NAEP SCORES FLAT WHILE THERE ARE VERY FEW REPORTED INCIDENTS IN QUEENS HIGH SCHOOLS

Question:What do the latest National Assessment of Education Progress scores and the Queens High School incident reports for the last two years have in common?

Answer: They show more evidence, as if any further proof is necessary, that everybody should be skeptical about anything coming out of the NYC Department of Education or the New York State Education Department concerning test scores or incident reports or probably anything else.

From Leonie Haimson, the Executive Director of Class Size Matters:

1-This week marks the beginning of state testing for grades 3-8 in New York. Check out my blog post on why many parents are still opting their children out of these tests-- and why you should consider doing so as well. The exams have no diagnostic value, and have led to an era of damaging test prep, the false branding of too many kids as "failures" and in many schools, the loss of a well-rounded education. And despite the misinformation put out by some administrators, no child will have a lower score entered in his or her record for opting out and no school will lose funding as a result. 

2-Meanwhile, the scores of the more reliable low-stakes national exams called the NAEPs were released late last night --- showing that across the country, student achievement has been flat over the past decade, except for a slight increase in 8th grade reading, while test score gaps between low and high performing students have widened.

The results are a huge rebuke to wrongheaded corporate reform agenda of high stakes testing, charter expansion and Common Core standards that has prevailed over this period and that was supposed to lead to more equity and more learning.

Over the last four years, in New York state and NYC, the story is much the same. There have been no significant increases in any subject or grade since 2013, except for a sharp decline in 4th grade math of five points in NY State and seven points in NYC. You can check the NAEP data yourself here, or a summary here.

All this goes to show that my 2016 blog post was correct that the increase in state and city test scores over this period was illusory and that we had entered a new era of state test score inflation. Let's hope this puts an end to the endless Groundhog days of state and city officials holding self-congratulatory press conferences, and articles that assume the rise in test scores is real and could be due to charter school expansion or the Common Core. But I wouldn't count on it. It's too easy for educrats to manufacture signs of improvement when there are none.

Now we go to Gene Mann's The Organizer, where we can see the Queens High School Incident Reports from the last two school years.

I think the world of Middle College and it is a safe school but not one incident in two years? It's a little hard to believe. Same goes for the numbers from just about every school listed below.

From the Organizer:

Below please find the safety reports filed by Queens high schools for the past years. If the number of incidents reported doesn’t seem to match up with your own experience, you see what the problem is.

