The Observation Deck

I don't disagree that NCLB is a poor tool. For me the jury is still out on Lakewood's ability to perform. In general though, I don't see how student differences holds up as an explanation for underperforming. With the specialized curriculums, I would have thought that had already been accounted for. Again, maybe NCLB does not.
On the second part, should we be charging a higher tuition to those districts that send their special needs students here? And as for costs of AP courses and the like, I seem to remember a thread that concluded by saying that Lakewood doesn't have many of these courses. That was at least the perception that I got before, correct me if I'm wrong. I could have sworn that many voiced dissapproval of how the exburbs inflate numbers by having such a high percentage of students sit for the AP test and that Lakewood didn't play those games.

AFAIK, Lakewood has a very robust AP program.

Fair enough, must have misinterpreted the earlier thread.

With the specialized curriculum, I would have thought that had already been accounted for. Again, maybe NCLB does not.

Not as far as NCLB. NCLB assumes that the recent Bosnian non-English speaking, economically deprived student will perform at the same levels as the US born, white affluent child. The specialized curriculum is in place in an attempt to realize this unreasonable expectation.

I seem to remember a thread that concluded by saying that Lakewood doesn't have many of these courses

Wrong. You would do well do check out the extent of what is offered by the Lakewood schools. I think you would be quite surprised.

I could have sworn that many voiced disapproval of how the exburbs inflate numbers by having such a high percentage of students sit for the AP test and that Lakewood didn't play those games.

Those figures are available on the States website, but again, I think
Lakewood is favorable. As an example:

AVON 125 participate in AP 99 score a 3 or better
Brunswick 55 participate in AP 26 score a 3 or better
Rocky River 124 participate 104 score a 3 or better
Median 110 participate 94 score a 3 or better
Lakewood 158 participate 105 score a 3 or better

Jeff

Jeff Endress wrote:

I seem to remember a thread that concluded by saying that Lakewood doesn't have many of these courses

Wrong. You would do well do check out the extent of what is offered by the Lakewood schools. I think you would be quite surprised.

Lkwd Schools have an excellent GT/AP program.

Again, I base my perception on what has been posted here regarding the AP courses. A few months back it seemed to be the opinion of those responding that Lakewood did not participate much in the AP courses. Furthermore, it seemed to be suggested that other districts were fudging numbers by having a higher percentage of students sit for the test, regardless if they were prepared. I think that it's great if Lakewood has a strong program for AP courses. It just wasn't presented that way before.

Posted below is a link to an economist giving his opinion on rating schools. It's pertinent to this conversation and sums up some of what I've read here - namely that different populations DO make it difficult to equate different districts. There is no test to define a *good* school, just like there is no test to define a *good* family. There are desirable qualities, but just like you can't stop Uncle Henry from showing up drunk at Thanksgiving, schools can't make parents read to their infants and toddlers.

I'm interested in reading the comments of those who disagree with this economist.

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/economist/40898

Cheers!
Joe

Good article. I suspect most will agree with it.

Schools are often judged by the number of students who are college bound. I don't know where we got this idea that a "good" school must turn out mostly high achieving college bound students.

Whats wrong with providing a well rounded, basic education and vocational skills for students who are not college bound. Nationally, only 25% of adults have an advanced degree. So why do we expect so many students to choose college?


I spoke to a former vice principal at LHS, Mr. Ferguson, if I remember correctly. and he told me (roughly paraphrased) that Lakewood High School served everyone from the gifted student taking college level courses to the student who couldn't tie their shoelaces and they hoped to help each one become a productive member of society by helping them perform to the best of their innate abilities.

That conversation sold me on LHS vs. private school. Here was a school where the individual could flourish, where they would be encouraged to do their best, where there was room for everyone.

I think Lakewood does a very good job and they don't get enough credit for it.

Joe Sgambellone wrote:I'm interested in reading the comments of those who disagree with this economist.

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/economist/40898

Cheers!
Joe

The article is right on. Within certain limits there is no such thing as a good school district or a bad school district. There are only students who are easy to teach and students who are hard to teach.

If Brunswick spent the money Cleveland Heights spends Brunswick would be spending $45 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR MORE THAN IT DOES NOW. And yet Cleveland Heights is on the bottom of the list and Brunswick is closer to the top middle.

Lakewood does a good job in providing an education to those students who are prepared to learn. But so does every district.

The reality is that some students are never going to pass those exams no matter how much is spent or how good the teaching.

