North Carolina Democrats are again criticizing the Wake County school board majority in hopes of bringing out local Dems to the polls this year.
As noted in Sunday's article by Rob Christensen, the school board's shift from the diversity policy was brought up more than once at this year's Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraising events. David Young chairman of the state Democratic Party, and Gov. Bev Perude both lobbed shots at the Wake school board.
Young said Saturday that the Republican-backed majority on the Wake County Board of Education "want to go back to Pleasantville in the 1950s."
Earlier this month, Young had announced the state Democratic Party's "You fight, we'll fight" campaign. Young had called for volunteers who would agree to pledge 10,000 hours of "phone banking and canvassing to elect county and state officials who will hold true to diversity policies."
Young's call to arms comes after Republicans worked so hard last year to elect members of the new school board majority.
Perdue weighed in as well on Saturday, which brought together the leaders of the party.
"I want you to talk to your neighbors, and I want you tell them what is happening in the Wake County public schools," Perdue said. "And I want you to ask your neighbors if they think that is the template for success in the 21st century. I don't."
Perdue's remarks cone not too long after school board member John Tedesco had criticized the governor at the April 15 Tea Party rally.
Tedesco had mocked Perdue for saying the efforts of the new board majority was one of the most disheartening things she had seen in her first year in office. He said Perdue had complained about how powerless she felt to do anything about Wake.
"Thank God there's one thing she can't get her hands into anymore," Tedesco told the cheering crowd.
Tedesco also said Perdue should be focusing on the economy and not complaining about the Wake school board.
"You're supposed to be the leader of this state and you're not taking care of the issues we need you to take care of," Tedesco said of Perdue. "You need to get your priorities straight."
Comments
Ignore us at your peril, dems!
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 19:49 — raleighlauraI know many moderates who think all of the drama this new board has encountered has overshadowed the important WCPSS achievement concerns. Yes, I know diversity is important, but so are test scores, equal access to programs, busing distances (measured in actual street miles since none of us use wings to travel to school), and the achievement gap. Democrats are unwise to push away moderates and put us in the same camp as right wing conservatives. There is a middle ground, and I think they will need to own it if they are to make gains in November.
"North Carolina independent
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 09:34 — WakeParent2"North Carolina independent voters now favor GOP legislative candidates by a 47-18 margin, and GOP congressional candidates by a 46-19 margin - figures that could produce "disastrous results" for Democrats in the fall, according to Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning polling firm" From the article above.
If the Democrats feel that charging the Wake school board with re segregation the schools without any facts to support it will stop this 'disastrous' trend - I say bring it on!
It shows how out of touch the Democrats are with the Wake County voters. This might rally support with the Washington elite(s) and Activism circles in NY, LA and DC, but when the WCPSS is graduating just over 50% of the low income students. It will be difficult for some to allow these national activist groups to relive days gone by, while your child fails to get educated in the Wake County school system - It is a risky strategy for the Democrats and may voters will resent having to decide keeping your child in a system that needs a lot of help or supporting a national cause.
The truth is that the Democratic Party need the fund raise help from these National groups and the best way to get it is by creating an issue. I would assume that based on these trends the local voter are providing much less cash to the party.
November will be interesting and the trend doesn't look good for the Democrats canidates.
WCPSS is graduating just
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 11:49 — carson79That is not factually correct - the graduation rate is so problematic - google "The Truth about Graduation Rates" to find out more. I personally would rather the district have a low graduation rate that reflects true real world readiness than a higher one where the kids graduate but can't pass end of grade tests - a diploma is meaningless in those circumstances. Of course it would be better if evryone graduated in 4 years ready for a job or college!
So...
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 12:04 — Bob_SconceAre you saying that WCPSS' rate is even lower than the 54% that's been reported?
I was referring to the
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 13:51 — carson79I was referring to the poster saying "50%" when it's 54 and also I *think* that is the 4 year graduation rate - so if someone is held back or takes summer school to graduate after their normal date, they are not counted in the 54%, but they do in fact graduate with a diploma. I also don't know how transfers to an alternative school are handled.
What is the ED rate in high schools - does anybody have this handy? It goes down as the kids get older. I am wondering how many kids we are talking about.
And why doesn't the 54% line up with the drop out rate??
I'm just saying it's more of a gray area than the people who sling it around would say. Do we have any counselors or anyone else that can explain some of these questions?
Also, what is the national graduation rate for ED, calculated in the same way?
If yall havent yet, you should definitely check out The Truth about Graduation Rates paper, it's really interesting and gives some of the nuances around "graduation rate" (seems like it would be a simple thing to calculate, but it's really not).