School	School Number	2016-2017	2017-   2018
International High School for Health Sciences	236	0	0
Veritas Academy	240	0	0
Queens HS for Language Studies	241	0	0
Institute for Health Professions	243	0	0
Queens Preparatory Academy	248	1	0
Queens School of Inquiry	252	0	0
Energy Tech	258	0	0
Pathways College Preparatory School	259	0	0
Frederick Douglass Academy VI	260	0	0
Voyages Preparatory (South)	261	0	0
Channel View School for Research	262	0	0
Flushing International High School	263	0	0
Academy of Finance and Enterprise	264	0	0
Excelsior Preparatory High School	265	0	0
High School of Applied Communication	267	1	1
George Washington Carver	272	1	4
East-West School of International Studies	281	0	2
Preparatory Academy for Writers	283	2	3
York Early College Academy	284	0	0
World Journalism Preparatory	285	0	0
Young Women's Leadership School, Astoria	286	0	0
Civic Leadership Academy	293	0	3
Pan American International High School	296	0	0
Bard High School Early College	299	0	2
Academy for Careers in Television and Film	301	0	0
Queens HS for Information, Research, and Technology	302	0	0
Goddard	308	0	0
Academy of Medical Technology	309	1	0
Queens Collegiate	310	1	4
EPIC HS (South)	314	0	0
Business Technology Early College	315	5	4
Rockaway Park	324	0	0
Cambria Heights Academy	326	0	0
Eagle Academy III	327	2	12
HS for Community Leadership	328	0	0
EPIC HS (North)	334	1	0
Queens Satellite High School for Opportunity	338	0	0
Jamaica Gateway to the Health Sciences	350	0	0
Rockaway Colegiate	351	0	0
August Martin	400	0	1
Benjamin N. Cardozo	415	0	2
John Bowne	425	0	2
Francis Lewis	430	1	0
Martin Van Buren	435	3	1
Forest Hills	440	7	4
William Cullen Bryant	445	0	1
LIC	450	0	2
Newtown HS	455	0	1
Flushing	460	0	0
Richmond Hill	475	2	1
John Adams	480	1	0
Grover Cleveland	485	1	0
MAST	492	2	0
Bayside	495	1	2
Humanities and Arts	498	0	1
Frank Sinatra	501	0	0
InfoTech	502	1	0
Hillcrest HS	505	5	9
Middle College High School at LaGuardia Community College	520	0	0
Townsend Harris	525	0	0
International High School at LaGuardia Community College	530	0	0
Queens Academy	540	0	8
HSAB	550	0	0
Newcomers HS	555	0	0
Robert F. Wagner	560	0	0
Queens HS of Teaching	566	3	0
Academy of American Studies	575	0	0
Baccaulareate School for Global Education	580	1	0
Maspeth High School	585	0	0
Queens Vocational	600	0	0
Aviation	610	0	9
Thomas Edison CTE	620	4	9
High School for Construction Trades, Engineering and Architecture	650	0	0
Robert F. Kennedy	670	0	1
Queens Gateway	680	0	1
Queens Metropolitan High School	686	0	6
Queens HS for the Sciences	687	0	0
High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety	690	3	1
Voyages Preparatory	744	3	2
Queens Transition Center	752	14	18
North Queens Community High School	792	0	0
The Young Women's Leadership School	896	1	1

Bottom line: There is plenty of underreporting going on with safety incidents and lots of grade inflation all over the place on state tests and course grades that was checked by the NAEP scores.

MIXED EMOTIONS AS I RETIRE

Middle College High School works on a trimester model to maintain a calendar in sync with LaGuardia Community College that the school is partnered with. Now that the second trimester is in the rearview mirror where my childhood dream of playing sports for money came true (I taught a physical education class in the winter and sorry Susan Sutera and Barbara Cohen, I did more playing basketball and volleyball than teaching them), it is as good a time as any to retire and so that is what I just did. I am one of the fortunate teachers who made it through almost 32 years in the system. It is a time when I am both happy looking ahead and back but also a little sad at the same time.

I was lucky with my big mouth and poison pen to survive in what is too often a corrupt school system that many times treats its teachers like they are garbage. I am grateful that I made it through 28 very memorable years at Jamaica High School, endured a few months as an Absent Teacher Reserve and then had 3.5 generally happy years at Middle College High School. I'm leaving now even though I still feel I have lots left in the tank. The Principal at Middle College, although she appointed me at little cost to the school's budget for this year and last, still looked upon me as a temp and I agreed I would be. She thanked me when I left and told the staff I did a great job "filling in." Once an Absent Teacher Reserve, always an ATR ladies and gentlemen.

I don't blame the principal for no longer wanting to carry me as schools are funded at a level about 10% below what the Department of Education considers full funding so for the last year and 2/3 MCHS had an extra social studies teacher that it really can't afford. There's no need to put a junior teacher at risk of excess so that I can go on working as the subsidy for hiring an ATR decreases and then goes away in 2019. Hence, I quit. I now have a life at home as a stay at home dad with two small kids: Kara age 8 and Matt age 3. They are thrilled that I am home all day. I am adjusting pretty well.

I seriously considered leaving last June but was completely blindsided by the ATR buyout which I was not eligible for as the UFT encouraged me to get appointed while they were simultaneously negotiating a buyout behind the scenes. I didn't retire in part because I didn't want to leave emptyhanded so I came back and I'm sure glad I did as I was able to get to know so many wonderful grade 10 students this year.

