Student Performance

After reading the somewhat lengthy article about test scores falling flat again ("Baltimore school test results flat for third year," July 23) and then considering all kinds of explanations including "turmoil in the system," or that a "plateau was expected," or that "harder things" are now required, or that "principal turnover can hurt student achievement" or - and here's my favorite - "we have tougher kids to teach," the final paragraph really says...

The Maryland State Medical Society recognizes the health risks of adolescent sleep deprivation and for that reason recommends Maryland adopt later start times in the state's high schools ("Md. school systems study later start times for high schools," March 11). Studies indicate that a modest delay in school start time is associated with significant improvements in adolescent alertness, mood and health. A 2010 study published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine offered compelling evidence for the potential benefits of adjusting school schedules to adolescents' sleep needs, circadian rhythms and developmental stage.

Baltimore teachers will be graded at the end of every school year on how well their students have learned under a landmark teacher evaluation policy adopted by the school board last night.Under the policy, which puts the city in the forefront of a national movement toward teacher accountability, teachers and their principals would agree to a set of individual goals that the teacher must meet by the end of the year.For instance, the goal of a fourth-grade teacher might be to raise the reading level of the class to a specific grade level by June.

All 6,000 Baltimore educators will take part this year in testing a new teacher evaluation system that ties their effectiveness more closely to student performance, school officials announced this week. This system, tested in the city last year for 309 teachers, comes as preparation for the state's implementation of more rigorous evaluations next year. Two areas of the evaluations — both used to measure student performance — will account for 50 percent of a teacher's score: student growth and schoolwide factors called the school index.

All 6,000 Baltimore educators will take part this year in testing a new teacher evaluation system that ties their effectiveness more closely to student performance, school officials announced this week. This system, tested in the city last year for 309 teachers, comes as preparation for the state's implementation of more rigorous evaluations next year. Two areas of the evaluations — both used to measure student performance — will account for 50 percent of a teacher's score: student growth and schoolwide factors called the school index.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education removed Baltimore City Community College from probation on Friday after the college made progress in assessing student performance. If the college had not made changes, the Middle States Commission could have yanked the school's accreditation. Last July, Middle States said BCCC lacked any comprehensive method for assessing student achievement. The president, Carolane Williams, said in a statement that "the challenges from MSCHE have enabled BCCC to emerge as a stronger institution.

The state is developing a new series of tests for high school students -- tests they would have to pass to get diplomas. So are the local schools. And yes, they are related to each other and to the Carroll County schools outchool tests, which could be required of graduates as early as 2002.The tests would involve a core of information and skills students should have by the time they complete high school and would be more difficult than the current high school exams, which many pass in middle school.

WHEN THE State Department of Education awarded $2.75 million to 94 elementary and middle schools last week for boosting test scores and attendance two years in a row, the list of achievers was remarkable in one respect: Several schools, singled out in previous years for abysmal student performance, were able to reverse their fortunes.Eight Baltimore schools made the list -- proof that city schools aren't hopeless. Students in Baltimore's Northwood Elementary and Morrell Park Elementary-Middle, which were threatened with state takeover in 1996, substantially improved their performance.

Baltimore's new pay for performance model for teachers will be unsuccessful in improving student performance due to a serious built-in flaw: cut-throat competition ("Large number of city teachers receive unsatisfactory evaluations," Feb. 7). Americans may believe that "competition" makes this country great, but when it comes to education, competition among educators will cost the students dearly. What incentive is there for me to help a new teacher learn the ropes or a veteran teacher to master new technology?

BLACK STUDENTS in Baltimore County are closing the learning gap with white students, even as their numbers have grown dramatically in the past five years. The county's schools are bucking a general national trend of declining achievement by minority students as diversity increases. But the district cannot afford to rest on these laurels. Black students suffer disproportionately high suspension rates, and they are still more likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers. The school district needs to address these shortcomings, while still pushing ahead.

