I’m not sure what to make of the Cambridge Group coming in to evaluate the schools. Today we read the pontificating, in circles of course from Corda:
Cambridge Education previously assisted the city in developing its District Improvement Plan several years ago.
The district is required to participate in such a quality review by a recent amendment to the state Act Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning Education. The amendment, which became effective July 1, “require(s) an operations audit to identify possible programmatic savings and an instructional audit to identify any deficits in curriculum and instruction or in the learning environment of the school or district.”
The review is paid for with Education Cost Sharing grant funds from the state.
Superintendent of Schools Salvatore Corda said on Friday that the district received approximately $962,000 in additional ECS funding in June. Under the amendment, 20 percent of these funds must be set aside for a review by Cambridge Education for any district in need of improvement. Corda said he did not know if the full 20 percent would be required to fund the review, but noted, “It’s going to be a good chunk of it.”
On the first day of school, Corda distributed to all Norwalk public schools staff and members of the Board of Education a letter detailing the review process.
“We are committed to the continuous improvement of our schools and school district in meeting our goal of ensuring that every student will perform at high levels,” he wrote. “Toward that end, each of our schools annually completes a School Growth Plan. In addition, the district has developed a District Improvement Plan to ensure that school and central office efforts are aligned across the district.”
Corda added, “While we continue to improve, the pace has not been fast enough to meet the standards imposed by the No Child Left Behind legislation.
“Our concern continues to be focused on particular groups of students: African-American, English Language Learners, Special Education students, and those who are from limited economic means,” he wrote.
Ah, so we see the Corda way many words, more studies and introspection, no action. Yep, let’s have another review of the plan since that has worked out so well.
source: The Hour, Outside panel to review schools, by Lauren Garrison, September 1, 2007
