Note: For awhile, I’m going to be illustrating the “On the Agenda” posts with various graphs documenting achievement gaps in MMSD as revealed by the admittedly flawed and limited WSAS/WKCE results. I think regular reminders may do some good.
Between campaigns, grading mid terms and the happenings at West, I’ve been insanely busy. I missed last week’s agenda post and am only doing the minimum today.
Four meetings listed for the Madison Metropolitan School District, none involving the High School Reform (no Student Senate listed).
Monday, October 18
5:00 p.m.
Special Board of Education Meeting
1.Public Appearances
2.It is recommended to change the start time of the Regular meeting of the Board of Education to 7 p.m. for the October 25, 2010, meeting only.
3.Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Data Retreat
4.Adjournment
Doyle Administration Bldg.
545 W. Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703
McDaniels Auditorium
6:00 p.m.
Ad Hoc Board of Education Meeting—Equity and Decision Making
1. Public Appearances
2.Responses to Board Member Questions and Comments regarding the Equity Plan
3.K-12 Literacy Alignment as it relates to Equity
4.Next Meeting Date/Time/Location and Agenda
5.Adjournment
Doyle Administration Bldg.
545 W. Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703
Room 103
7:00 p.m.
Ad Hoc Board of Education Meeting—Five-Year Budget Plan
1. Public Appearances
2.Administrative Recommendations for Five-Year Budget Parameters
3. Overview of MMSD Budget Account Codes
4. Timeline for Development of 5-Year Budget Model
5. Adoption of Goals for Committee
6.Next Meeting Date/Time/Location and Agenda
7.Adjournment
Doyle Administration Bldg.
Room 103
Tuesday, October 19
8:00 a.m.
MMSD Literacy Advisory Committee
1.Welcome and Agenda Review
2.Update from Focus Group on the Library Media Specialist Survey Responses
3.Article Review—“The Why Behind RTI (Response to Intervention)”
4.Presentation on RTI Framework
5.Develop Definition of the Elements of a Comprehensive Literacy Program
6.Discussion of District Literacy Professional Development at Elementary and Secondary Levels
7.Adjournment
Thursday, October 21
Doyle Administration Bldg.
4:30 p.m.
Sustainable Schools Initiative Meeting
1.Check-in/Introductions
2.Presentation—Draft vision and Sustainability Planning Process
3.Small Group Discussion—Draft Visions and Sustainability Planning Process
4.Small Group Report Back
5.Next Steps
6.Next Meeting Dates
Nothing linked — including member lists — for the last two.
Thomas J. Mertz
AMPS 
T.J.,
Could you please provide an interpretation of the graph in lay terms?
Thanks,
Lorie
Lorie
Not a whole lot to say, except that across the high schools fewer significantly fewer non-low income students are below proficient in reading than low income students, that an alarming percent of low income students reading skills are below proficient at all the high schools and that the details of this reality vary across the high schools.
The graph says nothing about why this is the case or what can or should be done to remedy it.
As I said in caption, I think that all involved in education with MMSD benefit from regular reminders of gaps in achievement. I want to call attention to this because ignoring it won’t lead to change. I have my ideas about things that will help, but the purpose of these graphs is to keep the issue in the forefront, not to push any particular policy.
If you go back and look at the other graphs I’ve posted, you’ll note that most or all are by income, not race. There are two reasons for this. First, although race remains salient and shouldn’t be ignored, I think we can have more productive discussions if we begin with class and thus avoid the “racist”/”I’m not a racist” bad feelings and distractions. Second, in terms of school (and maybe by implication) classroom assignment, the Seattle/Louisville Supreme Cort ruling made it almost impossible to consider race.
Last, I got tired of making cute “On the Agenda” sign graphics (you can go back to some of the early “On the Agenda” posts to see what I’m talking about).