The Echo

Sounds like a bad dream, right?  It's not. 

Many of you know that I while I am a passionate advocate for education, there are few causes that fuel my fury more than the right of special education students to receive diplomas upon the completion of their high school career.  The problem is that in Delaware, we are systemically denying special education students that right every year.

Thursday night, following a Town Hall meeting in New Castle, I was able to discuss my concerns with Lt. Gov. Matt Denn.  Albeit brief, it was a conversation that gives me hope because I know that our Lt. Gov. shares my passion for special needs children.

I can't tell you when Delaware started denying some special education students diplomas, but I do remember the rumble of the differentiated diploma, under the administration of then-Governor Thomas Carper, in the early part of this decade.  In the May 3, 2000 publication of Education Week, Carper touted Delaware as an early education reformer: by legislating that "the state would become one of the first to link educators' job-performance evaluations to their students' test scores."

According to the same article by Joetta L. Sack, that piece of legislation set up "a new diploma system for students. To receive an "academic" diploma, students would have to pass the 10th grade assessments in math and language arts. Those who met all the course requirements but did not pass the exam would receive a "standard" diploma, while special education students who were unable to meet those requirements could receive a certificate of performance."

In the intervening years we know that despite Carper's legislation, Delaware failed to tie teacher performance to student test scores; yet, differentiated diplomas took root, sealing the fate of the many special education students who take the DAPA as second class citizens.  In one fell swoop, Carper and our legislature damaged and devalued the disability community and damned a generation of children to an additional challenge - finding employment or pursuing additional education.

I wasn't on the education scene back in 2000.  I was a newlywed and student, finishing up a degree in Journalism at the University of Delaware and working toward becoming a certified activity director.  I had no idea of the direction that my life would take, that in September 2001 I would become a parent and in three years time learn that my daughter had special challenges; or  that I would embark on journey of advocacy that would me in 2009 to run and win a seat on the CSD Board of Education. 

During the course of this week, I intend to educate my audience as to the reality of differentiated diplomas within the scope of special education, and to lead readers to the only logical conclusion:  Delaware must reverse itself in regards to the Certificate of Performance because regardless of the track you take, education is not a game, a play, or a Performance.  At the end of this journey, young adults are better served by a diploma than bouquet of roses!

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29.0 High School Graduation

29.1 Students with disabilities who are unable to meet the requirements for a diploma shall be given the option to complete those requirements by continuing their education, at public agency expense, until their 21st birthday. Regardless of the document received at graduation by the student, whether a diploma or a certificate of performance, the student shall not be discriminated against during the graduation ceremonies.
Specifically, a student with disabilities shall be allowed to participate in graduation exercises without reference to his or her disability, educational placement or the type of document conferred.

(Authority: 14 Del.C. §3110)
10 DE Reg. 1816 (06/01/07)

From the Christina School District E-News (with my thoughts following):

District Clarifies That "Alternative School" Does Not Mean "Reform School"

One of the most negative aspects of the national media attention the Christina School District received this week was the characterization of its alternative placement program for young students as a “reform school.” The District does not run a “reform school” and would never use such an outdated and inaccurate term to describe any of its programs. Unfortunately, the term “reform school” was an expression used by the media and others in conjunction with Christina in recent news reports and websites.

Students in grades K-8 in Christina who are assigned to an alternative placement usually attend the Douglass Alternative School, which provides a more structured version of the regular school environment and offers additional services for students that may include counseling, academic support, and behavior support. Douglass provides a learning environment that contributes to the holistic development of all students by use of literacy programming, academics, behavior modification and character/social skills development. This collaborative effort between parents, students and staff helps students transition to a successful future.

Douglass School principal Harold "Butch" Ingram includes the following statement on the school’s website: “We teach students who are having difficulty in school how to succeed and that failure is not an option. Students are taught to be productive contributors to family, community and school. All understand that ‘Attitude determines Altitude!’ Student learning with high expectations in conjunction with social competence is paramount in the student's development and success.”

In January, 2009, the Christina Board of Education recognized the Douglass Alternative School administration and staff for the school’s outstanding service to students. The Wilmington News Journal will feature Douglass Alternative School in an article this weekend, and members of the community are also encouraged to learn more about Douglass Alternative School by visiting the school’s website (www.christina.k12.de.us/Douglass ) and reading about recent activities at Douglass School at the following link: www.christina.k12.de.us/Douglass/News.htm

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Having toured Douglass recently, I whole-heartedly concur! The children and staff at Douglass deserve much more respect than was afforded them by the media trying to spin a story and drive in "clicks" to their websites!

Though I carry a degree in Journalism, I have never been more embarrassed by the field and those who clearly were seeking sensationalism over the TRUTH!

I offer my heartfelt thanks to the staff and leaders at Douglass who work day-in and day-out to help children who are valued by their families and our CSD community. I have offered to assist at Douglass in any way the administration may deem appropriate, be it reading to the children or another more creative avenue. I sincerely hope that more community members will step up and partner to help those among us who need the most support! Show the children at Douglass that Delaware cares!

1) I do not and cannot speak for the Board. This blog reflects my personal views on the issues that continue to prevent all CSD children from attaining a world-class education.

