Roy F. McCampbell's Blog

This is a description of the philosophy of the lower school the Obamas chose for their children.

Here is the academic program.

No mention of the Common Core.

Sounds like a wonderful school.

Wouldn’t you want this for your child?

Although Arne Duncan, Jeb Bush, the New York Times, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Exxon Mobil have done their best to create an air of inevitability about the Common Core (the train has left the station), parents and teachers continue to object to the imposition of these untested standards written mostly by non-educators.

In this article, which appeared in the Journal News in the Lower Hudson Valley of New York, Melissa Heckler and Nettie Webb–veteran educators– explain their objections to the Common Core.

They insist that what matters most in education is the interaction between teachers and students, not a scripted curriculum or higher standards.

They write:

Through the knowledge of subject content, teaching strategies, and brain research, teachers strive to reach and teach every child. The scripted modules undermine the essential teaching relationship by preventing the individualized exchange between teacher and student, the hallmark of active learning…

The day before the start of winter break is always full of fun and excitement for both students and staff in District 81. Some of the many events taking place across the District included gingerbread making at Washington School, a special visit from The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who at Kennedy, and the annual Battle of the Boltz at Lincoln Middle School.  I can’t think of a better way to send our students, faculty, and staff home for a relaxing and much deserved break!

I wish our entire school community a holiday filled with good times and blessings. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year!

You can view here the results for the NAEP for urban districts, known as TUDA, or Trial Urban District Assessments.

Five districts volunteered to take the NAEP in 2002.

Since then, the number has grown to 21 districts.

Test scores have generally risen, though not in all districts and not at the same rate.

Demographics affects the scores, not surprisingly.

Watch for changes over time in the proportion of high-poverty students.

As a New Yorker, I was very interested in the progress of what was once known as the “New York City miracle.” It disappeared.

On NAEP TUDA 2013, there was no “New York City miracle.” For almost every group and grade, scores have been stagnant since 2007. This year, the only group that saw a gain was white students in eighth grade. Black students and Hispanic students in fourth and eighth grades saw no gains at all. Black and…