The Park City School District claims it is one of the best in the state and is on the way toward becoming one of the top ten school districts in the country. But according to the latest federally mandated measure of success, the Adequate Yearly Progress Report (AYP), four of Park City's schools did not get a passing grade, let alone high marks.
According to results released by the Utah Office of Education this week, McPolin Elementary, Treasure Mountain International School, Ecker Hill International School and Park City High School failed to meet some or all of the current AYP proficiency levels in language arts, math and science and/or fell below required attendance and graduation rates.
Interestingly, all of the North and South Summit Schools passed AYP this year.
So, is there something wrong with the schools, or with the system that measures them? Are our schools failing our students or have state and federal legislators failed our schools by underfunding the new mandates?
Maybe Park City's schools aren't all they are cracked up to be, or is it that they don't want to dumb down to the lowest common denominator. Post your comments here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
56 comments:
Nan, aren't journalists supposed to only print data which can be sourced?
"The Park City School District claims it is one of the best in the state and is on the way toward becoming one of the top ten school districts in the country." Says who?
From the Park City Education Foundation site pcef4kids.org
" The Park City Education Foundation promotes and recognizes excellence in Park City Schools. Our goal is to become one of the Top 10 school districts in the United States."
From a Park Record article in 2005:
June 25, 2005
Section: Education
PCHS best of state for 2nd year
by Jared Whitley, Of the Record staff
For the second year in a row, Park City High School has been named the best high school in the state of Utah. The honor comes from the non-profit organization Best of State, which recognizes individuals or entities in Utah across a wide variety of fields, including education, agriculture, business, and science. Best of State held its annual awards banquet last Saturday, which KUTV will broadcast this Saturday at 6 p.m.
Nominations are made at the start of the calendar year. Organizations are evaluated as "the best" according to three categories: overall excellence (50 percent), innovation (30 percent), contribution to a better quality of life in Utah (20 percent).
Principal Hal Smith said, "The award is for the school community. It reflects nicely on a community that is committed to quality in education. Some of the programs cited come from our parent support, the work of our site community council and the work of our staff and students. It is an honor that is indicative of the quality of all who work and learn at PCHS."
Thanks Nan, but to be nit-picky the PCEF is not the PCSD.
Do a Google search for "schools fail AYP" and you'll see that hundreds if not thousands of schools nationwide have failed AYP. The dominant reason is that subgroups (special ed and ELL primarily) with special learning needs are not factored in. How is it possible for schools to pass AYP when all groups are held to the same standard? That's not fair to the students, the schools, the teachers... No Child Left Behind is not realistic.
NCLB is a joke!
The schools are suffering this year because of a lack of planning and the class sizes are larger than ever at the elementary level.
The quality of the the district is slipping but it is still heads and shoulders above the rest of Utah.
Is it really important that some kids who can't or won't learn English are struggling with math? If we didn't waste millions every year teaching these kids in their own languages then we would have a better system.
I have a child in a lower elementary at McPolin. In 5 weeks, her teacher has yet to complete her "assessment" of the class. My child has not had homework and on the two occassions she has brought home work from school - the papers were from a substiture and the librarian! The communication out of McPolin is poor. The challenges in the classrooms (K-3) due to the significant increase in ELL enrollment (over 65%) is holding back bright, curious children. We have a small window to embrace and encourage the learning process. As a parent, I am dissatified with the classroom management, curriculum instruction and willingness of the PCSB/McPolin administration to dismiss the inadequacies of the education that is being provided b/c "it is a public school."
We need change. Now. Our kids' futures are at stake.
I wonder how American kids perform academically in Mexico? Might as well put it in context. Si.
"No Child Left Behind" is the same as "No Child Gets Ahead". I should know, I had to put my child in college at 15 because she wanted to be challenged and to learn something. She felt she was wasting her time in High School. So at 17 she graduated Homeschool HS with 72 college credits, a 4.0 GPA, more scholarship offers than she could use and a look of extreme satisfaction when she realized she had worked really hard to get those good grades.
When someone says that Park City Schools are the best in Utah, it is saying that they are the "cream of the crap."
