Walls admissions article in the Post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of the parents whose kid did not get admitted at School Without Walls this year and plan to submit a FOIA request in the coming weeks, as soon as I collect all the necessary information. Many other people in this forum raised excellent points and even suggested what to put in the request, and I will be happy to follow many of their recommendations.

I have been talking to other parents, I have spoken with some lawyers, with DC residents, with my local representatives, and have written letters to various school administrators. I am collecting information at this stage. There are many parents who have "surrendered" already. They say, yes you are right, but there is nothing you can do, send it to a private school, and move on. No, I will not move on. This is a fight worth fighting.

Submitting a FOIA is one of the many steps that I intend to pursue. The DC public school system, like many other bureaucracies, prefers not to address this issue, and they would be perfectly happy with nothing happening. Administrators keep being reappointed, the mayor runs every election uncontested, and cutting ribbons every now and then keeps everybody happy.

There many good things about the DC public school system, but the way they are trying to destroy one of their magnet schools is not one of them.

And remember that "interviews" are the way minorities have been discriminated against in this country (for housing, golf clubs, high-profile jobs) long before Walls decided to make video interviews the hallmark of their admission policy. It is time that this city ends these biased and ridiculous admission practices.

If you are planning to join the FOIA, or want to write supporting letters, please send an email to [e-mail] with any details you wish to share.

Good for you--I will provide some tips in the coming weeks. I have submitted successful FOIA requests in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

OP...Damn! This is a bit extreme. Sound like the Mob. School systems are masters at hiding and manipulating data. That data is also the crux of funding. So not surprised with the fight but going personal is another level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of the parents whose kid did not get admitted at School Without Walls this year and plan to submit a FOIA request in the coming weeks, as soon as I collect all the necessary information. Many other people in this forum raised excellent points and even suggested what to put in the request, and I will be happy to follow many of their recommendations.

I have been talking to other parents, I have spoken with some lawyers, with DC residents, with my local representatives, and have written letters to various school administrators. I am collecting information at this stage. There are many parents who have "surrendered" already. They say, yes you are right, but there is nothing you can do, send it to a private school, and move on. No, I will not move on. This is a fight worth fighting.

Submitting a FOIA is one of the many steps that I intend to pursue. The DC public school system, like many other bureaucracies, prefers not to address this issue, and they would be perfectly happy with nothing happening. Administrators keep being reappointed, the mayor runs every election uncontested, and cutting ribbons every now and then keeps everybody happy.

There many good things about the DC public school system, but the way they are trying to destroy one of their magnet schools is not one of them.

And remember that "interviews" are the way minorities have been discriminated against in this country (for housing, golf clubs, high-profile jobs) long before Walls decided to make video interviews the hallmark of their admission policy. It is time that this city ends these biased and ridiculous admission practices.

If you are planning to join the FOIA, or want to write supporting letters, please send an email to [e-mail] with any details you wish to share.

What is your focus--Walls only or the selective high school process in general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am one of the parents whose kid did not get admitted at School Without Walls this year and plan to submit a FOIA request in the coming weeks, as soon as I collect all the necessary information. Many other people in this forum raised excellent points and even suggested what to put in the request, and I will be happy to follow many of their recommendations.

I have been talking to other parents, I have spoken with some lawyers, with DC residents, with my local representatives, and have written letters to various school administrators. I am collecting information at this stage. There are many parents who have "surrendered" already. They say, yes you are right, but there is nothing you can do, send it to a private school, and move on. No, I will not move on. This is a fight worth fighting.

Submitting a FOIA is one of the many steps that I intend to pursue. The DC public school system, like many other bureaucracies, prefers not to address this issue, and they would be perfectly happy with nothing happening. Administrators keep being reappointed, the mayor runs every election uncontested, and cutting ribbons every now and then keeps everybody happy.

There many good things about the DC public school system, but the way they are trying to destroy one of their magnet schools is not one of them.

And remember that "interviews" are the way minorities have been discriminated against in this country (for housing, golf clubs, high-profile jobs) long before Walls decided to make video interviews the hallmark of their admission policy. It is time that this city ends these biased and ridiculous admission practices.

If you are planning to join the FOIA, or want to write supporting letters, please send an email to [e-mail] with any details you wish to share.

What is your focus--Walls only or the selective high school process in general?

FWIW, in terms of FOIA strategy, narrow is better (and faster).