I will miss the staff and students at Middle College. I didn't think it would be emotional departing but it was. The kids, particularly Alan Wilk, Cindy Rodriguez, Jimmy Reyes, Daisy Vasquez, Kimberly Vasquez, Eric Fernandez, Asbin Gurung, Ashar Abbasi, Amanda Camacho, Kamar Elsayed, Omar Hernandez, Christofer Narvaez, Joseph Chiang, Jaleya Adams, Anrem Escatron, Jennifer Pintado, Janell Olivera, Jeremy, Juan, Bradley, Fatima, Melanie, House 6A and so many others were so great. Oh and I can't forget Daisy Ramos who was my first mentee for oral defense. No Regents except English as MCHS is a consortium school. Daisy had no idea I was twice as nervous as she was before she faced her Oral Defense panel to defend her final projects. Ixchel Ortiz, Deyssi Lopez and Rishav Osti were this year's mentees and I thank them too as they all excelled.

At Middle College I was in a different world compared to Jamaica High School or the other schools I was sent to as an ATR. For starters, the kids call staff by our first names.

My first day at MCHS I was greeted by former Jamaica colleagues Rachel and Ibeth as well as one time Jamaica Safety Agent, Officer Heath. They made me feel right at home. I so appreciated the support from all three. Ibeth shared her desk, her computer and her keys with me. She showed me where to park safely and cheaply and was so amazing to work with. Luli, Casey and Ilana welcomed me into their office as if I had been there for 25 years so thank you. Thanks also go out to Matt (taught me how to do House and teach phys ed), Virginia, Romia, Jordan (all the pictures), CL John Poon, Rob (I will miss the bus rides to field day) and the entire staff at Middle College. You were great colleagues.

I will never forget meeting with Social Studies Department Chair Felisa (a teacher not an assistant principal is our chair) who was an invaluable resource who became a real friend. Our first conversation when I arrived at MCHS went something like this:
Me- What do I teach?
Her-Whatever you want, just don't go overboard.
Me-What about curriculum?
Her-It's up to you. Do what you think is best; you're a professional. I can help if you need it.

I ended up reinventing myself as a teacher and in some ways became a better one. I still have plenty to offer but NYC would rather pay for bureaucrats than invest to fully fund the schools so although I already miss the students and staff, it's bye bye DOE. Hello new life as a stay at home dad.

It just so happened that on my first day of retirement on Monday I was in touch with several people from Jamaica High School. We feel this real bond and still try to help each other out even after our school was  improperly closed. I just want to say thanks to some Jamaica friends: Debbie Saal, the aforementioned Barbara Cohen and Susan Sutera, my officemate Steve Heiss ( I used to boast to Steve how I would act indifferent as an ATR and then when I was an actual ATR and realized how miscast I was in the role, I did everything I could to get out of the ATR rotation), Mike Pallisco, Dena Gordon, Julia Schlakman, Marc Epstein, Nunzio Mostaccio, Rose Slaymaker, Tanya McKetney, Bob Klugman, Jeanne Quarto, Rich Covelli, the incredible Maria Giamundo and so many others from Jamaica and Middle College who I apologise for not personally acknowledging here. Also, much appreciation for Kimberley Walcott, Kevin Gonzalez and all of the other Jamaica students who did everything humanly possible to save our school.

The only question left is do I stay active in the UFT and follow in Norm Scott's footsteps or do I move on completely? I hope everyone who reads this signs our petition to change the evaluation system and if you signed already, spread it to all of your friends and families. Getting five signatures from everyone who reads this would be a great retirement gift.

Finally, thanks in so many ways to my wife Camille and my two kids for putting up with me as I tried to change our little piece of the education and labor world for the better. Your love and support I do not take for granted. Fortunately, Camille will be active for many years as a NYC teacher and we are public school parents too so I guess I can't completely move on.