Bill Call wrote: If Brunswick spent the money Cleveland Heights spends Brunswick would be spending $45 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR MORE THAN IT DOES NOW. And yet Cleveland Heights is on the bottom of the list and Brunswick is closer to the top middle.

So in this case, what's your solution? What do you think CH would be like if funding were cut - or if funding were increased? Maybe with more funding there could be a larger outreach to younger kids and that might have an impact. Maybe if Brunswick instituted more after school programs with extra funding, then all Brunswick kids would get scholarships to Ivy League schools.

Cutting funding, which, in Ohio's case, literally puts money in taxpayers' pockets, is politically expedient and popular, but I'm not sure it's a good solution.

From the district's website, a list of AP offerings:

http://www.lnoca.org/lakewood/lhs/SCHOL ... DEX.HTM#ap

Some disclosure first: I am the executive director of Lakewood Alumni Foundation. I have three children in the schools: an 8th grader, 10th grader, and a senior.

I have nothing but positive things to say about my eldest's experience in the Lakewood City Schools. He has been well prepared, has had access to outstanding teachers, has taken/will have taken a variety of Advanced Placement classes, participates in varsity athletics (cross country & track), enjoys participating in student government and the AYF Leadership group. I credit his Lakewood education for the interest he's getting from some terrific universities.

A Lakewood City Schools education is a great value for our families and an incredibly generous gift from our community, for which I am most grateful.

Joe Sgambellone wrote:

Bill Call wrote: If Brunswick spent the money Cleveland Heights spends Brunswick would be spending $45 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR MORE THAN IT DOES NOW. And yet Cleveland Heights is on the bottom of the list and Brunswick is closer to the top middle.

So in this case, what's your solution? What do you think CH would be like if funding were cut - or if funding were increased? Maybe with more funding there could be a larger outreach to younger kids and that might have an impact. Maybe if Brunswick instituted more after school programs with extra funding, then all Brunswick kids would get scholarships to Ivy League schools.

Cutting funding, which, in Ohio's case, literally puts money in taxpayers' pockets, is politically expedient and popular, but I'm not sure it's a good solution.

NCLB which is what were really discussing here, does not take spending into account. The mandate is plain, "just do it". Whether Mr Call wants to accept it or not, if it takes a million a year to get a single ESL or disabled student to make adequate progress, the state and feds dont really care. Not their problem. Just do it, whatever it takes.

At some point you have to look at this with a clear eye. Poor and minority students EVERYWHERE, not just in Lakewood. The moon isnt made of green cheese. Facts are facts. Comparing Brunswick to Lakewood in terms of schools or ANYTHING is pointless. Theyre diffrent places. Brunswick also has more motels than Lakewood. Does that make Lakewood worse than Brunswick or just different?

And Mr Call, I have now asked twice with no response from you. How do you respond to the fact that Brunswick has operated their schools so cheaply to the point that they are now desperate enough for cash that they are proposing an income tax increase? If you were living in Brunswick, would you support it?

Dee Martinez wrote:And Mr Call, I have now asked twice with no response from you. How do you respond to the fact that Brunswick has operated their schools so cheaply to the point that they are now desperate enough for cash that they are proposing an income tax increase? If you were living in Brunswick, would you support it?

Brunswick is projecting a surplus of $386,000 in 2011. Lakewood is projecting a deficit of $20 million. It would take a 2% income tax rate just to pay the deficit down to 0, for one year and then we are back in a deficit.

At least that's the way I read the 5 year projections. Try this link to see if you read the data the way I do. Also look at the level of detail provided by Brunswick and the level of detail provided by Lakewood.

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates ... tent=33237

I would not support an income tax increase if I lived in Brunswick unless the employees agreed to a two year wage freeze and to pay 25% of the health insurance premiums with a policy that has a reasonable co pay and deductible. Of course if they did those things a tax increase would be unnecessary. I suppose you think that sounds harsh but millions of people in the private sector have done exactly that.

I don't see any reason government employees should be exempt from economic reality.

I have little experience with Lakewood schools. I have a child entering kindergarden this year. We decided agaist Lakewood schools for several resaons. First, a 2-1/2 hour class will not meet our needs. We are 6 houses away from the cut off line for all day Kg. Second, the open enrollment policy is a joke. You must sign a commitment stating you will stay at the school you choose for k-6. We will have to see about 1st grade, but I have a low tolerence for b.s. and I am willing to pay to put my child in a school with a lower child teacher ratio. Sorry Lakewood.

