Maybe a boss at the top that's willing to shake things up has at least sent the message that the kids aren't written off any longer? I don't know if I'm ready to say that any one of Alonso's changes made this kind of impact, but I'd certainly give his some measure of credit for his willingness to muck about with the status quo in the name of progress.

Good news, even if I'm not totally sure that these tests really tell the whole story. Any news story that makes the BCPSS look better to others makes sending your kids there less stressful.

In looking at your "tidbits", the first thing that pops into my head is how this will affect the per school funding formula. With so many fewer failing students some schools are going to see their funding cut. Likewise with more advanced students it would seem other schools are going to see their funding increase. Also, if the number of proficient students goes up, wouldn't the base per student go up too? I think that the schools need to have a somewhat consistent budget to do any long term planning, but if the test scores are going to be so different and big chunks of the overall budget allocation is dependant on them, I don't think they can count on much.

I believe the improvement shows the commitment and dedication of the teachers and administrators on the school level, and an improvement in systemic staff development. The change to a phonics based approach in reading that was initianed several years ago is showing its effect. The improvement in professional development in the teaching of math has also been a boon for students. Also, I believe the k-8 model does offer students tne consistency necessary to progress.

when are the school by school msa scores going to be released?

I think it is an interesting question to ask but when you are dealing with statistics everyone must be careful not to jump to any quick conclusions. Statistical trend data is best when used to evaluate program effectiveness and for planning next steps. This year's data merely represents a blip and will not be completely useful until we see what happens over the next few years. Until then, keep up the good work Baltimore!

Since Alonso arrived, I think there is a lot more hope for change that will mean real improvements in the City school. I saw the mere presence of hope among students, parents, teachers, and administrators invigorate my child's school this year. So even though the new CEO hadn't had a lot of time to put changes in place for 2007-2008, I think there was a sea-change in the attitudes and culture of a lot of the members of the school community. Hope counts for a lot, when there has been no hope for so long.

"Momof2" comments x2.

I think the recent acheivement can be attributed to city-wide professional developement workshops that helped to breakdown the components of the test as well as the grading criteria. Previously, a lot of teachers did not know what would be tested and therefore could not properly prepare the students. I also think the leap in reading scores can be credited to the literacy office expressing to school administrators, IST's and teachers the need to teach students based on the curriculum and skill, not the selecteted reading program. It was very helpful for me to help my students understand certain concepts once I was told I did not have to "follow" the text book. I was able to pull classic literature, movies, and internet resources so that my students would be able to attain the information they needed to excell. It is also very importand to teach students basic test taking strategies (proces of elimination etc...) to build their confidence levels. I think that as long as teachers continue to be creative, the students in Baltimore city will continue to excell.

jwteach: Individual school MSAs will be published in The Sun tomorrow. I'm not sure when exactly they'll be posted on the state Web site (www.mdreportcard.org) but it should be today or tomorrow.

This change needs to be attributed to Charlen Boston Coopers willingness to work with the schools and to get them to understand the importance of what it is that they were supposed to be doing for the students in our City Schools. These efforts for better test scores was in effect before Alonso came into the picture and it should not be forgotten that he came in at the height of the initiative and accountability for better test scores in our schools.

Kudos to the elementary & middloe schools!
Now, the $100,0000 question is what will the high school scores look like? Those are the scores that are really disturbing & would like to see improvement. The jury is out...

I hate to throw out such a negative suggestion, and I hope it's not the case, but... maybe the tests were easier this year?

I think that the school systems improvement on the tests scores is great. With all of the negative attention given to the system, this can be a positive change that the students need to continue to prosper. Being a former city school student, the education wasnt the problem. I do beleive I recieved a quality education while I attended city schools. These tests are just a sample of what the children of Baltimore are about. City schools continue to accel in academics and in athletics. Baltimore is finally seeing a turnaround from its poor fiscal health to children succeeding. Congrats to all the people who made this possible and continue to strive to make this the new "trend"

My second grader (son) who attends a Baltimore City Public scored in the 98th percentile in the country for math and read his teacher stated. By January 2008 he had finished his 2nd grade work and his 2nd grade teacher started teaching in 3rd grade work and allowed him to tutor pre-k. The pre-k teachers were simply amazed they say at how he did. My son's Kindergarten & 1st grade teachers had the kids reading, reading, reading. They all found crafty ways to do amazing jobs with no money. There are many many fabulous Baltimore City School teachers that do their jobs under the radar because they love what the do and it carries over to the kids they teach. Great Job Baltimore City!