If you ask for the general guidelines for the selective high school process, they will just send the (already publicly available) information on how that process works (i.e., https://www.myschooldc.org/how-apply/applying-high-school) and other documents about this process (which is already pretty transparent--you don't need more documents/emails about this). To the extent each of the selective schools has individual selection criteria, they will then have to search those records independently for more details...that will increase the amount of time it takes. If you're only interested in Walls, just focus on Walls. If you're interested in other selective schools, submit separate FOIAs for each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This this board is anonymous I'll share that my 4.0 Deal kid in Algebra 2 last year was accepted to Sidwell, Potomac, St. Albans, GDS, Maret and the Scholar's program at St. Johns but not Walls. Quite a few of these schools had 9th grade acceptance rates around 5% last year (so we have since learned).
He was waitlisted at Walls. He is now doing extremely well at one of the privates. He's an outgoing kid, travel athlete who is now on a varsity team, national-level debater, and had 99% PARCC scores from 3rd grade on.
His Walls interview was literally 90 seconds long last year.

Similar experience (though my slightly less high-flying DC was in geometry not Algebra 2 and didn't get admitted to quite as many privates, though some). FWIW, I have heard rumors that Walls prefers to not take too many advanced math students--they see themselves as a "humanities" school. Whatever, DC reads voraciously and actually loves ELA and history far more than math...and if they had spent more than 3 minutes with her in the interview, they would have known this. But I wonder if they see the higher math tracks as some sort of flag and those kids have a harder time getting in.

Geometry was once a sticking point because Walls included some questions on the entrance exam but not every MS feeder offered Geometry and thus some candidates were at a disadvantage unless they learned it independently of school or the school offered it as an elective supplement. Not many MS even offer Algebra 2 so that's definitely beyond anything a Walls test would cover.

The mediocre students at above private schools start younger. By HS admission process they can get more selective. The mediocre students never leave.

The geometry on the entrance exam was from the 8th grade common core standards. If 8th grade teachers didn’t teach the standards that is not Walls’ fault. But this rumor that geometry was on the test just out of the blue is nonsense. The test was an 8th grade test. 8th grade includes several strand of math including probability, number sense and basic geometry.

You missed the point. It's not that it was "out of the blue" (weird that you read that but whatever). Geometry may be included in 8th grade curriculum but in DCPS schools without a substantial cohort it was often not taught as a practical matter. Highly motivated students in these schools could get exposure through other avenues (mind you this is pre- Kahn Academy) but it put them at a greater disadvantage than kids who were exposed through math curriculum at their MS. Geometry isn't a high bar but it was a bar that could ding some students on the test. Guess who got dinged most?

So Walls shouldn’t have written the 8th grade test using 8th grade standards? They should have just guessed what middle school teachers taught and chose not to teach that year? This seems to be really grasping at straws. You can have issues with admissions but this criticism seems like you just want to complain about everything.

Look at PARCC scores for MS when it was in place and when Walls test was in place. There are like 2 DCPS schools with reliably high 7th/8th grade math scores and a larger number of schools with no high scorers, mostly clustered in Wards 7 & 8.

One test for everyone clearly disadvantaged potential candidates from Wards 7 & 8. I think there should be a test and equity seats to address that, but one size fits all does not work. The current high stakes Zoom interview doesn't work either.

The problem isn't the test - the problem is that these candidates either don't have access to advanced math or don't have the skills. These are the things that need fixing.

So the hard working kids bright enough to compete at Walls should continue to be punished because they are cursed with failing public ES and MS? Many capable students have long since bailed for challenge at charters that do not systematically fail them. Equity seats could include the same 8th grade level test but ensure those students have a chance.

I'm not worried about equity seats at Walls or anywhere else -- they should get the non-equity seats right for a so-called competitive school. They screened out many more applicants from the test than current GPA cutoff/brief interview. They didn't get any more diversity with the current system than previous test, including no representation from Wards 7/8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This this board is anonymous I'll share that my 4.0 Deal kid in Algebra 2 last year was accepted to Sidwell, Potomac, St. Albans, GDS, Maret and the Scholar's program at St. Johns but not Walls. Quite a few of these schools had 9th grade acceptance rates around 5% last year (so we have since learned).
He was waitlisted at Walls. He is now doing extremely well at one of the privates. He's an outgoing kid, travel athlete who is now on a varsity team, national-level debater, and had 99% PARCC scores from 3rd grade on.
His Walls interview was literally 90 seconds long last year.

