New York 1 has an interesting article about one school in New York that was rated A by the city but has been set to closed
Teachers and parents from Maxwell High School in East New York say Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to remove half the teachers and the principal from their school raises serious questions about the city’s grading system, since the school received an “A” on its last report card. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed the following report.
Parents say they don’t understand. The city’s Department of Education gave their school an “A” this year. Now it’s shutting the school down.
“We got an ‘A,’ but it’s irrelevant because it’s not the state standard,” said parent Evette Chico.
It’s the state standard the city is now citing when it comes to Maxwell High and 32 other schools that are on the state’s list of persistently low achievers. Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to remove half the teachers and most of the principals by closing and reopening them with new names.
But at Maxwell, the teachers and principal who will be removed are the same educators responsible for the school’s remarkable turnaround. Maxwell went from an “F” on the city’s 2007 progress report to an “A” this year.
“It’s because of the teachers. It’s because the teachers are helping us improve,” said student Catherine Chico.
Bloomberg announced the plan after the city and teachers union failed to agree on new teacher evaluations for the 33 schools, but when the superintendent tried to explain it on Monday night, Maxwell parents said it just sounded like politics.
“The fight between the UFT and the DOE, don’t take it out on the kids. Respect the kids, respect the parents. We should not be hashing out political fights in the schools,” said Christopher Banks of East New York United Concerned Citizens.
When asked why he was removing teachers and principals at an “A” school and six other schools that received “B”s this year, Bloomberg said the city report cards focus on progress while the state looks at proficiency, and it’s the state score that counts here.
“You’re comparing apples to oranges. One is how you improve, one is what’s proficiency,” said Bloomberg.
To get off the state list, schools have to have at least a 60 percent graduation rate.
Maxwell actually hit that level in June, but the superintendent told confused parents and teachers that the state hasn’t updated its data yet.
“You’ve put in all the work, you’ve done what you’re supposed to do, and the reward is, you lose your job. It’s a hard pill to swallow,” said teacher Audrey Jackson.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott stands by the decision to clear out the teachers and school leaders.
“We shouldn’t view this as punishment. It’s just to provide a new opportunity for the school and to take the school the next level,” said Walcott.
Suggesting in some cases, an “A” is just not good enough.
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