I am so glad that the MSA scores improved significantly. However, I too am holding my breath for the HSA scores due in August. The reason that the scores are improving is due to the fact that, once teachers and others know what the test is measuring, they can focus on the skills necessary to pass. The HSA tests are still somewhat of a guessing game. Although we do receive domain scores for each student, no one (North Avenue, MSDE) has been able to tell us how much SRs are worth in relation to BCRs and ECRs, how many questions one must answer correctly to pass, and other relevant questions. If I gave a test and didn't share how it would be graded, those same people would scream. Give us the knowledge and the results will come.

To Nick:

I looked over the tests as my middle schoolers were taking them...they looked much easier than in previous years.
Who knows.

Alonso's leadership and positive attitude toward all students has had a positive effect. He communicates on a more direct level to stakeholders. He welcomes parental involvement while demanding excellence from school staff. Confidence breeds more confidence, and I am thankful he is shaking up the system.

This is so frustrating. If Steph's comments are true, and I believe them, then we're going to applauding the kids meeting a lowered bar. Because the states have incentives to make the tests as easy as possible, so more kids pass and make the schools look better and make AYP, we can never know for sure about these test scores. Following them closely is an unfortunate exercise in futility for anyone who really cares about kids learning - unless the tests are studied and monitored year to year by independent parties. This is the problem with NCLB - the dumbing down of tests and the lowering of expectations.

What will happen next year when the HSA eliminates all writing? Will we all applaud higher scores, or will we remember that, hey, the tests used to make kids explain themselves in writing, but now it's just multiple choice?

None of the reasons for the huge success really add up. I don't know. Are our children really learning more, are they just learning how to pass this test, or did the people in Annapolis figure out what questions to change so more kids in the city and PG could pass? I don't think we will ever have an honest answer, and I don't trust any of them. I think the teachers are probably the only honest ones of the bunch. All the rest of them are just prancing around trying to look good.

GO BAWLMORE!!

One story that I haven't seen is how messed up and inconsistent the MSA scoring is. No one knows (or is talking) about the following:

1) There is NO correlation between tests from one grade level to the next. Although we all like to say that we can track kids from one year to the next, from what I have heard we really cannot see how well kids have done year to year
2) No one knows what parts of the test (BCR's, ECR's and SSR) are counted and counted for what. This is ridiculous. I am not asking that they tell us what subjects are counted, but heck, how about if students should focus on BCR's (writing) or SSR (multiple choice in my day).
3) I have heard all sorts of rumors about the test changing - BCR's being taken out for example. Again, why isn't this being communicated?
4) The fact that this test gives NO information that is useful to drive instruction. It is not a diagnostic assessment and the amount of data given gives nothing as we look at helping improve schools.
5) Why does BCPSS give tests to 1st and 2nd graders? There is no correlation between (or at least none that I have seen) between the two assessments, the one given to the younger kids is WAY too long, doesn't really test anything except how well kids can sit in a chair (go ahead, visit a school during that test and see how out of sorts those kids are), costs way too much money, and have nothing to do with NCLB.

Let's see some stories about this:-)

Really? It's gotten to this already? Not even one day out?

Steph, honestly? Really? I just cannot believe it. The difficulty people are having in holding on to a good thing baffles me. Now we're blaming the "dumbing down" of tests with absolutely no evidence whatsoever except for the unqualified hunch of a non-doctoral teacher? Really? Steph, I appreciate your service, but to attack the test with little to no basis is unbelievable.

