Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.
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What Arne Should Have Done
By: Alexander Russo / July 13, 2009
There's a USA Today story out today that slams Duncan (& Obama) for
touting ISAT test score increases that they must have known had been
juiced. But maybe it wasn't their fault but rather NCLB's and the
state's, says the Tim Knowles, head of the U of C's K12 education
empire:
"In
essence," he says, "many states have lowered (passing) scores on
standardized tests to create the public appearance they are meeting
federal standards. This practice sells children short -- and the states that engage in it are, ironically, leaving themselves behind."
Perhaps. But even if so, couldn't Duncan have reported the
test scores out with some caveats, so that parents and the public knew
what they were getting? We don't know Knowles' response to the real
question.
What Arne Should Have Done
Because of political pressure to report positive outcomes Mr. Duncan really could do nothing in relation to presenting the public with a more balanced picture of CPS academic achievement based on ISAT and PSAE scores. But the Civic Committee really uses the same tests to measure charters which it says are doing just great for the most part.
If Mr. Duncan presented a more complex and realistic picture of CPS achievement to the public he probably would have been very shortly unemployed. This has all worked out very well for Mr. Duncan and for himself and his family he has done the right thing.
There was no upside for Mr. Duncan in being more balanced in reporting test scores. He would have been attacked from city hall and the media. For the most part the media paid only passing attention to the problems with state tests, and wrote their reports on test scrore increases from CPS PR releases. Really I think if the media had been consistent in questioning the reported test score increases Duncan and the Mayor would have been more balanced in their claims.
Rod Estvan
Access Living
What Arne Should Have Done
'tis time to let Ronnie know who the many consultants are:
Dr. P. Kubistal--has been a consultant 4ever. Retired how many decades ago?
Anyone else care to add?
Alexander--start a string please?
What Arne Should Have Done
it's legal in the state of IL to collect a pension and act as a consultant in the same district (same pension plan), but it should NOT be the case. CTU and CTPF are guilty here by not pushing the issue with IELRB and/or making it clear in legislation. Really not fair to working age folks at all.
What Arne Should Have Done
I had hoped that George would have the time to expose these consultant salaries once he published all the salaries for the higher ups a few months ago.
Many are making six figues as you state without accountability--a real sin in this economy.
Isn't there a rule tha tyou had to wait a year before you could be employed as a consultant with CPS after you retired? I guess no one cares about that.
What Arne Should Have Done
People who retired, should find something to do.
Let people who need jobs feed their families.
These retiree's with six figure consulting fees for part-time work, is criminal. Driving luxury cars and buying vacation homes, while thousands are getting laid off and losing their homes.
How Damn greedy can you get!
What Arne Should Have Done
does NOT have the same rules--the consultant list is rediculous and it is harming good people who were doing their jobs and who are just months away from the pension. Funny how them that's got (a pension) shall get and get and get...
Is there a rule with CTPF that does NOT allow this?
What Arne Should Have Done
in other states when you pull a pension and get consulting fees( the regular operating procedure for CPS) you go to prison.
collecting an annual pension of $133,000 while working as a $150,000 per year consultant for the district.
unanimously approved a resolution hiring Cifonelli's firm
Convict Daniel Cifonelli - Former Assistant Superintendent
From Newsday:
Daniel Cifonelli, Port Jeff Station, N.Y., the former assistant superintendent for business, pleaded guilty to five counts of second degree grand larceny and one count of third degree grand larceny. Prosecutors say after Cifonelli retired, he collected a pension while taking a salary from the district (as a consultant). In all, he took more than $700,000.
What Arne Should Have Done
...and it's not like Knowles was brought here because he was so effective in Boston.
What Arne Should Have Done
I concur regarding University of Chicago's Tim K. The Hyde Park folks covering up for each other. Too much playing with the standardized tests! Out all of these guys from the non-educator administrators who do harm and make real systemic school reform impossible. If we give Duncan the benefit of the doubt that he knew what was required to bring about real systemic reform, then he had no backbone!
What Arne Should Have Done
The civic committee cut their nose to spite their face. 1-the disconnect of letting this out when Daley is their man is fascinating. 2-this means the scores that charters and REN10 schools are getting, which CC says are doing so much better and are needed, is a lie too.
Congratulations Alexander!
What Arne Should Have Done
anything he says is suspect. He is so deep in CPS $ and UC charters, that he cannot be objectively taken. He must defend Arne and Barack. BT, didn't Duncan put pressure in ISBE and the ISAT vendor to 're-score' the tests, 'upgrade' the test norms to show that MORE CPS students were passing? Now that is proof of Arne's guilt.
What Obama needs is someone objective who is going to take the pressure off having students just pass a test to get by--or create/use a test (NAEP) that does not force schools to just teach to the test. Who gets a job saying 'I passed all of my tests.'?
Or students take tests to get them INTO programs in high school--higher tests/essays=college bound, others go on to vocational and business prep programs--but Arne destroyed Voc ed and Jones Commercial--what a mess he made and left.