Reply to Latin replication pulled from PCSB agenda

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]On the testing point, we have kids who are very good test takers and we are among the "gentrifier" minority in our EOTP DCPS (though not just white). I think there is actually some benefit to diversifying the system to have our kids (who don't freak out about tests, because they rock them - I don't know, they're like Jeopardy fans too, so . . . yeah) take the PARCC, etc., because the systems judge the schools so strongly based on the test scores. It's a way to show "this school can produce great test takers/good students" too, so dive in, the water's warm. [/quote]

You produced the good testtaker, not the school. When people analyze the data they will see that reflected. That's the fallacy of the whole thing. The achievement gap happens at home.
[b]Schools should just focus on meeting the students they have each year with engagement, challenge and support and doing the best they have with the time they have. Is there SEL, inquiry based learning, opportunities for students to excel in different areas, support and feedback? Are students known? Support training and resources for teachers? Adequate and collegial planning? Good leadership? I would say Latin checks most of these wickets and that's why they are a popular school city-wide. Instead of trying to be something they're not, just replicate to offer more of the same kinds of seats.[/b][/quote]

As you say, this is exactly what Latin does. And I'm not sure test scores accurately reflect the impact a school can have on many different types of kids.[/quote]

And if it is a private school, that's a fine measure and test scores wouldn't matter a bit.

Except it is a public charter school. And it has agreed to meet a set of benchmarks negotiated with the PCSB. Those include academic achievement and growth scores, graduation rates and so forth for students. Latin knows full well how it will be measured and is responsible for meeting those targets. It has met its targets because its overall averages are high.

WL isn't at risk of being closed and it shouldn't be. But that doesn't mean that the PCSB shouldn't raise questions when an otherwise high performing school has a significant portion of its black students (many of whom are not at-risk) not performing well. And it certainly doesn't mean that school should be allowed to replicate until it figures out how to do better by those kids.

[/quote]

Sure. Like EVERY other school in DC it should "work to close the achievement gap". Short of going full KIPP though--a model that exists and is a choice many make--it probably won't though. Because then it would be KIPP, not Latin. Meanwhile - there is far more demand than seats for what it does offer, so I would say it should replicate. Somewhere in town. And be a choice for parents who look at the test scores, look at the program, and want what's offered. 
If they want to go into an under-served location and only serve the under-served (boy this verbage gets weird) then I agree with you, they need to look at changing what they do and be a hybrid-Latin/KIPP. But then they won't be Latin. They'll be a hybrid Latin/KIPP. So the kids there won't be getting the same program. Perhaps that's what they are regrouping to examine.[/quote]

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