NYSUT CONTINUES TO PUSH LEGISLATION TO RETURN TEACHER EVALUATION TO LOCAL DISTRICTS

This came from the weekly NYSUT Leader Update in a section on the state budget:

The enacted budget includes numerous policy initiatives, including labor protections to help mitigate an adverse Janus decision. As the legislative session continues, NYSUT will continue to advocate for statutory changes that will return teacher evaluations to local control without any state mandates.

As state umbrella union NYSUT is doing right by us as they lobby to change the teacher evaluation system up in Albany, we need to put maximum pressure on the largest local within NYSUT, the UFT, to stop trying to defend the current disgusting evaluation system. It looks like Michael Mulgrew is now the main advocate of the current system with its four Danielson observations per year for NYC teachers and junk science student test score results making up our annual ratings.

Our petition is the main way to tell the state and Mulgrew that NY teachers, our friends, our families and other supporters of public education do not want the current evaluation system to continue.

Please get as many people as you know to sign our petition at the right to repeal the NYS teacher evaluation law. We have over 600 signatures so far based on nothing but a push from our little blog and our friends. That is not a bad start. If everyone could convince five more people to sign, we would have something rather big.

We can expand this to make it a real movement with your involvement.

2017 UFT DUES FOR TEACHERS

We're a little late reporting this but for you last minute income tax filers and others who want to know what NYC public school teachers paid in union dues in 2017, here are the numbers:

January-April 2017: $56.65 X 8 Checks = $453.20

May-August 2017: $58.31 X 8 Checks = $466.48

Sept-Dec 2017: $58.44 X 8 Checks = $467.52

Grand Total for Union Dues for 2017 = $1,387.20

That may actually be less than the actual total by a few dollars because of the way the UFT double dipped from the lump sum payment in October for the money we earned back from 2009-2011 that the city has only repaid us 25% up to now. Whichever way you slice it, union dues come to around to $1,400 per year or well over $100 a month. 

Many say it is well worth it for the representation a union gives us even if we disagree with how the leadership runs the union. On our own without a union it is hard to imagine us making over $100,000 per year with a decent medical plan to teach in NYC. However, some contend that the UFT has left most teachers alone hung out to dry so teachers could do better representing themselves and saving the dues money. I disagree with this view. 

I think the answer is to fix the UFT from within or form a better union but I believe we need a union to represent us collectively more now than ever before.

OKLAHOMA, KENTUCKY STRIKES ON DEMOCRACY NOW

Teachers in Kentucky and Oklahoma are striking for survival of public schools. Here is a story from Wednesday's Democracy Now.

A snippet:
MICKEY McCOY: Well, I’m most concerned with, and most of my brothers and sisters who have come down, to 12,000 to 15,000 the other day, are concerned about this war that is on education. There’s a war on public education. And it seems that the teachers didn’t need to be drafted. They volunteered. And they will continue to volunteer until we can straighten out the things that need to be straightened out.

It’s not just about pensions. It’s not just about our medical insurance. Do you understand that we have like youth service centers that are being cut? And these youth service centers help the kids, both in urban areas and in rural areas, where I’m from, with things that they need, not only just school supplies, but a shirt on their back, shoes on their feet. They give them extra food to take home.

And this Legislature—well, this governor, Governor Matt Bevin, is sort of like a general in this war on education, public education, and wants to replace public education with charter schools, charter schools that will pick and choose who they’re going to teach, charter schools who will not care for—who will not take the underprivileged kids. They seem to—are able to build their little school the way they want to. And if this is allowed to be funded in Kentucky or any state, we’re going to change this nation into a place of the haves and have-nots. And we ain’t gonna let that happen. No, not in Kentucky.

In NY we need to rebel before it gets to this point. We are a different front in the war on public education but we need to battle for our pofessional dignity too.

I read this entire story and saw plenty about a lack of funding for education but nothing about teachers being abused by a bogus evaluation system. Yes we are paid more in NYC but we are every bit a part of the struggle to save public education.

