Alonso addresses 'State of Schools'
Baltimore city schools CEO Andres Alonso delivered his annual 'State of the Schools' address Tuesday, sending a message that despite the district's recent setbacks--including across-the-board test score declines and more schools fabricating their gains under his tenure--city educators should be proud of where the system stands as it prepares to open its doors to students in two weeks.
Alonso, who signed another four-year-contract amid the system's backslide, told hundreds of principals Tuesday that he was their "brother in arms, in what I believe is the most important battle facing our city today." He said that educators should continue to focus on the progress they've made over time, which he acknowledged began before he arrived in the district in 2007.
He then went through a 74-page powerpoint presentation outlining the city's academic and climate data, which noted an increase of suspensions, and slight upticks in attendance rates and the number of diplomas awarded; the system noted decreases in the number of habitually truant students.
As the system prepares for a very critical year, what do you think is the 'state of city schools?'
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
BS Paper @ Baltimore City Schools CEO Andres Alonso annual 'State of the Schools' address minimum premium on PARENTS entries
The Power Point is a searchable document you do not have to read all 74 pages. "I posted a key word entry (PARENT) in the search box." See for your self by replicating that entry. The results told me every thing I needed to know how PARENTS were included as a priority in the 74 page power point.
Posted by: Interested and Engaged Parent of City Schools | August 17, 2011 11:32 PM
First, it's about time the focus was put on the classroom. Too much attention has been paid to form and structural reform none of which led to student achievement.
I am disappointed but not surprised that the family was not included in his linkage charts. It was discussed as a subset of the responsibility of the as of yet non-functioning family institute and the school family councils but should have been shown as important enough be noted at the highest level of his presentation.
I am going to go dig up my Cassandra Jones archives because much of this seems familiar. However, every old is new again.
Posted by: OverTheTop | August 18, 2011 7:47 AM
Thanks for sharing the link. I believe in using data -driven information too but there is a limit to the amount that you can absorb at one sitting. Why didn't he break it down into segments that could be delivered in email "blasts" over the summer so the administrators could look at it?
I can just imagine the massive amounts of information that will be thrown at the teachers when they return to school . I would have liked to have access to some of this information over the summer when I would have the time to read and reflect on it (and perhaps use it to help me become more effective in the classroom)
Posted by: Burnt up, Down and Out Teacher | August 18, 2011 10:58 AM
@ BS Paper article on Andres addresses 'State of Schools' and he minimized and marginalize home to school parents relationships and awarness to increase classroom academic outcomes as being major keys to City Schools improvement rise.
OTT quote:"It was discussed as a subset of the responsibility of the as of yet non-functioning family institute and the school family councils" Is on target.
Posted by: Interested & Engaged Parent of City Schools | August 18, 2011 5:02 PM
It looks like Alonso buried the HSA data. Have pass rates gone down again?
Posted by: Nemesis | August 21, 2011 12:04 AM
Have the HSA scores been published yet?
Posted by: vetern teacher | August 24, 2011 6:59 PM
@ vetern teacher: No, the HSA data has not been released yet. It will be released in October.
Posted by: Erica Green | August 30, 2011 8:26 AM
My school received the HSA pass/fail info for the Spring Algebra test in late June - from BCPSS. Is there any reason why the system is delaying their report on the same data that they released to individual schools?
Posted by: Warren | August 30, 2011 7:40 PM