Marshall High and other turnaround high schools, in Chicago and nationally, face a thorny dilemma. Higher-performing students are being siphoned off through competition, driving down enrollment and raising tough policy questions about the future of these schools.
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Independence, Impact, & School-Driven Focus
New York's new "Research Alliance"Â will resemble Chicago's Consortium in many ways, but with some key differences, according to the Consortium.Â
They describe the New York effort as a replication, not an exact clone.
Both organizations will have broad data sharing privileges, including both public and private information. Of course, New York won't have data going back to the early 90s. The Consortium has a steering committee on which CPS and CTU and ISBE sit, while the Research Alliance has a governing board which may have greater authority over the work that is done. Both organizations have agreed to a "no-surprises" rule to avoid disputes or over-reactions based on new findings.Â
Balancing impact and independence is one key. Another key to making this work, according to one insider, is to make sure that the research efforts conducted are based on school needs, not researchers' interests. More tidbits: Folks in St. Louis and Baltimore are looking to do the same type of thing.
Have you had any dealings with the Consortium, or its research? Any impact, or just another group of folks doing surveys? I'm curious to know.Â
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DISTRICT LAWSUIT
Does anyone know about the lawsuit filed on May 29, 2008 against CPS & AIO Karen Saffold?