In a message dated 1/26/2005 8:57:46 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_sum/2004.html Took a look at both participation rates and disaggregated scores. New Jersey is doing better. Although both NJ/MN have above average scores (NJ: 3.26 MN: 3.08 NATL: 2.96, all students, all exams). Took a quick look at Arkansas (2.36) only because last I heard all of their schools were making AYP. Spent some time last spring looking for "model states" - where should we be looking for best practices (know it's not Virginia, Texas, but can't remember / don't have time to dig for which came up with). New Jersey may have been one; believe Michigan was another. For those who don't know the AP Exams (Advanced Placement Exams) are for the most part taken by students enrolled in AP Classes. The district issued a report on AP tests in October. It's at: _http://www.rea.spps.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={E034A91B-61BC-43C3-AC19-3 7A9FDBC30F0_ (http://www.rea.spps.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={E034A91B-61BC-43C3-AC19-37A9FDBC30F0) } One of the things we've argued is that it's important for the district to monitor not only how many students taking/passing the exams by ethnicity/income, but also a. as a % of total enrollment, and b. by taking/passing all exams in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies) v. one course/exam, and c. that this should be reported both in the aggregate and x school There's lots of research that shows student achievement is correlated with Rigor of Curriculum (challenging courses) [It's one of those "duh" research questions from a mom's perspective.] SPPS fundamentally needs to a. increase the academic rigor of regular courses b. increase participation in challenging courses (AP, IB, Quest, etc.) of students from our cultural communities, all core courses, not just "sampling" Know they're working on these, but again, we need to be asking what can we do to support? What messages are we sending kids about high school? Are we telling all kids that high school is a time when they should be working hard to prepare for post-secondary? Are we telling our kids that they should be registering for classes that "push their edges" to the fullest extent possible? There's this guy named Csikszentmihalyi (yes, I looked up how to spell it) out of the University of Chicago that wrote a book called, "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience." In it, he described how people are happiest when they're working at the edges of their ability. What I remember most is the analogy of the swimming pool: If we toss a child into the deep end before they learn to swim they'll flounder and panic. If we force them to stay at the shallow end when they're accomplished swimmers, they'll get bored. The key is to keep them swimming at the edges of their abilities. That's what I've tried to do with my kids in just about everything they do, from academics, to sports, to moving toward the deep woods when camping. That's not to say we haven't had our ups and downs. They're teenagers and really tired of my pushing; also lost a daughter in the woods for 2.5 hours last August - panic time for mom. I just parent by trial and error. Try it, see if it works. If it doesn't, try something else. And so we bumble along. But what really gets me is the culture of mediocrity. When my kids report that it's "uncool" to do well in school. My problem is that low expectations, like racism, are part of what kids bring to school. It's what they get from and learn from their parents at home. How do we change that? How do we change our culture as a community to support high expectations for all students? I keep going back to the three-legged stool - schools, family, community. I think I've exceeded my limit of posts for the day! --Jennifer Armstrong Payne/Phalen _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