The Maryland Institute College of Art broke ground this month for The Commons II, a five-story $16.5 million residence hall on North Avenue near Mount Royal Avenue that will provide housing for 240 students in 80 apartments when it opens by the fall of 2013. The project will also include an auditorium, performance space and other amenities. The Commons II was designed by Hord Coplan Macht as an addition to The Commons, a 20 year-old residence hall that will get a $2 million renovation as part of the same project.

After reading the somewhat lengthy article about test scores falling flat again ("Baltimore school test results flat for third year," July 23) and then considering all kinds of explanations including "turmoil in the system," or that a "plateau was expected," or that "harder things" are now required, or that "principal turnover can hurt student achievement" or - and here's my favorite - "we have tougher kids to teach," the final paragraph really says...

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education removed Baltimore City Community College from probation on Friday after the college made progress in assessing student performance. If the college had not made changes, the Middle States Commission could have yanked the school's accreditation. Last July, Middle States said BCCC lacked any comprehensive method for assessing student achievement. The president, Carolane Williams, said in a statement that "the challenges from MSCHE have enabled BCCC to emerge as a stronger institution.

You couldn't tell from the Republican primary season so far, but education, as a campaign issue, should move to the forefront of voter concern as we approach the fall election. A College Board poll last month reported that two-thirds of voters in nine swing states felt education is extremely important to them personally. About the same time, a task force report from the Council on Foreign Relations declared, "Educational failure puts the United States future economic prosperity, global position, and physical safety at risk.

Theater and dance students in Prince George's County public schools can attend workshops in March that also offer the opportunity to perform. The second annual Theatre Arts Festival for county drama students will be held Tuesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Road, Bowie. Drama students from Prince George's County public middle schools and high schools will participate in monologue competitions and workshops with professional artists, and the day will end with student performances at 6 p.m. The 15th annual Dance Showcase, on Thursday, March 29 at Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School, 12650 Brooke Lane, Upper Marlboro, provides county dance students an opportunity to work with professional choreographers and receive instruction in various dance genres.

I strongly agree with Erica Green 's article regarding city teachers ("Many city teachers ranked unsatisfactory," Feb. 8). If teachers aren't giving students the knowledge necessary to perform well on tests, then something should be done. Evaluations offer teachers the ability to better themselves and can boost their relationship with students. There are some teachers who recognize the problem and some who don't. Once you have received a poor evaluation, then you should be on notice that your job is on the line.

Little more than two years after enthusiastically embracing Baltimore's school-privatization venture, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke last night told Education Alternatives Inc. that its future here depends on improving student achievement."

RESULTS OF THE Maryland School Performance and Assessment Program, known as Mizpap for short, show once again that Carroll County's public schools are performing well. Slightly more than half of the county's students scored at the satisfactory level, and the overall results were an improvement over last year's.The achievement may seem all the more remarkable considering that Carroll's per pupil spending ranks only 16th among the state's 24 school systems. In addition, the county is near the bottom in terms of class size: 21st out of 24. Offsetting those positions, however, is the fact that its school system receives fewer economically and socially disadvantaged students than more metropolitan counties.

Baltimore's new pay for performance model for teachers will be unsuccessful in improving student performance due to a serious built-in flaw: cut-throat competition ("Large number of city teachers receive unsatisfactory evaluations," Feb. 7). Americans may believe that "competition" makes this country great, but when it comes to education, competition among educators will cost the students dearly. What incentive is there for me to help a new teacher learn the ropes or a veteran teacher to master new technology?

Andrew York hopes to bring better health services to desperately poor Native Americans when he's done earning dual degrees in law and pharmacy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. But he might not be able to afford that modest-paying career path if not for federal programs designed to forgive part of his $65,000 in college loans. York told his story at a UMB forum Tuesday to discuss federal plans for making college more affordable. The afternoon event featured U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha J. Kanter, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes and students and officials from the university.