We're No. 1, but we only get a B
For the record, I figured I'd post the letter grades that Education Week gave Maryland schools in its annual Quality Counts report released this week. Though we rank No. 1 among states, our schools still only have a B average, compared with a C for the nation as a whole.
Our best showing is in the "chance for success" index, measuring such things as parent education and children's access to preschool. We get an A; the nation gets a C.
For school finance, Maryland earned a B, the nation C-plus. K12 achievement: a B for Maryland, a D-plus for the nation. Standards, accountability and assessments: B's all around.
In the "teaching profession" category, measuring accountability for quality, incentives and efforts to build and support teaching capacity, we're actually below the national average: a C-minus, compared with the country's C.
Is this a report card worthy of a valedictorian?
Categories: Around the Nation, Around the Region
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Comments
I know that BCPSS isn't a standard to hold the entire state of Maryland to, but I am shocked to find that my school system with all it's failures and cutbacks is somehow part of the #1 school ranking in the country. I hope this 'victory' inspires our Gov. to remember where he came from, and perhaps spread some of our high funding back to the city schools.
Overall, I'm appaled. I've been looking at schools and school systems in other cities and they are far superior to Baltimore's. Our county schools must be doing *really* well to compensate for BCPSS' shortcommings
Posted by: Brandon | January 9, 2009 9:31 AM
In typical Sun fashion, the focus is on the negative…
Given that valedictorian means "the student usually having the highest
rank in a graduating class" - Yes, the fact is Maryland scored the
highest rank.
How about asking whether an A in Chance for Success (which seems like
a pretty comprehensive category) is a worthy rank?
How about mentioning the fact that Maryland is #1 in Transition and
Alignment (again, seems like a pretty comprehensive category) and the
only state that addresses 13 of the 14 indicators used.
Maybe if you highlighted the fact that Maryland is doing pretty well
in some very important education areas, in turn more people would be
encouraged to become teachers, which in turn could help the area where
Maryland scored the lowest....How about that?
Posted by: petecooke@yahoo.com | January 9, 2009 11:18 AM
Each year we are forced to hire hundreds of new teachers in BCPS. We can find them. That's not the problem. Our problem is in the retention of teachers. Lack of support is one of the major reasons new teachers leave teaching. The "report card" validates what we in the profession have known all along. We must create effective mentoring programs to keep these young teachers. A college degree and a highly qualified status do not necessarily make a successful teacher.
Posted by: bwt | January 9, 2009 9:31 PM
I'd hate to see what other states are doing for Maryland to receive such honors.
Posted by: current teacher | January 11, 2009 2:57 PM