As a public school parent in New York City, I have been living through
Chancellor Joel Klein's education reforms. Despite Klein's rosy spin (he
budgets a hefty PR office at the Department of Education, by the way), the
story is sad for the school children who have had to endure his tenure.
Here are four reasons:
Test scores have trumped quality education – By staking his reputation on
improved test scores, Chancellor Klein has dumbed down the curriculum and
lowered the quality of teaching and learning in New York City schools. He
has mandated testing every six weeks, instituted punitive school report cards
based 85 percent on test scores, and spent millions of dollars on test prep
(%2480 million to the testing company McGraw Hill alone). Excessive test
prep has crowded out social studies, science, art, music and physical education
resulting in children learning less. Even reading, writing and math have
suffered because teachers teach to test questions rather than emphasizing
deeper thinking skills such as problem-solving and analysis.
Unsurprisingly, 75% of NYC high school graduates attending New York’s City
University (CUNY) community colleges require remediation.
Test scores can be manipulated – Claims that New York State test scores have
shot up dramatically over the past few years are due to lowered cut scores,
predictable tests from year to year with similar test questions, and excessive
test preparation rather than real learning. In contrast, the NAEP
(National Assessment of Educational Progress - considered the gold standard of
standardized tests in the US) test scores for New York City have stagnated in
English language arts and math over the last few years while the huge
achievement gap remains, evidence that there has been no real improvement in
New York City schools.
Schools are closed for political reasons – In a city with soaring school
enrollments, Chancellor Klein is closing existing schools and giving away
school space to private charter management companies. Although these
closing schools are deemed “failing,” many are not failing at all. They
have average or improving graduation rates and positive reviews from DOE-hired
evaluators, despite their disadvantaged school populations. But, the
school closings free space for more charter schools, schools that typically
exclude our most vulnerable students - English Language Learners and Special
Education students. (And if the schools are as bad as Klein claims, then
why – after 7.5 years at the helm – doesn't he get blamed for the failing
schools?)
Graduation rates can be manipulated – Chancellor Klein touts a record-high graduation
rate in New York City, but the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
refuses to recognize the city’s formula and issues instead a much lower
rate. Why? The city graduation formula includes non-diploma special
education certificates, GEDs (General Equivalency Diplomas), and students
graduating through “credit recovery” – a practice being investigated by the
NYSED for giving students credits without their completing course
requirements. NYC also habitually labels dropouts as “discharges,” thereby
keeping these students off the accountability records.
As we say in New York City, if it's too good to be true, it isn't. And
remember - don't believe the spin.