Sure, maybe the test was easier - because teachers were teaching effectively and students grasped the concepts . Maybe the earlier tests seemed "harder" because teachers were not teaching to the standards expected by the tests. Maybe the tests (which cost millions upon millions to develop) are a good measure of student achievement. Maybe, just maybe, the tests show that our City's teachers and administrators are taking steps in the right direction, collaborating with students and each other to address the City's achievement gap.

Please, let's just take 24 hours - maybe even 48 - to say, hey, we're doing something right. You can have 363 days to attack students, administrators, Dr. Alonso, his staff, etc. For these 2 days, let's just celebrate our City's students and give them the much needed credit they deserve.

To attack these results by falling into a "dumbing down" tests argument is to attack the students' successes. Without any proof whatsoever of the claim, the burden of defending students' successes should not fall on those who are least culpable of manipulation - the students themselves. Rather, the presumption should be that the tests were effective and that they do show how students in Baltimore City are as capable of achieving academically as well as students in any other part of Maryland, regardless of the zip code in which the students were born. Well done students, teachers, administrators, and staff of the BCPSS.

I agree with Bill. Why must people take for granted the hard work that many teachers and students put into play each day. Some schools are falling apart as we speak and teachers and students are putting in the work to succeed. Everybody complains that the city schools are bad but when something good happens, people still complain and say the tests were "easier". If I was a teacher or student, I would be offended.

Bill, geez. Calm down. I wasn't presenting a thesis on the tests, I was just giving my own observation. This is the comments section on a blog. I was making a comment. That's all.
If this is going to start turning into something that I have to document sources in order to state my opinion, I'd just rather keep them to myself.

I agree with Bill also, sometimes people are so accustomed to failures that when success comes they automatically look for cheating or other short cuts.

How about job well done and keep up the good work? A little positivity goes much further then a little negativity Steph, opinion or otherwise.

Bill,

I think the issue is that we're giving these tests too much credence. After all, it's a consistent position of someone who does not believe that these tests are accurate reflections of true learning to be skeptical if the scores are good or bad.

As a BCPSS teacher, of course I'm very happy with the results. But, as an educator, I'm going to be skeptical of the device and what politicans do with it, especially with the huge dumbing-down issues that NCLB brings with it.

Over the years I've taught, I've yet to be satisfied with the standardized tests sent from the state. They are poorly written and the way they drive instruction is often offensive. In addition, states have a huge incentive to make tests easier so that their schools score higher. The problems with NCLB cause this, and to put much stock in either good or bad test scores sort of ignores all these other factors.

But, you're right, we should be very happy with the results. Standardized tests are the fact of public education right now, and if the state of Maryland, BCPSS, and Baltimore students and teachers are able to deal with this beast a little bit better, than we're all better off. I wish, however, that I had half as much faith in the tests as I do in our students.

To Steph,

What good is an opinion if you can't back it up and why express it publicly if it is nothing but hearsay. If you can't provide information to support what you believe then why believe it.

From a parent's perspective, I don't think the tests are any easier. As far as taking extended writing off of the HSA (or the SAT or the MSA for that matter), I think it's a good idea. I think our children should learn to be intelligent, persuasive writers, but I think a classroom teacher needs to do the evaluation. The evaluation criteria for the BCRs and ECRs is limited and simple minded. They have to do this so that droves of underpaid evaluators will come up with consistent grades. I hate that these MSA grading criteria are the way that writing is now being taught.

The teachers and kids both worked hard to achieve these results. I'm proud and feel vindicated after years of having suburban co-workers be appalled that I send my kid to BCPSS schools.

Perhaps the tests weren't perfect, but the results show that the BCPSS is capable of meeting a goal when it is clear and valued.

I'm really surprised by some of the above comments.

First off, regarding Steph. To "Former BCPSS Student/Success Story", nowhere did Steph say anything about cheating or taking shortcuts. It's not fair to put words in her mouth.

To "A former teacher": Steph's opinion wasn't hearsay; she looked at the test and shared her opinion. That's not hearsay. There's also nothing to say she can't back it up.