Similar experience (though my slightly less high-flying DC was in geometry not Algebra 2 and didn't get admitted to quite as many privates, though some). FWIW, I have heard rumors that Walls prefers to not take too many advanced math students--they see themselves as a "humanities" school. Whatever, DC reads voraciously and actually loves ELA and history far more than math...and if they had spent more than 3 minutes with her in the interview, they would have known this. But I wonder if they see the higher math tracks as some sort of flag and those kids have a harder time getting in.

Geometry was once a sticking point because Walls included some questions on the entrance exam but not every MS feeder offered Geometry and thus some candidates were at a disadvantage unless they learned it independently of school or the school offered it as an elective supplement. Not many MS even offer Algebra 2 so that's definitely beyond anything a Walls test would cover.

The mediocre students at above private schools start younger. By HS admission process they can get more selective. The mediocre students never leave.

The geometry on the entrance exam was from the 8th grade common core standards. If 8th grade teachers didn’t teach the standards that is not Walls’ fault. But this rumor that geometry was on the test just out of the blue is nonsense. The test was an 8th grade test. 8th grade includes several strand of math including probability, number sense and basic geometry.

You missed the point. It's not that it was "out of the blue" (weird that you read that but whatever). Geometry may be included in 8th grade curriculum but in DCPS schools without a substantial cohort it was often not taught as a practical matter. Highly motivated students in these schools could get exposure through other avenues (mind you this is pre- Kahn Academy) but it put them at a greater disadvantage than kids who were exposed through math curriculum at their MS. Geometry isn't a high bar but it was a bar that could ding some students on the test. Guess who got dinged most?

So Walls shouldn’t have written the 8th grade test using 8th grade standards? They should have just guessed what middle school teachers taught and chose not to teach that year? This seems to be really grasping at straws. You can have issues with admissions but this criticism seems like you just want to complain about everything.

Look at PARCC scores for MS when it was in place and when Walls test was in place. There are like 2 DCPS schools with reliably high 7th/8th grade math scores and a larger number of schools with no high scorers, mostly clustered in Wards 7 & 8.

One test for everyone clearly disadvantaged potential candidates from Wards 7 & 8. I think there should be a test and equity seats to address that, but one size fits all does not work. The current high stakes Zoom interview doesn't work either.

The problem isn't the test - the problem is that these candidates either don't have access to advanced math or don't have the skills. These are the things that need fixing.

So the hard working kids bright enough to compete at Walls should continue to be punished because they are cursed with failing public ES and MS? Many capable students have long since bailed for challenge at charters that do not systematically fail them. Equity seats could include the same 8th grade level test but ensure those students have a chance.

I'm not worried about equity seats at Walls or anywhere else -- they should get the non-equity seats right for a so-called competitive school. They screened out many more applicants from the test than current GPA cutoff/brief interview. They didn't get any more diversity with the current system than previous test, including no representation from Wards 7/8.

No, hardworking bright kids should have opportunities to to learn the skills they need. But saying the measuring stick is wrong because disadvantaged kids measure poorly is not helping anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

OP...Damn! This is a bit extreme. Sound like the Mob. School systems are masters at hiding and manipulating data. That data is also the crux of funding. So not surprised with the fight but going personal is another level.

The irony of this is pretty funny as DCUM lives and dies by STAR ratings and test scores of schools, which is based on proficiency and not growth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

OP...Damn! This is a bit extreme. Sound like the Mob. School systems are masters at hiding and manipulating data. That data is also the crux of funding. So not surprised with the fight but going personal is another level.

The irony of this is pretty funny as DCUM lives and dies by STAR ratings and test scores of schools, which is based on proficiency and not growth

This is actually not correct. The STAR ratings are heavily focused on year-to-year growth. Of course that creates its own problems, because it only looks at one year so a huge leap followed by a slight correction is much worse than no growth over 2 years... which is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

OP...Damn! This is a bit extreme. Sound like the Mob. School systems are masters at hiding and manipulating data. That data is also the crux of funding. So not surprised with the fight but going personal is another level.

The irony of this is pretty funny as DCUM lives and dies by STAR ratings and test scores of schools, which is based on proficiency and not growth

This is actually not correct. The STAR ratings are heavily focused on year-to-year growth. Of course that creates its own problems, because it only looks at one year so a huge leap followed by a slight correction is much worse than no growth over 2 years... which is insane.

