Reply to SY 2016-2017 Lottery numbers and waitlist data

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't think it's coming - see these minutes - https://ms-dc.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/clb-meeting-minutes-2416.pdf[/quote]

This is really disappointing - it seems that they've removed access to data because it's confusing for parents and parents will not correctly interpret.  It also seems like they are putting school's interests ahead of parents (I shouldn't be surprised).  Lastly, it looks like they might be showing for those taken from the waitlist what preferences if any they had - can't tell for sure since they haven't actually released that data yet.

Here's the relevant text - I added the bold.

Data Sharing Proposal
Board Member Peretti introduced a data sharing proposal in response to demand from
parents to transparently present lottery results in a consistent way across participating
schools and sectors. The proposal would display by school and by grade:
(1) number of seats made available in the lottery by school and grade
(2) number of applicants and matches by school and grade
(3) waitlist length by school and grade
(4) waitlist movement by school and grade
The Board reviewed what is currently publicly displayed through the Public Charter
School Board website and the D.C. Public Schools website:
(1) number of seats made available in the lottery by school and grade (displayed by
DCPS only)
(2) number of applicants and matches by school and grade (displayed by DCPS only)
(3) waitlist length by school and grade (displayed by PCS and DCPS)
(4) waitlist movement by school and grade (not displayed by DCPS or PCS)
Board Member Schaeffler asked the group whether reporting waitlist length and seats
available after the lottery was a PCSB compliance requirement for charters - it is, and
most charters authorize My School DC to share with PCSB on their behalf.
Some Board members expressed concern about the misinterpretation of waitlist data
as indicative of school quality. Board Member Wright thought that some parents
would be dissuaded from applying to schools without waitlists, and several members
agreed. Even though some data are already public through the DCPS and PCSB
websites, some Board members felt that consolidating it would highlight schools with
low waitlists which parents could misinterpret as low performing. Mr. Pohlman
wondered if putting out more data would confuse parents about the My School DC
message that you cannot game the system and you should rank schools in true
preference order without overthinking your “chances” of getting in.
Board Chair Niles suggested that My School DC can put up the historical data with
this year’s results and then update the waitlist results as they happen.
Board Member Henderson proposed a modification to the proposal. She asked if My
School DC can show the likelihood of getting in off a waitlist because she posited
that is the real question that parents want answered. She said that having the waitlist
length shared attaches a value to a school that may not be logical or accurate. She also
said that DCPS will reevaluate the data it shares on its website and whether to reduce
the elements or continue to include waitlist length. Charter members of the Board
were interested in that DCPS decision to inform whether they ask the PCSB to make
similar changes.
Board Member Schaeffler was concerned that the number of applicants and number
of matches caused the same problems noted by Board Member Henderson and wants
to make sure “there are no losers” in the school-by-school data display. If extra data
negatively impacted specific schools- schools may decide to not participate in the
common lottery undoing a lot of the work we have been able to accomplish as a
group. We want to keep all the schools at the table.
Board Member Young asked if My School DC can just show people that were made
offers from the waitlist – and how many of them had preferences.
Board Chair Niles suggested the modified proposal to display waitlist offers made
from the original waitlist and the number of seats made available in the lottery. Each
figure will be by school and by grade for all participating My School DC schools.
The stricken text below represents the modifications put forward for the vote.
My School DC proposes to share for all participating schools, by grade, as a resource to
parents on MySchoolDC.org:
(1) number of seats made available in the lottery by school and grade
(2) number of applicants and matches by school and grade
(3) waitlist length by school and grade
(4) waitlist movement by school and grade
Board Member Peretti said that My School DC will do a mock up display of the
approved data and circulate it to the Board. She also indicated that Board Member
Woodruff the PCSB had submitted a written assurance for this discussion: The Public
Charter School Board supports the public release of lottery data by My School DC for
the purpose of informing parents and acknowledges that it is not a useful or accurate
metric for school performance. The PCSB will not use these data in accountability
considerations for the purposes of the Performance Management Framework (PMF),
charter renewal reviews or reports, notices of concern, Charter Audit Resource
Management (CHARM) reports or Financial Audit Reviews (FAR).
Board Chair Niles put forth the motion. Board Member Henderson seconded. Motion
passed unanimously[/quote]

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