From the September 28, 2018 UFT Chapter Leader Update:
New York
City trends up on Grades 3-8 ELA and math scores
For the
third straight year, New York City made more headway than the rest of the state
on achieving proficiency in math and ELA for grades 3 through 8, according to
test scores released by the state Education Department on Sept. 26. In ELA, 46.7
of city students met proficiency standards, compared with 45.2 percent
statewide. City students were 1.5 percentage points ahead of students
statewide, almost doubling their .8 percentage point advantage from
2017. In math, 42.7 percent of city students scored at the proficient
level, compared with 44.5 percent statewide. City students were 1.8 percentage
points behind students statewide, narrowing a gap that was 2.4 percentage
points in 2017. “New York City has continued for three years to outperform the
rest of the state on growth measures,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said at a
press conference with Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard
Carranza at PS 204 in the Bronx. “That has not happened for decades. I know we
have a lot of work to do, but we are taking on the challenge.” He cautioned,
however, that test scores are just one measure of a student’s, a teacher’s and
a school’s performance. “A test score is a single piece of evidence,” he said.
“The days of using test scores as a scarlet letter are over.” For more details
and a chart with New York City proficiency rates for each grade, read the full story on the UFT website.
See how there is an upbeat mood from President Mulgrew who was with the Mayor and Chancellor boasting about the scores.
Compare and contrast that to the reaction from New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), our state umbrella union.
This is taken from the September 28, 2018 NYSUT Leader:
NYSUT calls state tests badly flawed and inaccurate
NYSUT blasted the State Education Department this week as it released scores from last spring's badly flawed ELA and math exams, saying they are invalid and released too late to be helpful.
NYSUT EVP Jolene DiBrango said the state's broken scale of 'proficiency' unfairly labels students and schools. In addition, she said the standardized tests are too long and not developmentally appropriate. Here's our report from May 2018 which detailed the many problems educators and students experienced during the grades 3-8 state assessments.
We have NYSUT blasting the scores while the hugest affiliate in NYSUT, the UFT, is bragging about increases in what our state affiliate is calling "badly flawed ELA and math exams."
Go figure. It would be nice if the state union and the city union were on the same page on testing. Personally, I agree with NYSUT and believe Mulgrew should have stayed away from that press conference.
I think we can agree that the main reason why the test and punish culture continues to flourish in New York is because the UFT won't get fully on board with the anti-high stakes testing movement.
45 comments:
James, what are your thoughts? Shoving kids who cant do it into schools, therefore destroying those schools??? The New York Post did an analysis of the racial achievement gap, based upon State tests, for the last five years and found out that it actually widened, despite efforts to close it. This shows the failure of Mayor Bill de Blasio's and his Chancellor, Carmen Farina's policies to improve public education for Black and Hispanic students.
According to the Post's article between 2014 and 2018 the racial academic achievement gap increased from 37.2% in 2014 to 38.2% in 2018 between Black and White students in Math. The racial academic achievement rates also inched up in English as well.
In addition the proficiency percentages in Math between Hispanics and Whites also widened, going from 32.7% in 2014 to 33.3% in 2016.
In English, the racial academic achievement gaps between Black/Hispanic students and White/Asian students also inched up.
The bottom line is that the failure to close the racial academic achievement gap is a real problem that hurts the Mayor's claim that his policies are making the New York City public schools better.
Mulgrew is out of touch. He is just happy that they are pushing older teachers out.
You guys did a great job of hijacking the post because I was out all day at my niece Lauren's birthday party.
The topic was state test scores and the UFT-NYSUT contrasting reaction to the scores, not diversity in Park Slope. Please start your own blog and stop hijacking this one. I have asked people over and over to stay on topic. Please adhere to our policy.
James, I totally diagree. How do you not see what the Post articles have to do with the DOE. They have everything to do with grades, test scores and fraud, and the garbage we get screwed with everyday, and how the uft screwed us.
Interesting topic. Oh yeah, grades went up again, while kids cant read, write, add or subtract.
Ok, lets disciss the topic. Blacks and hispanics still lag way behind whites and asians. Billions well spent. And Mulgrew, de blasio and carranza all, in unison, applaud.
The reaction was a joke, thats the response, and james deleted facts to promote his agenda. Truth must hit too close to home.
The articles posted directly oppose what uft pres, mayor and chancellor are trying to oppose...Including removing a normal entrance exam. And james deletes all the posts. hmmm.
