Tag: connecticut education reform

A History Of Inequity & Resistance: Community and Legislators Get Together For Round Table On Education Justice
Bridgeport · In the State

A History Of Inequity & Resistance: Community and Legislators Get Together For Round Table On Education Justice

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What are the emerging patterns of control and resistance? How does the history [of education inequity] connect to issues you identified as being most important? These are just some of the questions a room of about a hundred attendees contemplated at Housatonic Community College last Saturday morning — the start of what Founder and Organizing… Continue reading A History Of Inequity & Resistance: Community and Legislators Get Together For Round Table On Education Justice

School Metrics Reveal More Students Staying in District: Is School-Choice Good for District?
Reform · Students

School Metrics Reveal More Students Staying in District: Is School-Choice Good for District?

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The Student Achievement and Special Populations Ad Hoc Committee met Monday to discuss the “district dashboard.” The dashboard was created by former Chief Operating Officer, Don Kennedy. It gives a snapshot of the district over the past three years and includes all sorts of data, including drop-out rates, attendance, suspension and several others. One metric… Continue reading School Metrics Reveal More Students Staying in District: Is School-Choice Good for District?

Vallas Meets with Parents During “State of the Schools” Community Meetings
Students

Vallas Meets with Parents During “State of the Schools” Community Meetings

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Last week, Superintendent Paul Vallas began a new round of “State of the Schools” community meetings, similar to those held two years ago when Vallas first came to the district. The first was held on Thursday at Jettie S. Tisdale Elementary, and the next will be held at Black Rock School on Thursday at 5:30pm.… Continue reading Vallas Meets with Parents During “State of the Schools” Community Meetings

Bridgeport Schools to Receive $11 million in Federal Grants
Budgets · Students

Bridgeport Schools to Receive $11 million in Federal Grants

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Tuesday, Superintendent Paul Vallas announced Bridgeport Public Schools will receive an $11.1 million federal grant over the next three years. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program. The district will receive $3.2 million in the first year, and then $3.9 million in the second and third years. This… Continue reading Bridgeport Schools to Receive $11 million in Federal Grants

Reform

My Commentary on The Atlantic’s Coverage of the Bridgeport School Board Election

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On Tuesday, The Atlantic offered a one-sided commentary on Bridgeport’s Board of Education primary election results. The article opens with the statement: “Progressives and unions say a primary in Connecticut last week shows momentum is turning against the corporate-backed charter-school movement.” [The Atlantic, 9/17/2013] Of course, unions and the Working Families Party would promote their… Continue reading My Commentary on The Atlantic’s Coverage of the Bridgeport School Board Election

If Elected, Would Garner, Hennessey and Baker Oust Vallas Before Year’s End?
Bridgeport · Budgets · Reform

If Elected, Would Garner, Hennessey and Baker Oust Vallas Before Year’s End?

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The challenger slate, Howard Gardner, Dave Hennessey and Andre Baker, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in a landslide. Many, including the Connecticut Post, are calling this victory proof of a growing anti-Vallas, anti-Finch consensus. I’m not certain we can assume that much, considering turnout was an anemic 11-12%. Most likely, Tuesday was the result of a… Continue reading If Elected, Would Garner, Hennessey and Baker Oust Vallas Before Year’s End?

Bridgeport · Reform

Park City Prep Charter School Model for Success?

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Are Bridgeport public schools failing our children? Critics of education reform tend to blame poverty and external factors as the main reasons students perform poorly in urban school districts. I do not want to discount poverty as a factor, which is certainly an issue that affects school performance. However, it’s clear that we could be… Continue reading Park City Prep Charter School Model for Success?

Reform

New Study by CER: Are Expulsion Rates Really Driving Charter School Success?

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Charter school critics often point to high suspension and expulsion rates as the reasons charters tend to outperform their traditional public school counterparts. Anti-reform advocates have claimed that charters get rid of challenging students (English language learners, Special Ed, etc.) during testing by suspending or expelling them, which in turn artificially raises test scores. A… Continue reading New Study by CER: Are Expulsion Rates Really Driving Charter School Success?

Reform

Challenger Slate Leads BOE Race in Unofficial Results

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Unofficial results show the challenger slate winning Tuesday’s Board of Education Democratic primary by a 1,000 vote margin. The challenger slate beat out the endorsed slate almost 2-to-1 despite the endorsed slate’s initial 841 absentee ballot lead. Turnout was very low; roughly only 10-12% of Bridgeport Democrats voted in Tuesday’s primary. The challengers, Andre Baker,… Continue reading Challenger Slate Leads BOE Race in Unofficial Results

Bridgeport · Reform · Students

Connecticut Post Q&A reveals insights on BOE candidates

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The Connecticut Post’s Q&A session with Bridgeport’s Board of Education candidates reveal some interesting insights on the six candidates running in next week’s Sept 10th primary. One thing that’s particularly striking—While all candidates seem to agree that smaller class-sizes and more parental involvement would be ideal—the slates are on opposite ends of the spectrum when… Continue reading Connecticut Post Q&A reveals insights on BOE candidates