IDC TO DISSOLVE

The renegade Democrats that formed the Independent Democratic Conference that has helped keep Republicans in control of the NYS Senate are coming back into the Democratic Caucus.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is apparently worried about upstart candidate Cynthia Nixon using the governor's support for the IDC as a way to attack him in the primary campaign as she tries to deny him a third term in Albany.

We learned about the meeting leading politicians and, interestingly, labor leaders had in this NY State of Politics piece.

Some highlights:
Last Thursday before the budget was finalized, Governor Andrew Cuomo began reaching out to labor leaders. He invited them to a 3p meeting on Tuesday April 3rd at the Capital Grille on 42nd Street, not far from Cuomo’s East side office. At that meeting were the State’s key labor leaders or their surrogates, along with IDC Leader Jeff Klein, Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Congressman Joe Crowley. Some say Klein knew what was about to happen others say he did not. Stewart-Cousins definitely did not.

Cuomo had the floor. He told attendees that like his father, he learned early on that you can’t “retrade.” It’s fine to look ahead to the special elections on April 24th, but that is not good enough. The two Democratic factions must come together immediately, even if that means Klein sitting in the minority, something he has been loathe to do. Cuomo announced that Klein must “end the IDC altogether.” Stewart-Cousins will be sole leader of a reunited Democratic party and Klein will serve as a Deputy. Senator Michael Gianaris will remain in his leadership post.

As one Democratic insider put it, “we can now leave this ugly chapter behind us and work together as one party.”

Yesterday’s meeting lasted two hours. It was described as very clandestine with many of the participants unaware of who else would be invited. When everyone arrived, it was a little bit like one of those murder mystery themed dinner parties.

Like just about everything else with Cuomo, this seems kind of creepy.

What does this mean for us? It is hard to tell.

I will say that I think now is the time to push on changing the teacher evaluation system and ditching the ridiculous state tests. Cuomo needs a big win in the primary to enhance his progressive credentials for a 2020 White House run. That push to repeal the evaluation system won't come from Michael Mulgrew. It needs to come from us.

NY POST EXPLAINS NEW UNION LAW

Federal labor law provides for a duty to fair representation. However, NYS may have defined that down for public sector unions in the Empire State.

The NY Post has an Article on the new state labor law that was sent to me by my friend Bronx ATR.

Some details:

A provision tucked into the state budget gives public-employee unions the right to deny many services, such as free legal help, to covered employees who opt not to join or pay dues.

The US Supreme Court is soon expected to decide whether states such as New York that give unions the right to compel payment of “agency fees” from workers who refuse to join violate those employees’ First Amendment rights.

The fees are basically a portion of regular union dues, excluding spending on political activities.

To push employees to keep filling union coffers, the new state law says unions are no longer obligated to provide any services to opt-out members beyond basic salary and benefits required by contract.

For example, an opt-out worker who is brought up on disciplinary charges now has to pay for his or her own lawyer instead of using a union attorney without charge.

“It’s to let employees know what they’re getting. Why should you be getting benefits if you don’t pay dues?” asked Assemblyman Peter Abbate (D-Brooklyn), who chairs the Governmental Employees Committee and helped draft the law in consultation with the state AFL-CIO.

“If you’re not paying dues, then there’s not enough money for the unions to provide you service.”

In addition, the law makes it easier for unions to sign up workers and more difficult for workers to withdraw, by requiring the government to begin dues deductions “no later than 30 days” after getting an authorization form.

It looks like it will be as close to business as usual as possible post Janus. We thought this might be tied up in the courts for a long time and that could come true.

The only real way to change the situation is not to opt out of a union but to come together as a real rank and file driven union.

Leadership is out to keep the dues gravy train rolling as their first priority. Do not underestimate their ability in this area. For example, have you ever tried to stop voluntary COPE contributions? You can do it but it takes some work.

If the UFT leadership were a tenth as skilled at protecting teachers as they are at looking out for themselves, virtually nobody would be under attack. We would have our professional dignity back.