More Schools Making DOE Grade; Unions Cite Fairer Standard

Fifty-seven percent of the city's schools have improved their performance or remained at the highest level over the past year, the Department of Education revealed in releasing its second batch of public school progress reports Nov. 12.

ERNEST LOGAN: DOE addressed union's concerns.

United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who has criticized the DOE's grading techniques, called the reports "an improvement over last year's model," because of "open dialogue between the UFT and the DOE on this issue."

Eighty-six percent of schools graded A during 2006-07 retained their top-tier status for the year that ended in June.

82% Get B or Better

In all, 39 percent of high schools received As, up from 24 percent last year, with 43 percent receiving Bs. Only 14 of 284 schools received Ds or Fs, with 75 percent of the D or F-graded schools from last year improving at least one letter grade.

The DOE also cited figures showing that 3,500 more students graduated within four years in 2007-2008 as compared to the year before. The introduction of the Regents diploma was credited for this increase.

Ms. Weingarten said in a statement that more work needed to be done on the reports before they truly reflected school achievement, suggesting that the DOE consider "giving additional credit and recognition to schools that are doing more for high-achieving students. Students and teachers who are working hard to push their limits should get credit for that work."

In March, Ms. Weingarten proposed a different rating system for schools, and she reiterated that idea Nov. 13. "I hope that moving forward, the DOE will move towards an accountability system that centers on the four distinct pillars I proposed earlier this year: Academic achievement; Safety, order and discipline; Teamwork for student achievement; and Department of Education accountability," she said. "We need a balance of the many other factors that constitute a successful school."

CSA: System Much Better

Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan said that he had advised DOE officials on where they should make changes to their system and said he was glad that they had listened. "Significant improvements [were] incorporated in this year's reports such as modifications to the PR methodology and peer group calculations," he said. "I commend [Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein] for his responsiveness and commitment to improving upon last year's reports."

But Mr. Logan echoed Ms. Weingarten's sentiment that more had to be done. "There are still major concerns about the weight of standardized tests and some schools not receiving Progress Report grades. We all believe in accountability, and understand that it is necessary to identify areas that need improvement, but it must be equitable, accurate, transparent and understandable," he said.