Carson, I thought they had
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 13:57 — user12345Carson, I thought they had to estimate the real F&R HS rate from the ES feeder schools number because most HS students were too ashamed to take advantage of the free food ... thus the decreasing F&R % as kids get older ...
Ahhh I recall that too - how
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:15 — carson79Ahhh I recall that too - how can they really give an ED graduation rate then??
Is that just the kids who finish high school in 4 years who actually sign up for F&R lunch all 4 years?
what is the # of these kids?
Is it possible a bunch of actually ED students are not in the population for the 54% calculation because they don't sign up for F&R lunch??
So...
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:10 — Bob_SconceThat's the theoretical reason, but I don't think it's true -- the F&R status is secret. I suspect the real reason is that if you have older kids, you're more likely to make more money and, thus, not qualify for F&R lunches. I would expect more elementary kids to get free lunches than high-school kids.
Bob ... are sure it is
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 15:04 — user12345Bob ... are sure it is secret? ... in HS, I assume you either bring your lunch or pay for it ... if you pay for it, you either hand someone cash and get change or you give them some kind of a voucher .... also, I am guessing most kids who get breakfast are F&R since non-F&R kids would eat at home and get to school as late as possible.
So...
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 15:38 — Bob_SconceTalk to your wife about how the lunch thing works. Each student should have an 'account' with an account number -- he/she gives the account number to the cashier, who debits their account. If you have free or reduced lunch, the computer figures out how much, if any, to deduct.
If your breakfast point is correct, then the correct approach for a closeted F&R kid is not to buy breakfast, but still buy lunch.
hmmm ... now you have me
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 15:50 — user12345hmmm ... now you have me wondering about the money I have been giving my daughter's for lunch when I forget to pack one. :-) Bob, I am thinking the account number stuff may be an ES thing.
Could be...
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 16:16 — Bob_SconceYou can always pay with cash -- the account thing is just convenient. I don't have any kids in middle or high school, so I don't know for sure.
I did find this at the WCPSS website, which suggests that high school kids have accounts:
http://www.wcpss.net/news/2008_lunch-payment-options.html
It may be that it's just not cool in high school to buy lunch, so kids who might othewise benefit from the F&R program don't, just because they don't want to be uncool.
Hopefully I get this right
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 19:09 — user12345Hopefully I get this right since teenagers are not always clear .... so when you buy lunch in HS, you use your student number .... you either draw from your account if you have money in it, get it at a reduced price or for free. One of her friends pays 40%? (or 40 cents?) of the cost becasue she is F&R. Woodstock the girl has two 12 hour a day working parents with two jobs each and is not the middle and upper class cheaters you think abuse the F&R program. I don't get the impression the kids hide their income status but they don't advertise it either. I guess your clothes and car (or lack of one) give away your income status sooner than how much you pay for lunch. That is for lunch which my daughter says is a piece of cardboard made to look like a pizza. So, where is the money I give her going when I don't pack her lunch? ... she uses it to buy chips and cookies which are not available on the F&R plan which is why she does not need to use her student #. She can use the cookies to trade for the cardboard pizza. Now that a lesson in economic.
I'm not sure, but are the
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 16:38 — magnetParentI'm not sure, but are the F&R lunches restricted to "healthy options"? Some HS kids might reject F&R for that reason alone. Also, 11th and 12th graders are encouraged to leave campus for lunch, mostly because of the overcrowded cafeteria, so they would not necessarily be signing up for F&R.
HS lunch
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 16:33 — Dove314While there are definitely kids who eat lunch in the HS cafeteria, the reports from mine are/were they did not want to buy school lunch as (a) the cafeteria is too small to serve the number of students for any given lunch period so they get more time to eat if they don't use the cafeteria; (b) the food is pretty much the same stuff served up for years; (c) they want the freedom to eat with their friends somewhere besides the cafeteria (since it is too small to hold everyone); and (d) they can go off campus with parental permission for their junior and senior years.
Graduation rates are a
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 12:41 — user12345Graduation rates are a slippery slope ... I thinks school systems can greatly influence the rate to their benefit ... unlike SAT scores that local adminstrator can not manipulate. If we push on graduation rates hard enough, the "system (teachers, counselors, administrators)" will lower the standards to make sure everyone "graduates" and everyone keeps their job and gets paid.
SAT scores can be
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 12:50 — shearertwSAT scores can be problematic as well since not everyone is "encouraged" to take them....
For example, in 2008-2009, the SAT participation rate for WCPSS was 64%, dropping 9% from the previous year. This was the lowest participation rate recorded in WCPSS for the previous 20 years.
