Category: Data & Achievement

Education Next Poll Results, ECAA, and State Level Accountability

September 8, 2015

This summer, I wrote a piece in favor of the Senate’s modified version of NCLB (as it is currently up for renewal).  I summarized its position in the following statement… In light of last minute amendments, the (Senate’s) final version maintains NCLB’s position to disclose student performance and expose gaps by way of standardized tests.  … More Education Next Poll Results, ECAA, and State Level Accountability

For the Love of Data

August 24, 2015

Earlier this summer, Diane Ravitch highlighted in a blog post several points made by Susan Ochshorn in her writing of Big Data and Little Kids.  In short, an argument was made that a push for data based achievement creates casualties among students. While I have an affinity towards all children, my work as an educator … More For the Love of Data

Testing as a Civil Rights Strategy is Not about Achievement

July 23, 2015

As a first year school director, one of my teachers gave me some interesting feedback. He said, “Dye, you don’t do it like white people.” I waited for him to explain because I wanted to know if the knot that had formed in my stomach was warranted or not. I was ok with being critiqued on … More Testing as a Civil Rights Strategy is Not about Achievement

Is Test-Based Accountability a Civil Rights Issue?

July 15, 2015

I recently wrote “The Standardization Trap” where I talked about standardized tests in how they adversely influence instruction.  One of my main arguments was against the notion of tests being used as the primary measure of achievement.  In that students need access to literacies beyond those that are captured by standardized tests, centering them as the … More Is Test-Based Accountability a Civil Rights Issue?

The Standardization Trap

July 13, 2015

One reason why we support charter schools and the school reform movement here in the Empowerment Network is that reform is theorized to radically serve all students without excuses.  Minority and low-income students need a schooling model that is based on their achievement—not based on the achievement of others.  I make this distinction frequently because … More The Standardization Trap