Comments on: Annenberg in Chicago: Not radical, not effective http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/10/annenberg-in-chicago-not-radical-not-effective/ Free-linking and thinking on education by Joanne Jacobs Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:11:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Margo/Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/10/annenberg-in-chicago-not-radical-not-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-84344 Margo/Mom Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:30:48 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=5927#comment-84344 I have read Stanley Kurtz. He is more than a bit egotistical about his "discoveries." Check the Annenberg website and you will find a wealth of information publically posted. As I read it, the CAC funding was targetted towards increasing the capacity of neighborhoods to be involved in schools (and schools to be involved/responsive to their neighborhoods). This responded to the political reality that a good bit of decision-making in Chicago had already been devolved to the building level, with an expectation of involvement of local advisory committees. I offer this because I have seen CAC critiqued on everything from reading scores to using funds for math curriculum to (now) drop-out rates. Can a CAC-like approach contribute to decresed drop-out rates? Well, I don't know. It is certainly possible that that the infrastructure created by CAC-like programs could support efforts to keep kids in school. There are some programs that have some research behind them at this time, not so much as anyone might prefer--but more than was available during implementation of the CAC. But it is a fairly irresponsible evaluation tenet to decide years after a program has been implemented to determine what the success criterial will be. I have read Stanley Kurtz. He is more than a bit egotistical about his “discoveries.” Check the Annenberg website and you will find a wealth of information publically posted. As I read it, the CAC funding was targetted towards increasing the capacity of neighborhoods to be involved in schools (and schools to be involved/responsive to their neighborhoods). This responded to the political reality that a good bit of decision-making in Chicago had already been devolved to the building level, with an expectation of involvement of local advisory committees. I offer this because I have seen CAC critiqued on everything from reading scores to using funds for math curriculum to (now) drop-out rates.

Can a CAC-like approach contribute to decresed drop-out rates? Well, I don’t know. It is certainly possible that that the infrastructure created by CAC-like programs could support efforts to keep kids in school. There are some programs that have some research behind them at this time, not so much as anyone might prefer–but more than was available during implementation of the CAC. But it is a fairly irresponsible evaluation tenet to decide years after a program has been implemented to determine what the success criterial will be.

]]> By: Frank Zavisca http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/10/annenberg-in-chicago-not-radical-not-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-84315 Frank Zavisca Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:17:16 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=5927#comment-84315 National Review's Stanley Kurtz has found all we need to know about the Annenberg Foundation, despite obstruction by the Obama campaign. Bottom Line (aside from Ayres's past): Chicago's public schools have about the hightest dropout rate of any American city. Does anyone need ot say more about the "success" of the "reform"? National Review’s Stanley Kurtz has found all we need to know about the Annenberg Foundation, despite obstruction by the Obama campaign.

Bottom Line (aside from Ayres’s past):

Chicago’s public schools have about the hightest dropout rate of any American city.

Does anyone need ot say more about the “success” of the “reform”?

]]> By: Margo/Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/10/annenberg-in-chicago-not-radical-not-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-84276 Margo/Mom Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:07:39 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=5927#comment-84276 anon: There are other sources of information. The Annenberg Foundation has posted on its website a pretty good chunk of documentation from the project. Factcheck.org addresses some aspects as it has been brounght into political campaigning. anon:

There are other sources of information. The Annenberg Foundation has posted on its website a pretty good chunk of documentation from the project. Factcheck.org addresses some aspects as it has been brounght into political campaigning.

]]> By: anon http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/10/annenberg-in-chicago-not-radical-not-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-84263 anon Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:03:58 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=5927#comment-84263 As my teenage daughters would say, "Yeah, right." Why would anyone outside of teacher ed put stock in anything EdWeek would have to say about education? As my teenage daughters would say, “Yeah, right.” Why would anyone outside of teacher ed put stock in anything EdWeek would have to say about education?

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