Different poster here - I will "yes and" you to say that I'm also not sure I've ever seen someone on DCUM outside of a clueless rising PK3 parent reference a school's STAR rating. Much more focused on arbitrary but organically-grown designations like "JKLM" and "HRCS."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS doesn’t want an entrance exam for Walls. The administration at the school is not strong and therefore does not push back on anything DCPS wants. So there will not be an entrance exam again. If you want one, start with pressuring DCPS. They ultimately control that decision.

The exam was not helpful if GPA are being considered, and had too much focus on math ( from what I hear) so glad it is gone to ease the administrative burden and hoop jumping on the school and families.

Also, I think rich upper class families can 'game' these tests, extra tutoring bla bla, when all kids at a public school get a GPA that they have worked for ( yes yes I know many of them have tutors for that too.) But I do think it does a small amount to equalize.

You lost me at all the kids in public school work hard for their GPA. Have you seen DCPS grading scale and policy? It’s a total joke.

Seriously. I've had three kids go through Deal. they've never received a quarter grade lower than an A. basically you do the work, you get an A. No thought involved. The standard is incredibly low.

Do the work, get an A exactly. There are a lot of those kids. But it would not be fair for a DCPS magnet school to run a placement test on no DCPS material. And is why I think if the GPA is a honest reflection the test is superfluous. But I think upper income people want that so they can send their kid off to test practice on Sunday afternoons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

I am quire sure DCPS makes this information public, I saw a Harvard education academic do some analysis on this data a few years back, Ask OSSE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am one of the parents whose kid did not get admitted at School Without Walls this year and plan to submit a FOIA request in the coming weeks, as soon as I collect all the necessary information. Many other people in this forum raised excellent points and even suggested what to put in the request, and I will be happy to follow many of their recommendations.

I have been talking to other parents, I have spoken with some lawyers, with DC residents, with my local representatives, and have written letters to various school administrators. I am collecting information at this stage. There are many parents who have "surrendered" already. They say, yes you are right, but there is nothing you can do, send it to a private school, and move on. No, I will not move on. This is a fight worth fighting.

Submitting a FOIA is one of the many steps that I intend to pursue. The DC public school system, like many other bureaucracies, prefers not to address this issue, and they would be perfectly happy with nothing happening. Administrators keep being reappointed, the mayor runs every election uncontested, and cutting ribbons every now and then keeps everybody happy.

There many good things about the DC public school system, but the way they are trying to destroy one of their magnet schools is not one of them.

And remember that "interviews" are the way minorities have been discriminated against in this country (for housing, golf clubs, high-profile jobs) long before Walls decided to make video interviews the hallmark of their admission policy. It is time that this city ends these biased and ridiculous admission practices.

If you are planning to join the FOIA, or want to write supporting letters, please send an email to [e-mail] with any details you wish to share.

What is your focus--Walls only or the selective high school process in general?

But you are moving on right? Your kids needs to go to school... And your kids not going to Walls is not going to destroy the school, they school will be fine with all their straight A students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A FOIA request may get some info. But I'm pretty sure the attorneys will get involved. Pretty naive to think that you can just submit a request involving a DCPS school and they'll just give it to you just because. If the desire to get things to be more transparent, starting with the DC Council and local media is probably more a sure bet. None of them like bad publicity. Can request FOIA in tandeem...

Fascinating article about how a Loudoun County dad/MIT alum/organizational specialist was interested in improving performance metrics for schools/teachers and ended up FOIA requesting what is called the "student growth percentile" data - a measure that shows how much kids improve year to year on tests rather than just absolute scores. The problem is teachers wanted to maintain status quo - didn't want this data released - so they could continue claim good performance at high-SES schools (obviously an easy job, doesn't necessariy reflect on the teacher's performance) or blame poor performance at low-SES schools on class and race disparities rather than teaching quality.

Loudoun Country Public Schools tried a number of tactics to resist his FOIA request - attempting to have him arrested and contacting CPS with zero proof of child abuse. Eventually in 2016, he was awarded 35k in a suit against LCPS and LCPS was ordered to release the data.

Not sure if this story would deter parents from FOIA requesting SWW or inspire...

https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/how-a-dad-became-teachers-enemy-1-to-teachers-in-loudoun-county/

Wow. Among other superlatives, this may be the best reported and written story I have ever read from the NYPost.

[Anonymous]

That NY Post article = wow.