Lets face facts, the bottom line is that the teachers failed to do their job. This is no different that any place of business. If the job that the employees are paid to do doesn't get done than the employee failed. There is no excuse, even if the teacher says that the student are inattentive, then the teacher failed to get the student's attention.
There are so many comments on this board that obviously come from teachers. They say that if the PCSD failed in some measures then then measures must be wrong. Do you allow your students who get questions wrong on their exams to just blame the exam? You really are very juvenile. Oh I forgot, all students get A's so they have high self esteem. Thanks education establishment for drowning our students in your passe/boomer/lefty intellectual weakness.
Also, there is no point in saying that the school district must be good since some students go to Ivy League universities. The point of NCLB is that it isn't enough for some students to excel while other students fall behind. NCLB principles are about making sure that all students reach some level of competancy. Also, many of those students would be going to Ivy League universities no matter where they went to school. So don't take to omuch credit for it.
Some of these posts from the teachers are a good reason to vote for vouchers.
So being the husband of a teacher I would like to say a few things in their defense.
First, the children whom generally excel in school have a lot of support from the home front. In other words get involved with your children’s development when they come home. Read to them, work on homework together, add some extra work, etc... Only a complete idiot would believe that a single teacher teaching 20+ kids can do it all, you must get involved.
Second, I really don’t care how great you think you are, but teaching 20 - 25 children in a classroom is extremely difficult. If you don’t believe me, then go volunteer, skip your manicure and participate in the system, or shut up. Try not to criticize something you know nothing about, unless you actually try it.
Third, children who require ELL or ESL have parents that pay taxes just like you. They have the same rights as you, their children have the same rights as yours, etc. if you really care about the bright and gifted children get them into private school, just like parents have been doing for generations or become a teacher and see for yourself, but I know, you wont do that, it might take away from some important things like golf or your daily latté.
Forth, yes, children who do get things wrong on test often blame the teacher. Are you aware of how many parents berate teachers when their child fails a test or does poorly? Do you know how many children’s grades get changed by administration so that little precious doesn’t fail? look into it, talk to some teachers and you will learn that parents fight tooth and nail for their children to get a better grade even though they do not deserve it.
Fifth, to the person with the home school child, good for you, you actually did get involved with your child’s education, thank you for proving my point. Everyone should be able to see by your comments that taking an active interest in your child’s education is paramount to their success. One on one teaching, now that makes sense.
I also know that someone will criticize my grammatical structure, or spelling or whatever, but they won’t challenge the facts. And they are simple:
Don’t blame teachers for your lake of parenting.............
To 6:26, AM:
I wonder how many of the ESL children are illegal, or have illegal parents. If that is the case, I really don't think they are paying the same taxes. If not, do they still then have the same rights as the rest of us?
I personally feel like my children are being thrown under the bus to focus on the underachievers in our district. Those underachievers being both native and non-native English speakers.
From the teachers husband,
If they are illegal, then no, they do not have the same rights. If they are and pay taxes, then absolutely, they should have the same rights. But as you know disrcimination is paramont in the judgement of an indiviadual.
To the husband of a teacher:
"Second, I really don’t care how great you think you are, but teaching 20 - 25 children in a classroom is extremely difficult." Ok, but isn't that their job? When I was a kid I never had a class under 30, and here teachers whine about classes of 25.
"If you don’t believe me, then go volunteer, skip your manicure and participate in the system, or shut up." Uh, I've never had a manicure. We are allowed to complain. It's our taxes. This is a democracy. Go to North Korea if you don't want people to complain.
"Third, children who require ELL or ESL have parents that pay taxes just like you. They have the same rights as you, their children have the same rights as yours, etc." Lots and lots of them are illegal. No way do they have the same rights. And they do not pay the same taxes.
"if you really care about the bright and gifted children get them into private school, just like parents have been doing for generations" Don't tell us to go to private school if we care. We pay your spouse's salary to educate all of children. Give us our taxes back (vouchers) and we would be happy to go to private school. In the meantime, we do have the right to complain and expect excellence.
"you wont do that, it might take away from some important things like golf or your daily latté" I don't golf or drink lattes.
"Do you know how many children’s grades get changed by administration so that little precious doesn’t fail?" So you are defending a school district who is complicit in cheating?
"I also know that someone will criticize my grammatical structure, or spelling or whatever" Yes, that is true. You can't write.