Admittedly, Bill raises some good questions regarding the financial picture of Lakewood’s schools. I hope these questions will gain attention helping us all see a clearer financial picture. However, the performance of Lakewood’s schools should be judged by the expectations of our community and the needs of our school population and not in the light of some district 30-miles down the road.

Bill, again, your financial questions seem valid. But, how can a one develop a budget without developing a vision of expectations for our district? Is it the “cheaper chickenâ€Â￾ or “Cadillacâ€Â￾ or something in between? You seem to be suggesting that we simply can’t afford what we’ve already built and what we’ve built is not working when compared to other districts. Not nearly as informed of the financial picture as you, I am evidencing that what the Lakewood district has built is working.


This article either directly or indirectly reinforces that:

In most cases “economically disadvantagedâ€Â￾ students are not prepared for Kindergarten or first grade. (As an aside, Minneapolis had made significant gains in this area largely through its early childhood education program.)

Student success is largely dependent on parents being a positive influence/support.

It makes little, if any, sense to simply measure one district against another without seriously considering the socio-economic profiles of the districts being compared.

The vast majority of school districts in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and the nation are surpassing the basic standards.

The basic standards are largely disconnected from employer skill requirements or even the skill set needed to be successful in college.

Students do better in schools/classrooms where teachers create individual lesson plans in conjunction with overall classroom pacing charts.


The article, with its limited focus, does not articulate:

The same skills set is needed for all students to be successful in high school, the military, college, tech. college and in life – critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, use of technology to accomplish thinking, leadership, ethics, personal productivity, self-directed learning, economic literacy.

Many of these 21st Century skills are required in most honors courses, but, by and large, are not embedded in the way traditional core curriculum is taught. These skills are also largely ignored when measuring student success via standardized achievement tests.

Ninety percent of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. now require a 2-year college degree or higher (this includes the manufacturing sector in other parts of the U.S.).

The article states that a school in Detroit sends 95% of its students to college. How many are finishing with a degree in 4-5 years? I would venture to say half or less. High school curriculum is not adequately preparing students for success after high school.
Any school/district success in offering basic curriculum plus 21st Century skills is accomplished as a result of individual teacher/school/district innovation and not via an articulated state-wide policy.


Soap Box

When the term “failingâ€Â￾ is used, it’s basically focused on large urban and diverse school districts. However, I submit that the large urban school districts are not failing. Rather, they are doing exactly what they were designed to do – sift students. Over the past two generations, 1/3 would drop out and enter the workforce (LTV, Ford). Half of the remaining 2/3rds enter college and earn a degree. The other half completes some college. The problem is that the U.S. and global economy are requiring more of a skilled workforce. Most manufacturing jobs require some college credential. We’ve radically changed the requirements for meaningful employment without radically changing the education system (K-16). Our state is more focused on content – four years of science, four years of English, etc. – while employers are focused on skill outcomes – the 21st Century skill set I listed earlier.

Again, most of the nation’s districts are meeting or exceeding the basic standards. Lakewood top to bottom is a successful district by any of the required academic standards. However, the 40 largest school districts in the nation enroll more than 25% of this country’s K-12 students. In Cleveland, one of the largest 40, 81% of the student population is either African American or Hispanic. Addressing the achievement gap (all districts have a racial achievement gap, even Lakewood), overall educational attainment and access to quality primary and secondary education is about black and brown children.

Heck, just over forty years ago, black children weren’t even allowed in public schools. Now, we provide these children with ill equipped, dilapidated schools with the funding source based on local property taxes, a system that has been deemed unconstitutional how many times? And, instead of fixing the schools, vouchers are provided to a few thousand parents – like Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the situation. We wonder why the children of parents who these large systems failed are also failing.

In Cleveland, those families with the means to leave for better school districts have indeed left. These parents knew their councilperson, school board representative and neighbors and had students who were generally at the top of their classes. Not only has Cleveland lost folks with “social capitalâ€Â￾ but its District’s large comprehensive K-8 and high schools lost many of its top performers and highly engaged families.

Public schools must be the schools of choice for all. If not, those who can’t leave won’t be able to participate in any economy, in any society. We can’t leave large urban districts to continue to deteriorate. It’s a human capital issue, yes. But this is really the civil rights issue of the 21st Century.