What is the state of the teacher contract? In his address, Alonso mentions that the new contract will introduce a new way at how we pay teachers. what does this mean? will this new contract be accepted by teachers or willl a storm errupt? I do know one thing- the Baltimore teacher's Union is clueless and will probably conceed our last protections just to keep the old salary scale again like we did at the last contract approval.

I think it was his interpretation of the data to make the system look great. Enrollment is up? Sure now that we have added 5k pre-k students. Is that really a "proxy" for satisfaction? Dropouts are down, yeah technically. What school would "remove" a student from role when they are worth $$. Keep the kid and let them rot on the roll till they age out. Look at the overage in HS data, hmm bet it's up. Fair Student Funding, ha. While the reported dollar amount schools may get goes up, the actuall cost of labor has caused the real "purchasing power" of schools to deminish. Most have lost staff and are continuing to cut, it's not just enrollment either, another creative answer.

The system get's 5k from the State for every free and reduced lunch student, the school who teaches and works with that student get's $750 of it and the rest is "distributed" to the system. Much to the kids who don't get free and reduced lunch. The funds that the State is giving us for those students is going to support the system, not the schools. Oh, and for the argument that the extra goes to per pupil funding I say BS. It's a redistribution and those schools with a high percentage lose out, plain and simple.

The revolving door leadership in schools is a direct result of horrible management and leadership at the top. We are treated horrible, and given zero opportunity for real professional growth. Hence the wave of folks leaving, yes some were not so effective, but many were.

How are all those new schools doing? Ha, many struggle and if you look some of the neighborhoods are out scoring them. Heck and the neighborhoods even have to play cleanup.

No discussion about NAACAII closing last year because it was crazy. None... The system has free reign because the local media so want AAA to succeed, they can't handle the thought of reporting on the troubles.

Schools have only gotten better because of the people in the schools, in fact it's despite the system. People in the schools working for kids.

The State of the Schools is a bit better, but the PR group is fantastic. Even the Dr. Wilson move was spun to make the system look good.

High school attendance will continue to be abysmal as long as the City Schools does not have an effective enforcement of attendance policies. We can't even fail students on the basis of attendance and we don't hold parents accountable for attendance at any level of education. Students know that they can be absent 30% of the time and still pass. What can we do to make students and parents understand what we all know? Attendance is crucial to doing well in the classroom at all grade levels.

BS paper @ What's your take on the "state of the schools?"

On not "Making the Grade." The answer in my opinion is (Incomplete.) Dito says Arne Duncan U.S. Secretary of ED.

No reporting on the principal of IBE? Word in the system is she was led out by a group on Friday with her stuff following shortly after.

As a friendly suggestion, BS please get some sources besides Sarbanes and Alonso. Network and get to know the principals, and report! We need it to improve and grow. Right now the lies are winning, looks good in the short run, but it will hurt kids in the long term.

I think the CEO has finally read the most recent work by Dr. Ravitch and realized that he was on the wrong path to REform. It is great that his new priorities have been the priorities of parents for many years. Hopefully he will realize that the bridge from school- to- home has to be re-built.

Were there any leaders from any of the many parent groups at this event. Without the involvement of parents nothing will be achieved.

@School Leader - Thank you, for making it plain and simple. People outside the system see it improving with great strides with AAA. Those that are in the system, actually working with the schools, see the real truth.

What we really need is the connection between school and home. But unfortunately, that is not happening. Some principals refuse to allow parents to volunteer in their school, and AAA knows this, because these principals are not shy about saying so.

Other principals only want parents in their school on the day that AAA is visiting. How do they know he is visiting, when he promised when he first arrived in Baltimore, that he would be on the sneak attack, and not let schools know when he is coming. I have been in schools when they have been given the heads up, and the principal tells teachers not to send any disruptive students to the office while he is there. Other times, principals have advised parents to keep their disruptive child home on the day of AAA's visit.

Without parent involvement in schools, our children will continue to fail. The Office of Partnerships says it has someone from their office assigned to each school, that goes out to encourage parent involvement. What it really does is seek partnerships for the system. I have not seen anyone come out to discuss parent involvement. When you visit the Office of Partnerships, it feels like you are there to get a free handout. It is all about politics. It is so unwelcoming. It is dark and dreary. The staff is very condesending.

Parent involvement is free. It is the best resource a school can have. Parents are excited to help out. Students love to see their parents in the hallway, in class, on trips. Grandparents are the best resource. Why are they kept out of schools?

But most of all, how many students have parents that work for the system? The system that so calls promotes parent involvement, if you work for the system, you can't get time off to volunteeer, attend a school meeting during the day, or participate in your child's activity. You are reprimanded for taking the time to participate in your child's school activity.

This from a school system that promotes parent involvement. Go figure.

Thank you LOZ and School Leader, finally others who are coming out and admitting what I have been saying for years. More informed parents and more staff are opening their eyes to the truth with or without the School Boards version of what they want so many to believe. Thank you parents and staff for opening your eyes to the truth and not letting the politics takeover our school system without a fight or acknowledgement that we know what is happening and will not be quiet anymore. School starts next week and there will be so many that will open without a permanent principal and adequate staff for the children of Baltimore City, Stay tuned, its gonna be a bumpy disorderly school year if we all do not take responsibility and stop believing everything we let the papers tell us what the truth is. Those in the system know more than those who continue to believe what they want to.