"but they won’t challenge the facts" uhh, was mostly opinion.
"Don’t blame teachers for your lake of parenting............." No, we blame teachers of lack of teaching, cheating on grades, and whining.
Sure, it's easy to blame the ELL kids... anyone want to criticize the special ed students?
The reason Park City High School failed was a low language arts score among students with disabilities.
The reason NCLB isn't realistic is that ALL subgroups, including special ed, are held to the same standard.
It's no secret that kids with disabilities do not learn on the same level as "normal" kids and even ELL kids (at least ELLs can overcome their "disability" and learn English). So, why hold special ed to the same national standard as the general population?
(And don't you dare blame the special ed teachers... they are the hardest working teachers in the school district! Don't believe me? Watch them in action, as I have, and you'll agree.)
AYP is not an accurate measure of the success of schools. I can't wait until 2013, when it becomes very clear that there is no way that 100 percent of U.S. schools can pass AYP.
Read the Trib article Record 27 percent of Utah schools flunk fed education reform goals, especially the section toward the end, "How AYP differs from U-PASS".
AYP focuses on group performance. U-PASS focuses on individual student improvement. U-PASS is a better indicator of Utah student educational progress.
I have no problem with special ed kids scorirng lower than regular ed kids. After all, that's how they got the special education designation in the first place - by scoring two years or more behind their age group on a test! If they scored with their peers they legally couldn't qualify for special education and by law must be mainstreamed back into the general population.
I know a boy who moved here from Holland. In September he couldn't say much more than "hello" in English. By Easter break you would be hard pressed to hear any difference in his English from a kid born in Miner's Hospital. He did all this without a minute of EEL classes because they didn't exist back then. Any kid who moves to a new language area can assimilate that language in virtually no time. All it takes is motivation, not coddling to learn a new language and start testing well. After all, isn't it the "immigrant spirit" to hit the ground with both feet running?
I agree that we, as parents, should have the choice of public or private schools for our children. Vouchers is a great idea. I support it 100%. I was a teacher. I taught for 15 years until I was told to "babysit" and not teach the children. That is not I was there for. I wanted to teach. I took my children out of the "system" and Home Schooled them. They did great!! Started college at 14 and got a degree by the time they would have finished High School and are very sucessful in their early years of life. I would have loved to have vouchers then. Many teachers, (I know this first hand from working with teachers) are there only for the pay check, as little as it is. They could not care less if the children learn especially if the administration tells them to "babysit". I feel sorry for the teachers that truly care and want to make a difference in the lives of children because their hands are tied. I have left teaching 5 years ago. I miss the excitement of a child when they catch a new concept, I miss the whole idea of teaching. I am still frustrated after 5 years that I was told to "babysit" and not teach. Public schools are failing!! That is an inside prospective.
The Park City Education Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that works to provide funding for innovative programs in the Park City School District. The organization's mission is to help Park City's schools be top 10 - and it's recognized that the journey is just as important as the destination. The Foundation doesn't speak on behalf of the school district - it simply works collaboratively with the district to identify and fill need.
If everyone abandon's public education - and I mean education for all students - what kind of country would we be? What kind of community would Park City be - certainly one that I don't want to live in. Education is the one equalizer a person has in life. I think its our obligation, as a community, to identify solutions -not to point fingers.
9:36,
Oftentimes figuring out a solution involves identifying and correcting the problem, identifying the problem involves finger pointing.
Unless you want to live in a world where no one gets their feelings hurt and no one is held accountable, finger pointing is a reality and I, for one, embrace it.
It has been said so many times before that "those that can do, and those that cannot teach". It is so very true here in Park City.
Teachers and public schools are afraid of vochers because vouchers are a threat to their paycheck. If they want their paycheck they need to start really teaching not just putting in time. Just like I have to do to keep my job. After all the hours on school time, kids should be better educated.
When I come home from work, I leave my "work" behind. When my child comes home from school he has to bring "work" with him in the form of homework. I end up teaching him at home what he should of learned during school hours, but was not taught there. It really messes up our family time together. If teachers used the time they had with our children in a more effective way the children would have a better education and families could use evenings for time together which could result in a better society. I know some families will not function either way, but let's give them the chance and the choice. If the administration is standing in the way of teaching --replace them!! May tax dollars are not being used correctly if this is going on.