To "a parent": I'm not a huge fan of ECR and BCR instruction, but I will say that it's not simple-minded where I teach. I'm pretty disappointed that they're saying that writing - which, to be fair, is a full half of what I'm trying to do in an English classroom, to build effective writers - is being shown the door from the tool that evaluated me and my school's performance in the subject. Also, regarding your first sentence... did you see the test?

Sorry if I gave offense - maybe high school is different then elementary & middle school. At these levels the BCR coaching is totally about following rules (at least at the three schools where my kids have received BCR instruction). Content and original thought in BCRs is not worked on. What's important is following structure rules. RACE FEAT. Restate the question, answer the question, cite examples, extend the answer... Insightful analysis, not so much.

I'm not saying their teachers were poor. When not doing BCR coaching the teaching my kids have gotten has been excellent. I believe that these teachers know what's valued in BCRs and so they work on those things.

As far as the difficulty of the test - as with all of my perceptions of what is happening in my kids' schools - it's based on what they tell me. They have never found the MSA's all that hard, and this year's seemed to be in line with previous years.

What are Baltimore City MSA test scores? and is Baltimore City still at the bottom of the ranks?

I'll admit that I have a lot of mixed feelings about the HSAs nixing ECR and BCR writing. While it's not perfect writing, I found that I'd developed the instruction of the BCR down to a science - an insightful thesis statement, two pieces of evidence with deconstruction and explication, a so what? statement at the end. and then I realized that the students really didn't have enough time to write that kind of a 2-paragraph response on the actual tests, though I still did think it was a valid piece of writing for my class.

While ECRs and BCRs weren't perfect, at least there was writing on those big tests. I have a lot of fear about trying to assess an English curriculum with no writing... especially because I think, in general, our students have done much better on the writing than the multiple choice selections.

I am not a fan of standardized tests. Even as a student, it always seemed standardize testing was not really "standard" and was seemed to be biased. I think the core skills of the BCR and ECR are critical components. Its been a little while since Ive taken these tests but everyone can still learn how to write. Now, if they gave the students in different areas different topics to write about, it would make a difference in my opinion.

Now, how about a DOUBLE DIGIT raise for the teachers?!!!

For all of you who want to give in to these miraculous test scores, please use the open door policy in school in August and listen to how our children speak in school, really look on the boards at the way a 5th or 8th grader writes and reads and tell me that we should not be questioning these scores. As a parent who has a son with Aspergers (not in special ed)has alway tested in the 98% percentile, I have been in the schools and heard our children going into 9th grade this year who still cannot read on the grade level that they are in. Yes, we should be happy but also cautious. We are still passing children who read, write and do math on a much lower grade level than they are in. That situation still needs to be looked into and answered honestly, which it probably never will. those who want to close your eyes will be angered next year if the grades do not stay up. Then what?

I know for a fact, (judge me as you'd like) that some schools cheated. The principal and a coach at my school did and I have talked to friends who work at other schools where administrators or people in supervisory positions cheated on the MSA. "Encouraging" students to change answers and going so far as to look at the tests and return them to students to "improve" their answers. The test is timed but in some of these schools students got way more than a few extra minutes. Of course this does not explain the scores in every school but I would be cautious, especially when there were dramatic increases. As someone else stated, talk to a few students, look at how some of them write, look at their report cards, then look at the MSA scores. Especially if this is their second or third year taking the tests, their class grades are still relatively low but they are phenoms on the MSA. Again, this is not for everyone but if a principal or others know that the test reflects him/her and possibly his/her job...

The post from "A Teacher" is certainly inflamatory. I don't know about other schools, but cheating hasn't been been happening in my kid's classes. Disparity between class grades and MSA grades doesn't prove cheating. Behavior problems, never turning in homework, cutting school etc will kill your class grades, but have little affect on your MSA score if you're a sharp kid.

If you really think there is cheating going on I urge you to find someone in a higher position to talk to. I would think that BCPSS or Maryland Department of Education have some sort of ethics hotline that would let you report this anonymously. I'm sure the Sun would love to report the story if it can be verified. If there are principals cheating they need to be the first that get fired. If you report something and it's shown to be true I'm sure that would happen.