Again, human nature at work
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 13:54 — user12345Again, human nature at work ... you want higher SAT scores, eliminate the low scorers is one way to do it ... ditto for AP scores ... Wake makes the student pay, I think either Fairfax or Mongomery school systems pay the test cost which can influence the system to system comparison ... maybe the PSAT is best since everyone has to take it.
Any insights as why WCPSS's
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:13 — shearertwAny insights as why WCPSS's SAT participation dropped so dramatically in 2009? This question is open to anyone...Was this the 1st year they asked people to pay?
The SAT scores in WCPSS were about 20 pts higher last year. I don't remember but I bet there was a congratulatory press release about that. I don't recall anyone putting out a press release about that dramatic drop in SAT participation rate either. Lowest rate in 20 years! Does anyone else recall hearing about that? That seems like a big deal to me? I just found it now by chance.
I found the press release,
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:31 — shearertwI found the press release, data Aug 25th, last year.
Listen to how WCPSS highly paid PR group spun these results (I admit I don't know if they're highly paid or not, just make it sound better).
WCPSS Students' 2008-09 Scores Increase on SAT
August 25, 2009 - Wake County Public School System seniors continue to score well on the SAT and continue to outpace other large districts in North Carolina as well as the national average, according to results released today by the College Board. SAT scores for 2008-09 WCPSS seniors increased by 20 points over average WCPSS scores for 2007-08 with increases of eight points in critical reading, seven points in math and five points in writing.
The WCPSS average score of 1585 is 76 points higher than the US average and 99 points higher than the North Carolina average.
When looking at the combined math and critical reading scores, the WCPSS average score was 1074, compared with an average score of 1016 in the U.S. and 1006 in North Carolina. The WCPSS average score is 58 points higher than the US average and 68 points higher than the North Carolina average.
WCPSS participation remained high with 64 percent of graduating seniors taking the exam. That’s down from 73 percent last year. The WCPSS participation remains higher than the North Carolina participation rate of 63 percent and the U.S. participation rate of 46 percent.
Holy cow! The participation rate drops 9% pts to the lowest level in 20 years and all they can say is "participation remained high"! And, of course, there is no mention of how this drop in participation rate may have influence the observed increase in SAT scores last year.
Those PR guys are good. If they're not highly paid, perhaps they should be.
I'm doing this from memory
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:24 — KeungHui (author)I'm doing this from memory but it coincided with a national drop. The formula for determining participation rates is done nationally by a firm that changed the methodology.
Keung, Perhaps the change
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 15:00 — shearertwKeung,
Perhaps the change you're referring to was in 2007-08.
SAT Participation Rates (%):
Year WCPSS NC US
'06 77 71 48
'07 79 71 48
'08 73 63 45
'09 64 63 46
Either way, since 2007, the SAT participation rate in WCPSS has dropped by 15% while the national rate only decreased by 2% and the NC rate only dropped by 8%. Also, it appears the ALL of the drop in rate for NC and nationally was observed in 07-08, not 08-09. Therefore, the 9% drop in WCPSS in '09 appears to be real and not an artifact of a change in the formula. Do you agree?
WCPSS USA NC W2US W2NC 1990
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 15:18 — user12345As Wake get poorer and the %
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 15:08 — user12345As Wake get poorer and the % of poor people approachs the national % our participation % will approach the national %. So, in 20 years the once wealthy Triangle will have 46% participation.
With a rate of decrease of
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 16:13 — shearertwWith a rate of decrease of 7-9% pts per year, it won't take 20 years to get there....
Here's what the press
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 14:40 — shearertwHere's what the press release said:
The state of North Carolina reports that WCPSS had 5,338 test takers. The College Board, however, reports that WCPSS had only 5,288 test takers because the state figures include 50 scores from the now defunct East Wake High School which were not included in the College Board district report for WCPSS. The state of North Carolina also reports that WCPSS had an estimated participation rate of 67 percent, however, the WCPSS participation rate based on the actual number of graduating seniors was 64 percent.
Is the College Board the one that changed the formula? Does the state of NC have a different methodology? The numbers were actually pretty close between what the state reported and what the College Board reported.
Also, the national participation rate actually increased from 45% to 46% in this same year while the participation rate in NC stayed the same.
This is all in Holdzkom's report
E&R Report No. 09.29
wcpss.net/evaluation-research/reports/2009/0929sat08-09.pdf
It is no surprise that NC
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 08:06 — sstarksIt is no surprise that NC Democrats are criticizing the Wake County school board considering the efforts the editorial board of the News Observer has put into demonizing this board. They have succeeded in making assignment policy into a very partisan issue.