TO 9:36--we are not abandoning the public schools, but it is not for everyone. We need the choice to embrace public schools or go elsewhere. Some students don't learn in that enviroment and need more stimulation. They are bored in public schools. They should not have to be held down because they don't have the choice to go elsewhere because of finances. Most kids fit into public schools, but to the few that don't --they need to be allowed to make that choice. It is not for everyone. In todays world of live and let live,lets give our kids the same respect to learn as they need to. The point is that they learn.
Dear:
" I end up teaching him at home what he should of learned during school hours, but was not taught there. "
Are you sure your little darling "was not taught there", or was it your little darling was twirling in his/her little seat, texting on the cell phone, and in general not paying much attention?
That was MY problem when I was a kid, and as a result my parents sat me down every night and did what you are doing. Only they didn't see it as "messing up their quality play time." They saw it as an act of love. In short order I learned that if I payed attention at school, the home lessons diminished. I made it through graduate school with that fond memory in my heart. This is your chance for real quality time with your kid... don't blow it with bitterness.
Dear 9:50--Yes, I am sure that is NOT the problem because I am there daily as a volunteer in the school and I see what goes on.I "socialize" with the teachers and hear their comments about the children. The comments about some of the children would shock you.I do want "play time" with my children as should any parent. It is precious time that can never be relived. I am glad things worked out for you and I am not bitter. You judge to quickly someone you don't know. There is much more to the story that can not be written here. I see things each and every day that parents know nothing about. I am strongly attempting to have a functional family in a world that is set up for the disfunctional, because that is the norm. I enjoy my children and prefer them not to have "busy work" at night to keep the "out of my hair" so I can persue other things. If that is wrong then--let me be wrong!!!
As a husband of a teacher let me tell you this. My wife brings home work everyday. My wife works weekends so that she is prepared for the school week. When she is grading tests and students fail she takes it personally. She cares about YOUR kids. I have read emails from parents she receives as to why their kid is failing lets see they do not hand in work, they are absent because rich PC parents decide they need a vacation even though the PC school district is generous with vacations. What it comes down to is accountability. Are you watching what your kid does in school? Yeah I hear my wife talk about your kids lets see..Usually when she meets you her first comment is the apple does not fall far from the tree. Self centeredness is generally what it is about, thinking the rules apply to everyone what you and your little darling. Demanding the grades gets changed so little cutie does not have self esteem issues. How many little cuties have thave their own special plans. How many cannot still read by HS, How many cannot speak english, how many have depression anxiety issues. And they are all supposed to get A's or it is the teachers fault..Give me a break.
Park City schools failed in the areas that other schools are failing because of the ESL population. How can you expect kids to pass when they come into middle and high schools from Mexico where the schools are poor and some of these kids have had no formal education. They cannot speak english never mind grasp high academic skills. Work is dummied down for them and they are supposed to receive passing grades. Some of them really do not care, they are more interested in joining gangs and having babies. A good portion of them are illegal. Their parents bring them here and they are resentful ask half of them and they will tell you they want to be in Mexico. So GO!!! Did Park City have this type of crime rate before they came? How about the kid whose car was tagged a few weeks back did we have that? I am sorry but my kids suffer in our schools due to the ESL kids and people making excuses for them. Put them in english classes and teach them like elementary kids so they can have a basic foundation. PC schools are not failing look at the kids that go on to college from here. PC schools offer the best it is a matter of the kids taking advantage of the programs that are offered.
Have any of you parents actually seen your kids in action at school? I have been a sub in the middle and HS schools here for many years. Your kids are disrespectful and are more worried about texting their friends and getting around the system than learning.They think it is a free for all in school. I know a lot of the teachers personally and they are good, but their complaints are justified.I know for a fact 1/4 of those kids in those schools are on a special plan not just for ESL or special ed but because they have issues such as anxiety, social issues, special meds that make them tired.Work has to be adjusted due to their special needs. And if the teacher does not follow this the parent is all over them. I could go on and on I amin the schools day in and day out. We sit and laugh over how parents bail their kids out so it does not harm their self esteem.It seems they are more interested in making sure their kids excel in their extra stuff like skiing, dance, football ect..than how they actually do in school. Get real parents half of the problem is you and how you raised your kids.
