Tag: Education Bridgeport

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?

Carmen Perez-Dickson Termination Hearing: Were the Tapes Doctored?
Bridgeport · Students

Carmen Perez-Dickson Termination Hearing: Were the Tapes Doctored?

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During Friday’s termination hearing, Tisdale Principal Carmen Perez-Dickson claimed she thought the tapes were “doctored.” The three now infamous tapes allegedly show the Tisdale Principal “manhandling” two kindergarten students under her care. In order to protect the student’s identities, none of the tapes were released to the public. During Perez-Dickson’s retelling of the February 19th… Continue reading Carmen Perez-Dickson Termination Hearing: Were the Tapes Doctored?

Groundbreaking Celebration at the New Roosevelt School Draws a Crowd
Students

Groundbreaking Celebration at the New Roosevelt School Draws a Crowd

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Thursday’s groundbreaking celebration drew quite a crowd. Over 200 Roosevelt students, parents, teachers and community members were in attendance. The festivities included performances by Roosevelt’s band, as well as their chorus, who sang “Bridgeport Reach” – A song written by Central High School’s choir about Bridgeport students. Mayor Finch, Superintendent Paul Vallas, and Board of… Continue reading Groundbreaking Celebration at the New Roosevelt School Draws a Crowd

The Atlantic Reveals WFP Looking to Oust Vallas
Bridgeport · Reform

The Atlantic Reveals WFP Looking to Oust Vallas

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Last week Andre Baker, Working Families Party and Democratic candidate for Bridgeport’s school board, told the Connecticut Post that he would be willing to work with Superintendent Paul Vallas. [Connecticut Post, 9/12/2013] That may not be the case, according to an article posted on The Atlantic’s website Tuesday. [The Atlantic, 9/17/2013] According to the Working… Continue reading The Atlantic Reveals WFP Looking to Oust Vallas

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 · Students

Recent Study Concludes TFA Teachers Have Positive Impact on Student Achievement

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Teach for America has been hot-button issue in Bridgeport as of late. The district’s move to slightly increase the number of Teach for America (TFA) teachers employed became controversial at last month’s Board of Education meeting. A lot of the fear stems from the perception that TFA teachers are less effective in the classroom because… Continue reading Recent Study Concludes TFA Teachers Have Positive Impact on Student Achievement

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?

Bridgeport · Reform

2+2 Still Doesn’t Equal 5—Commentary On Wendy Lecker’s Latest Article

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Friday, the Stamford Advocate published the second part to Wendy Lecker’s commentary on education entitled, ‘Our Orwellian Education Policy.’ Lecker’s latest attack piece targets the Common Core State Standards. In the article, she argues, “Our state and national leaders have brought double think to our schools, claiming that “Standardization breeds creativity” and “Compliance breeds’ independent… Continue reading 2+2 Still Doesn’t Equal 5—Commentary On Wendy Lecker’s Latest Article

Students

Endorsed campaign calls for CEA to cease spending

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After filing a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, the endorsed slate is now calling for the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) to immediately end all spending on behalf of the challenger slate. It was revealed Wednesday that the CEA spent over $28,000 on independent expenditures on behalf of the challenger-slate. According to a statement… Continue reading Endorsed campaign calls for CEA to cease spending