Now at least you are somewhat on topic with the test scores. I think the tests are mostly meaningless, invalid, inaccurate assessments that shouldn't be used to test kids or rate adults. I try not to cite them if I can avoid it. They tell next to nothing.
We can't have it both ways where we say don't use the tests to rate us because they are unreliable and invalid but we use them to cite theories about the students. I agree with NYSUT that the tests are flawed.
Huh? Why is the brooklyn tech test fair for whites and asians but not blacks? Unless you are finding any way possible to get blacks in knowing full well they cant pass the test.
How late do you want me to stay up tonight? I left up the 6:05 pm post because at least it referred to the tests and the UFT. The other stuff was way off topic.
These are the state ELA and Math grade 3-8 exams that this post was about. It is not about the Specialized High School Admissions Test. Once again, please stay on topic. Thank you.
James, I am sorry that you have to police your own blog.
I don't have a problem with the NYS tests in themselves. I do believe they have become more fair since the first round of common core exams. It is not difficult to predict how the students will score considering their work in class during the school year.
My issue with these exams is that the purpose of these exams is not longer related to education. I do believe that they are all about money and politics. From the creation of the test to the scores to the release of the test scores; it is all about money and politics. It would be interesting to know how many billions of dollars are circulated, in NY alone, related to these tests.
sure james is deleting many posts that he determines are "off topic." i just wish he still allowed the "deleted by blog owner" or whatever the message was to be shown in the thread. orwell gave us a warning, not an action plan. winston smith lives.
I'm urging James to turn on comment moderation and ICE will take this up at the next meeting. If you racists and lunatics want to rant go start a blog.
You do you always jump to racist? It is a fact they lag. Asking why...
Racists or realist is in the eye of the beholder and please stay on topic you sensitive legend in his own mind radical. Oh crap I’m off topic again
According to ed notes own site, white proficient is 70%, black is 35%. Ok, on topic. Why is this the case after a liberal dem president and mayor and all the money thrown that way?
Jeff Kaufman started this blog and is the chief administrator. I can't turn on comment moderation but can delete comments on posts that I put up which is basically all of them these days.
I am going to have a look at all of the stuff that has gone on since I last checked.
But wont answer the question, just keep saying people are racist.
what is you looking at?
And removing posts that question the success of liberal policies as well as the failures of liberal policies bravo James bravo!
3:37, The topic of the post is NYSUT and UFT's reaction to the state test score release. It isn't about the achievement gap which is a totally different issue. The cause of the achievement gap is an extremely divisive topic and we aren't going to resolve it here. By continuing to hijack the post and others, you are just getting regular readers and strong union supporters angry. What good does that do?
The game of post and delete and post again and then delete again is really wasting all of our time. Please stay on topic which is the reaction to the state test scores from UFT and NYSUT.
Ok, fraud just like all report card grades and grad rates. Everything has been dumbed down and made fake in order to push fake stats and make people look good.
So you wont admit that there is nothing to make grades of certain groups legitimately higher, meaning they will just force them into roles and schools they dont belong in...Ok, im done. Good day.
Please just tell me how your argument 3:53 has anything to do with a posting about NYSUT and the UFT's reaction to the test grades? I don't see it. Sorry.
Its about test grades, and in turn the mayor, chancellor and uft higherups forcing people into schools, by banning tests. I thought we were teachers. We talk about how out of control these schools are, the liberal agenda says certain peopke must get forced into schools even if they are not worthy. You dont thinl that makes things more chaotic? The difference in proficient scores link what im saying and oppose what the mayor is doing.
And where is the uft to tell the mayor that everything he does has been a huge fraud, in public. Just more crooked abuse.
The test scores are proof that everything that as been done hasnt worked. Too bad, the mayor was our best buddy. The group that the mayor supports most, minorities, has gone backwards.
That is not about this post. You are once again indirectly references to SHSAT 4:11, not the state ELA and math tests.
Too bad city kids are so stupid they can't pass tests. It's the unions fault and we all need to opt out before we become as stupid as the kids are.
COME SUPPORT THE UNIONDALE TEACHERS IN THEIR BATTLE WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TUESDAY OCTOBER 2 6:00 PM AT UNIONDALE HS
"I'm urging James to turn on comment moderation and ICE will take this up at the next meeting. If you racists and lunatics want to rant go start a blog."
Now that's not off topic lol, but it appears you already have a blog so what's your point?
Orwell had your # boo.