School's primary mission ought to be preparing their wards to function and compete in the present world. An alarming article in the W.S.J. reported that 25% of college freshmen had to take remedial English so they could understand their course material. A 4.0 HS graduate was among this group. That student was "shattered" by her inadaquate level of preparation.
To 5:06
I would say that 4.0 student is closer to a 2.8. Grades are inflated and work is dummied down because these kids just do not get it.If you try to explain this to their mommies and daddies they threaten you, and tell you anxiety is causing their kid not to do well in school..Do you know how many meetings I have to sit in a week to listen to parents cry and tell me how special their kid is and why they cannot do the work and why I should excuse them, and then they will turn around and expect me to sign a release form so junior can go on vacation. Talk to any college professor today they will tell you the about to all incoming freshman, they are spoiled and used to having parents bail them out. Sorry I am sure I will get ripped apart for this one, but I will speak my mind. If I were allow to do my job without parents bailing their kids they might actually turn out to be more responsible.
Recently, our child joined McPolin's 1st grade. After 5 weeks, the teacher had yet to put together a plan despite several volunteers' efforts to help her. We met a woman whose child had been in our teacher's classroom the year before. Her advice "get out now or waste a year of your child's life. That teacher did not even finish UT's curriculum last year, not that UT's curriculum is even a good standard." While we did not have the resources to put our child in private school, many others have, reducing the class size and she still chooses not to control the class. We are doing more homeschooling just to make sure our child does not fall behind and we volunteer in the classroom, but it is a shame to see our tax dollars wasted on a teacher who cannot control the classroom, does not meet UT's simple curriculum standards and occassionally seems to have mint hiding something else on her breath. Despite entreaties to the administration, they have taken no steps to rectify the situation, delivering the sad catchall "its a public school, what are you going to do?" as an excuse. It is a shame to see our kids time abused like this.
A 4.0 may be like a 2.5 if your kid is in the average level classes. If you have a kid in the more competitive classes a 4.0 is really exceptional.
I, for one, am really frustrated with the large class sizes this year and wonder why they have not hired more teachers.
The district is still good but is slipping.
I am hoping that the vouchers passes. It will make teachers have some thing to compete with so that maybe their standards will raise. They are so secure in their jobs. Right now all we have is public schools unless you can afford private. With vouchers more of us will have a choice. Maybe the vouchers will not cover the whole amount of private schools but they will cover enough to give more of us a choice to not be trapped into a situation that we see is not good. There are teachers that care, but they are the exception not the norm.
I am against vouchers. I see no reason why we should funnel public funds to private schools.
The thought of asking the rest of the public to foot your bill so your child can attend a private school is repulsive and selfish.
If you want to send your children to private schools, work harder, do whatever it takes to make enough money so you can afford it on your own, don't as the rest of Utah to subsidize your lifestyle choice.
Why don't you try going door to door and asking real people if they are willing to pay for your childs private education, see what they say.
I predict the bill will go down in flames.
For such a supposedly conservative state it boggles my mind when I hear so many "conservatives" support a bill that is so clearly not conservative.
SHAME ON THE PARK RECORD!! A major story broke out on Monday regarding The Canyons Ski Patrol being locked out of work, yet, the Park Record chose to completely ignore this story. I guess they figured to ignore it will guarantee the advertising dollars from the Canyons.
A VERY poor excuse for a newspaper...ignore the story and you can't be called biased, but, we all know the motive.
TO: "I predict the bill will go up in flames"---For the sake of "free choice", which this country is based on and for the sake of our children and future generations I sincerely hope you are WRONG. Think outside of the box!!!! We deserve to choose for ourselves, and not be lead like cattle to the public schools!!! If you choice public schools--great!! Allow the other guy to make a choice also, which ever way he chooses.
12:12
No one is taking away anyones choice. That is the point. You can send your children to private schools, no one is stopping you. Move in to a less expensive home, work a second job, work harder, do whatever it takes if that is your goal. No one is stopping you.
Just don't ask me to subsidize your child's private school education, do it on your own dime.
And it looks like I was right, it did go DOWN in flames.
Post a Comment