19 +0000

What isn’t REACH in Program Improvement? The AYP scores are unacceptable and somehow, REACH has continued to evade PI status.

By: Steven Weinberg

Steven Weinberg — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:56:43 +0000

Cambridge had contracts totaling $471,542 to review 33 regular schools and 13 charters. One contract specified $56,000 for 288 hours of work, or $194.44 per hour. All of this is available on the district website, click on Governing Board then Legislation and search for Cambridge.

“Consultants: If you can’t be part of the solution there is money to be made by prolonging the problem.” (Despair, Inc., makers of great posters.)

By: Joe Public

Joe Public — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:54:58 +0000

In the money driven business of education–Cambridge has established themselves as the leading “accepted” voice. The true business side of education opening itself to any entrepreneur has flourished under NCLB. Every district and charter organization is tripping over itself to get the word form the Cambridge “oracles”. I’d wager that Cox has a Cambridge report also.

I’m looking for angel investors to help me start some sort of school business. I want to feed at the trough too. Any takers?

By: Ree Leeved

Ree Leeved — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:15:23 +0000

5 years ago my school (now retired) was targeted as one of the 12 charters. Many were interested in the charter movement but none wanted to work for the CEO. After listening to Mr. Montes and the OUSD school board I know that the 10 schools that stayed with OUSD made the right decision.

By: Inquiring Minds

Inquiring Minds — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:56:13 +0000

Cranky Teacher

Why does OUSD use Cambridge to evaluate charters without publishing their own results? It seems very unfair. Have you read the Cambridge report about OUSD?

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:34:58 +0000

Cambridge Education is just a private company that charges districts to tell them what they already know.

At our school, they came for a day then made a bunch of recommendations that aren’t allowed under CA. ed code or our union contract, such as giving department chairs evaluation authority, etc. It was just a drive-by eval with a prepared list of prescriptions.

People need to have a higher standard for data and analysis — it is not all of equal quality or thoughtfulness.

By: Inquiring Minds

Inquiring Minds — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:23:35 +0000

Ms Murphy,
It seems there are more than a few of us who want the OUSD Cambridge Report to come to light. Someone left a gift in my mailbox this morning. It is a copy of the Cambridge report dated July 2009. It is quite damning of the district! Would you like a copy or have you already seen it?