2) I was elected to this unpaid position by constituents who wanted Accountability, Transparency, a return to Best Practices, and Bold Leadership in a time when many feel that public education is failing our children. I pledged my support to all of the students of the Christina School District and I will fulfill that promise.

3) Our district has been thrust into the national spotlight by a disciplinary action taken in accordance to the district Code of Conduct, a document owned fully by the Board of Education.

I support my district administration in their diligence to adhere to the prescribed policy; however, I share the belief that Zero Tolerance policies do not consistently work. In fact, our district's utilization of Zero Tolerance policies was among the catalysts for my campaign in the first place. I am passionate in my efforts to resolve those policies that are simply flawed.

Zero Tolerance became the cry of the day following the Columbine Massacre. Though I was not a part of the board at that time (and am only three months into my term,) I am guided in my knowledge that many such policies were implemented across the nation to ensure the safety of ALL students. It is without doubt that the goal of the our district has always been to maintain the safety for our students and staff.

It is and always has been my promise that I will endeavour to change those policies that are not rooted in reason and to create a mechanism for common sense when needed.

Tonight, I re-affirm that promise to you.

The locations list below represent just a handful of the hundreds of emails and phone calls I have received today:

Atlanta, GA
Wilton, CT
Lilburn, GA
Santa Clara, CA
Bayonet Pt., Fl
Duvall, WA
Glen Ellyn, IL
Fort Worth, TX
Stockton, CA
Columbia, MO
Bayville, NJ
Jackson, MI
Port Richey, FL
Conway, AK
Spokane, WA
Newark, DE
Woodbridge, NJ
Los Angeles, CA
Eolia, MO
Spencer, IA
Van Hornsville, NY
Fairfield, CT
Fort Collins, CO
Presque Isle, WI
Withee, WI
Westfield, MA
Pittsburgh, PA
Winfield, KS
Springfield, MO
Cranston, RI
Aurora, CO
Lakewood, CO
Mooresboro, NC
Watertown, WI

Former Christina Superintendent Joe Wise weasels his way back into the picture!

Thank You to fellow board member, John Young, for sharing this information via his blog http://www.transparentchristina.wordpress.com/

I took Delaware's Department of Education to task in yesterday's post for failing to create a firm and thorough request for bids for the assessment system( DCAS) slated to replace the DSTP. The original RFP (Request for Proposals) resulted in not one, but two lawsuits filed against the department, including a suit filed by the company to whom the DOE wanted to award the contract, NORTHWEST EVALUATION ASSOCIATION (NWEA).

According to yesterday's NJ story, "Subsequently, at the end of June, the department selected Northwest Evaluation Association -- the only vendor that bid on all components and whose Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test has been piloted in several Delaware school districts and charters -- as the winner and began negotiations despite AIR receiving the highest scores on technical ability and price for the summative test and end-of-course exams. According to documents obtained by AIR through Delaware's Freedom of Information Act, AIR was the first choice overall for 54 percent of teachers who observed a demonstration of the tests."

DOE then announced they would scrap the first RFP process and start over with a tighter (and more in line with Delaware law) request.

So who is Wise to NWEA? He is currently a member of the NWEA's Board of Directors, although his bio briefly touches on his stint in Christina, and speaks of only great things during his brief and questionable time in Duval County, Florida (the district for which he resigned from Christina to lead.)

I feel it is also important to disclose NWEA is also the company that provides the Christina School District with Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. I do not know if Wise was an NWEA Board member prior to our district's adoption of that assessment, nor am I advocating that we scrap it. My teacher intel share's that this is a model our educators find helpful in tailoring their approach to meeting student needs.

The disclosure aside, I was not a board member, and barely a district parent during the Wise years. I was a tax payer and like many still carry a deep resentment for Wise. His time with our district fostered an incredible distrust from stakeholders, that unlike our financial affairs has yet to remedied.

So, yes, I do question the decision of any Delaware agency that would do business with a company that values Mr. Wise. As I imagine I will state frequently over the next four years (when my time with the board comes to an end) what every smart shopper knows, the cheapest product is seldom the best.

I am further concerned that DOE entered into negotiations with NWEA despite the fact that another company received higher scores on technical ability and price for the summative test and end-of-course exams. This company was the first choice overall for 54 percent of teachers who were involved in the demonstration process.

Finally, I call into question the fact that NWEA has threatened to file suit against DOE.

According to a letter issued by Sec. Lowery to all entities that bid for the contract, NWEA had indicated that it would also file suit against the department regarding requirements of a performance bond -- an insurance policy on the vendor's performance. The letter says that what was written in the bid request and what was told publicly to vendors conflicted with what Delaware law requires. The threat of suit comes from the company with whom the DOE entered negotiations and from whom DOE already has an existing relationship. Come on!

It all reminds me of the old saying: keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer...

Of course, I am writing this as I listen to the rain wick off my new roof (one day old) into my new gutters, currently being installed as I speak ... yes, in the rain. That's work ethic! I vetted the companies that bid on my home and chose not the cheapest, but certainly not the most expensive. I chose the company that had the right product at the fairest value, who also happened to have a fantastic rating the BBB, great reviews from past customers, and who had never done business with Mr. Wise.