Where’s the proof the people posting are racists lunatics? Thanks James for being open minded and allowing different points of view. You can’t answer why liberal policies have failed and actually hurt the segment of society they were designed to help. Liberal fool look in the mirror and tell us how welfare had helped make people more responsible and less dependent. You can’t you intellectual giant. Your a fool for sensoring this blog and only want to hear from like minded robots. You guys have created a liberal circle jerk where you pat yourselves on the back for being so opinion minded and so very caring and sympathetic to the plight of the disenfranchised. Nothing never gets down to help improve the people your suppose to champion. Your afraid to hear different Opinions that can’t do any worse than the 75yrs of futile liberalism. Delete if you want but you and your comrades in arms can’t argue your beliefs. Defend how liberalism has helped certain aspects of our society. I’m willling to listen to other points of views unlike the tolerant liberal.
I asked you to be on topic 7:59. It is so off topic but I am sick and tired of hitting the trash button so have at it insulting liberals. We certainly tolerate different points of view here but ask that people stay on topic. As someone who was helped by Social Security survivor's benefits and went to college with government financial aid, I can't see your point. I was one of those people helped by government benefits and I didn't do great but I did ok.
Difference between cradle to grave use of govt benefits.
People on the right have blogs. Go start one instead of trying to use the hard work of James to get your crap on line. You don't have the guts to stand up for your beliefs. I bet you don't say any of this where you work -- if you really do work and are not a troll from Russia looking to cause disarray. The idea that someone with your views is coming into contact with students is frightening.
James and I are liberals of various sorts. The problem with these comments is that for us to respond to them requires putting things into context about why I believe they are based on racist ideas and a misunderstanding of history. Little snippets you put up and then we are left with a choice of ignoring or spending time trying to take you seriously. You are too cowardly to start a blog or identify yourself, proof that you are afraid of your own positions. I can take you seriously if you have the guts to stand up for your beliefs.
Taking anon potshots at black people is modus operendi and attacking our students en masse as being ignorant. As a 35 year teacher of kids of color in a poor neighborhood I am offended and as a founder of ICE I don't have to put up with being identified with a blog that allows these comments to be put up and for this excellent blog to be hijacked.
I keep having to defend this blog when it is attacked as being a cesspool. Fact is most comments here are great even when I disagree but even these serious comments are tainted by you.
Now I do know where you are coming from -- I have many relatives over the years and we do get into discussions face to face.
If you want to engage show up at an ICE Meeting and stand for your beliefs. Otherwise go away.
75 years of futile liberalism? What a dumb ass. Like FDR and his liberalism didn't save this country from a possible revolution. That the building of unions which comes out of liberalism doesn't take you as a teacher out of the edge of poverty. You want to be West Virginia.
And by the way --- your refs to George Owell show how little you know. Orwell died a committed socialist - in fact he was close to Trotskyists -- he was a critic of Stalinism not socialism.
For us to have to respond to your ignorant potshots on a regular basis is a waste of time. I did it here but hope you can form your own little racist circle jerk. Go to the Daily Stormer and rant.
James has to start moderating like I do. I leave almost any comment up but I recognize this guy and shut him down.
Good one ed notes guy keep believing liberalism has helped the groups it was designed to help. Just because someone criticizes a certain groups behavior or lack of economic or educational progress or gender doesn’t make them a racists or sexists. Someone as Intelligent as you should know that. For people who claim they are open minded and tolerant are far from it. I will not go away old man enjoy your day feeling self righteous.
Ed notes guy: u don't get comments.
James and Norman are both idiots. They can't take it when others disagree with your views. They will disagree with this post but its the truth.
I won't stop till you go away. I am fine with people who disagree with me and have loads of relatives and FB friends who do but you are dishonest like your idol Trump and also have so little knowledge you are a joke. Your racist views may go up for a short time but they will come down. You hijack the legit concerns of people who come here for help and honest discussion. There are lots of things to disagree about but you are not interested in open debate. Just fomenting your hate and FOX news talking points.
I'm fine with people who are anon due to fear of retaliation from union or DOE.
But have a right wing political agenda but afraid to stand up for your views and degrade this excellent blog -- you are a coward -- afraid to stand up like a man for what you believe but hide behind anon -- what are you afraid of big shot?
I have a legit concern also. How can we be evaluated on the test scores of students? Students who are constantly late, refuse to make the effort, constantly on the phone you all know the rest!
You remove me but not norm you liberal tool! Remove his post also! Selective James? Liberals only want one opinion and can’t defend their horrible policies. Good job your are hack
I don’t want you to stop, on the contrary I want you to enlighten me and look forward to all of us being able to exercise our freedom of expression.
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