Along the way they have also managed to portray Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools as the bogeyman for straying from the diversity path--what a horror it would be to turn out like CMS. Perhaps it would be instructive for the editors to read the following editorial from today's NY Times (hardly a Republican rag) entitled "When the System Works" : http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/opinion/26mon2.html?ref=opinion.
The system that's working refers to CMS.
First of all, it is in the
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 08:24 — magnetParentFirst of all, it is in the "Opinion" section of NY Times. I really don't see any facts.
Secondly, it is not saying that their neighborhood assignment policy is what is working. It is talking about their Strategic Staffing Initiative, adopted 2 years ago, to help turn around some of their most struggling schools. Recruiting new leadership to these schools to fix what was broke. Firing those that broke it and hiring new guns. Is it then implying that the move to neighborhood assignment policy 10 years ago is what broke it? Just a thought.
"Strategic Staffing
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 10:03 — shearertw"Strategic Staffing Initiative"
"Recruiting new leadership"
"Firing those that broke it"
"fix what was broke"
"Hiring new guns"
These are just some of the things you can do once you recognize that reassignment is NOT the answer. Once you realize police 6200 is not helping, you can actual start implementing some practical strategies for addressing the real problems. This is 100% the point! Going back to neighborhood assignments is NOT the point nor the solution. Going back to neighborhood or proximity or community based assignments is just the result of STOPPING policy 6200. The solution(s) are these other things you CAN do once you stop focusing on policy 6200 and drinking the diversity koolaid.
Bear in mind, the opinion
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 08:46 — CaryCurmudgeonBear in mind, the opinion section of the N&O begins on page 1.
Agreed that the editorial is
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 08:38 — sstarksAgreed that the editorial is not attributing anything to neighborhood schools. However, I would note that the editorial says "While Charlotte was already one of the highest-performing urban systems
in the country (referring to the years before 2007), it has made progress since then." For facts you might check out the 2009 NAEP report, in which CMS high poverty students outscored all students in urban districts nationwide.
CMS has been broadly portrayed in Wake County as a miserable, failing system. Yes, we have schools that are struggling. However, prior to the end of busing we had legions of students who were struggling and unnoticed. Now our struggling students and schools are receiving the attention they deserve.
Ms. Perdue is right to be
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 07:36 — CaryCurmudgeonMs. Perdue is right to be concerned about our school system. How many more of her budget cuts can we handle? At the Democratic meeting she talked about rooting out corruption. Meanwhile, Basnight continues to get his pier to nowhere while our students go without textbooks.
Perdue's comments should
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 07:31 — woodstockPerdue's comments should offend all fair-minded and concerned citizens who care about the quality of our schools in Wake County. She must be unaware (no surprise there) of the blatant and systemic discriminatory practices of the former status quo board and their appalling lack of action in addressing the needs of children from economically disadvantaged famlies. She is apparantly also unaware (again, no surprise there either) that the new board majority was swept into office with an overwhelming and unprecedented percentage of votes to fix the mess the status quo left behind . The public demanded a move toward a school system with a family-friendly, achievement-focused 21st Century approach that accommodated the challenges of all students, including the most vulnerable among them.
It seem rather obvious that due to Perdue's faliure in her role as Governor and the sinking prospects of Democrats in the coming elections, that she is attempting to shift the attention off her and on to to something else. It's not going to work. The BOE majority is doing what they were elected to do and they enjoy very broad bi-partisan support...just something else Perdue seems completely clueless about.
And we can measure the
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 09:45 — user12345And we can measure the board's majority's commitment to increase minority graduation rates hopeful soon .... ditto on vocational education.
Yes, I think we should
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 10:01 — woodstockYes, I think we should absolutely expect to see measurable increases in grad rates for ED students within the next 2-3 years. I don't know enough about what it takes to get vocational education underway to comment. It might require funding that is not currently available considering the budget cuts.
How Shocking!
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 07:04 — MissVThe governor, (who the media was late in noticing her lack of diversity in staff selection), flip-flopped on busing a month ago, dragged former Wake Co School Superintendent to Washington DC (for window dressing) to beg for Race to the Top funds, suddenly has a strong opinion?
Well, if the governor wants
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 10:47 — DrActualFactualWell, if the governor wants us to look at a template of our success how about looking at the actual "review" scores and comments from the Race to the Top grant application. A wise person once said "We can't do better until we know better." So true. Time to own our failures and make improvements.