Okay, I fully expect to take a beating for this opinion from many in education administration throughout Delaware. But, if our board members can't ask questions openly, will we ever have any answers? This is the road to transparency and accountability.

Click to read the entire article at the NJ website:

Many Del. public high schools fail to meet federal goals
By JENNIFER PRICE • The News Journal • July 31, 2009

Twenty-one of Delaware’s 29 traditional public high schools failed to make adequate progress this year under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Middle schools did slightly better, whereas elementary schools showed far more progress.

Twelve out of 30 middle schools and 83 out of 99 elementary schools showed progress toward federal proficiency goals.

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The good news for Christina:
The restructuring plans at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School seemd to be working. Gauger was one of only two schools that made adequate progress this year. If these schools have the same success next year, they will no longer be “under improvement.”

The bad news:
All three district high schools (Christiana, Glasgow, and Newark) and Bancroft Elementary were among the eight schools statewide that failed to make adequate progress for the sixth consecutive year despite restructuring last fall.

The worst news:
Pulaski Elementary and Red Clay School District's A.I. duPont Middle become the first schools in Delaware to enter the seventh year of “under improvement” status. Under NCLB, states are allowed to take over schools when they continue to fail, but Delaware law forbids the state from total intervention. (News Journal)

After an informative presentation at the Board Meeting last night, CSD BOE voted to accept to the district recommendation that the 2009/10 tax warrant maintain the same levels as the 2008/09 warrant. For CSD tax payers, there will be no increase to school taxes.

Of note, the district cited 1% increase in revenue from taxes due to new construction, both residential and commercial (thank you Home Depot.)

On the down side, the closing of the Chrysler Plant in Newark could lead to a $1 million loss in revenue. After consulting with the State Auditor and Department of Education, the value of the former Chrysler property was not included in the calculations. The district will cease to receive revenue from the site if it is purchased by a non-for-profit entity such as the University of Delaware, the apparent fore-funner in current real estate negotiations. Furthermore, a for-profit successor entity to Chrysler could choose to level the plant, remove all the buildings, and leave the land with little to no taxable value for the purpose of school taxes.

I hope to delve a little deeper into the tax warrant in the coming days, to explain the more complicated portions of the formula. But, first I need to fact check for accuracy.

As for the board meeting itself, it started forty minutes late, indicating that executive session prior to the meeting ran long. In-coming Superintendent Marcia Lyles was again in attendance. During public comment the Board acknowledged outgoing member Beverly Howell for her years of service. The other noteworthy action of the night, voting on the consent agenda, was complicated by the decision to table all of Item B - Bid Awards for Foreign Language Translators, Elementary Counseling Services, Behavior Intervention Specialist Services, In School Alternative Program, and Student Support Services [ whose job it is to "assist building staff in monitoring in various capacities such as Hall Monitor and In School Suspension Monitor" (6/23/09, School Board Meeting Agenda, p. 4, BID #CSD-2009-05.)] The vote was 4-2 in favor of tabling.

CSD will host a Community/Parent Meeting to gather imput for Fiscal Year 2010 planning and Consolidated Grant Application development.

Thursday, June 25, 2009
6 pm at Gauger-Cobbs

According to the CSD website, you can contact Andy Hegedus, Supervisor of Grants at (302)552-2601 for more information.

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So, what is the Consolidated Grant Application? Basically, it's the success plan that is key to the receipt of funding for Delaware's School Districts. Of the online documents I viewed, the following is probably the best explanation:

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/staff/si/comp_of_SI/ca/files/Success%20Plan%20Guiding%20Questions%20WEB1.pdf

Here's an official Children and Educators First! Welcome to Dr. Marcia Lyles - in town, scoping out the new digs in prep for her July move. Brief introductions were had before Dr. Lyles was swept away by the attention-seekers.

A brief word of thanks to David Resler, acting board president, for publicly explaining the back story to consent agenda votes. Issues are debated and questions posed during executive session prior to the public meeting where the board then votes. Not exactly transparent, as the questions and answers never reach the public's ears, but the explanation is appreciated.
Moving along - What bucket of money is the funding for the new computers in our elementary schools coming from? Will they be new or refurbished? How old are they? How are we disposing of existing technology? Just a few questions brought to mind by Shirley Saffer's public request for information during the Board Member Requests portion of the evening.

Apparently, I ruffled some feathers ...

When I posted the Christina School District logo on this blog, I did so with the intent that it would identify the district for which I am a candidate for the Board of Education.

I learned today that this use has made some uncomfortable and at the request of the CSD, I am removing it from my blog.

I used an image that I secured through the internet. It was not imbedded or security protected. I assumed that because the graphic was so easily accessible that it would be allowable to use an image that was recognizable to all the residents of the CSD.

It's not.

My suggestion to the CSD: Secure your logo so that it cannot be copied, pasted, or downloaded.

To the offended: Though you shared your concerns with district, your candidate should be accessible to you. I am. That is the primary purpose of this blog. Use it to ask me the hard questions or email me directly. I'll respond. You may not always like what I have to say, but you will know where I stand!