tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post4468538134600428089..comments2024-03-26T23:57:42.268-04:00Comments on SpeEdChange: Funding What Works: The National Writing Projectirasocolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-63437902349270464262011-03-21T07:00:56.618-04:002011-03-21T07:00:56.618-04:00Dan,
Thank you for your comment. I believe that f...Dan,<br /><br />Thank you for your comment. I believe that funding choices represent political priorities, and I believe that an administration which claims to want to support "what works" needs to be held to account on that idea.<br /><br />So my comparisons are to both impact and effect size. Yes, there is evidence, most supplied by a single research entity, that KIPP students score better on tests and may even attempt college at higher rates than students in some of America's lowest performing schools, at least with certain students. But there is much evidence of both "selective persistence" <a rel="nofollow">http://www.scribd.com/doc/36149310/Pb-Henig-Kipp-Finalwc</a> (failing students being counseled out) and evidence that growth in KIPP programs does not continue when students leave for other environments.<br /><br />Additionally, KIPP will receive almost twice as much money as NWP this year <a rel="nofollow">http://www.kipp.org/kippnews/1012/01.htm</a>. So I think comparing its impact is fair.<br /><br />- Ira Socolirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-69356062845048346012011-03-21T06:53:24.285-04:002011-03-21T06:53:24.285-04:00The following appeared in my mail, but for some re...<i>The following appeared in my mail, but for some reason, not here, so I am posting it - Ira Socol</i><br /><br />Hi Ira,<br /><br />I'm not really a fan of arguing ed-reform politics on the Internet, but I felt compelled by your challenge for "pro-KIPP/TFA" folks to identify themselves. I'm not "future leader" - but I would agree with her/him that your TFA/KIPP criticisms seemed off base in this article.<br /><br />I'm certainly not in favor of removing funding for NWP, but your criticisms of TFA + KIPP seem like straw men here. TFA is in line to receive some significant budget cuts, and, as far as I know, KIPP receives no special federal funding.<br /><br />I'm no expert on the literature, but anecdotally, the KIPP schools I've been in have seemed like successful, positive places. Additionally, the Mathematica Study - <a rel="nofollow">http://kipp.org/about-kipp/results/mathematica-study</a> - on their middle schools shows them to be outpacing peers on standardized tests. I don't deny the existence of literature that finds differing conclusions, but I couldn't find it on a quick search through your archived posts.<br /><br />Let me know if you ever want to hear the perspective of a (hopefully!) calm, rational TFA-member/charter school teacher. I'll gladly put my name behind my words, and cite any evidence I have available.<br /><br />@bytingtheapple<br /><br />- Dan Carrollirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-75061582523051046572011-03-20T21:52:20.006-04:002011-03-20T21:52:20.006-04:00Thanks for this, Ira. I know I've sung the pr...Thanks for this, Ira. I know I've sung the praises enough in your company, but lending your voice is not just nice to hear, but a wonderful addition to the cause. Hope all is well my friend.Sara Beauchamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383169665216210142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-49695778012868573302011-03-20T14:49:41.316-04:002011-03-20T14:49:41.316-04:00The following comment was placed here by "Ano...The following comment was placed here by "Anonymous" and removed:<br /><br />"Your blanket dismissal of KIPP, TFA, merit pay, etc. is patently absurd. I'd say this is main detraction of your writing; overemphasis of emotion/anecdote and a general lack of evidence."<br /><br />I removed this comment, in accordance with "my policy" stated many times on this blog - certain types of criticism must come with evidence and/or identity. In my experience here, over five years, only once has a "pro-KIPP/TFA" commenter identified themselves. And never have they offered evidence. <br /><br />This blog has produced many links to evidence of KIPP/TFA's minimal impact, and the information cited here is from TFA's annual report.<br /><br />If the "future leader" who made this comment wishes to have the courage to stand behind their words, I will be happy to engage in conversation.<br /><br />- Ira Socolirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-33014515601102188932011-03-19T13:14:15.501-04:002011-03-19T13:14:15.501-04:00As always, you make a forceful and compelling argu...As always, you make a forceful and compelling argument. I'm grateful that you're on the side of teachers, students and literacy learning, Ira, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the NWP funding situation.Paul Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02054696271735912420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-73314027811225264722011-03-19T12:31:36.513-04:002011-03-19T12:31:36.513-04:00I am a physics teacher who was invited, by a membe...I am a physics teacher who was invited, by a member of our English department, to participate in a literacy focused professional development program a few years ago that was informally connected to the Hoosier Writing Project (HWP), the state branch of the NWP. The English teacher who began the program at our school got a grant that paid for subs to cover one of our classes and our study hall once a month in the afternoons, so that we could meet to focus on literacy instruction strategies. The meetings consisted of two members of each of the "core" subject areas (math, science, English and history), two other English teachers who had participated in HWP training before and an HWP associated English education professor from IUPUI, a local university. I was so impressed with the things I learned in this program that I signed up for the month long HWP summer institute at IUPUI that year. This program and the institute I attended were the best professional development I've ever experienced. I learned strategies that not only improved my students literacy development but also the development of their math and science understanding. I was also put in touch with a network of passionate teachers from across the state, through my associate with the HWP, that I can turn to for ideas or support in further improving my instruction. We have been fortunate at the school where I work that this particular English teacher, who runs the program, has been able to continue it. The next year, he invited two members of each of the "elective" departments (fine arts, foreign language, health/wellness and technology). This year, he has returned to pull in more teachers from the "core" areas. In a recent conversation with one of the art teachers who participated last year and who also went to the HWP summer institute, he agreed that this was the best professional development that he participated in as well. I firmly believe that students will benefit greatly if all teachers learn to employ effective reading and writing strategies in their classes, because, as one of the mantras of the HWP says, "Teaching reading is teaching learning and teaching writing is teaching thinking." No matter what our subject area is, teaching kids how to learn and how to think should be our primary objective. There are few programs out there that are as effective as the NWP in providing teachers with the skills to do this well. This program needs to be preserved and I am deeply saddened by the lack of support that this program is getting at the federal level. Thank you for bringing some light to this issue.bigmaggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09741035330949418848noreply@blogger.com