More details on U.S. Dept. Ed. dollars behind OPRF detracking and what you had to say about the purpose of schools

Records show OPRF high school was one location in a 2016 $29.4MM  award by the U.S. Dept. Education award to the American Institutes For Research In The Behavioral Sciences (AIR).  The goal for spending was “implementation of a curriculum change as well as the removal of an academic tracking program” and the aim was raising achievement of black students.

The facts are beginning to suggest that by detracking freshman year, OPRF school officials may have ignored what was already known about effective interventions.  Further, there is no evidence yet of education research, but instead large sums of money spent implementing a pre-existing idea.

Source:https://www.highergov.com/contract/EDIES17C0007/#activity_timeline

OPRF high school was named as one location in the grant where most dollars accounted for labor and were used to form the Midwest Achievement Gap Research Alliance.  The Alliance, along with OPRF school officials, promoted these points:

1. Detracking helps students with lower academic scores without negatively affecting students with higher academic scores.

2. A diverse classroom will lead to thoughtful discussions in which students will learn from their peers.

3. Students will have access to honors curriculum throughout their high school career.

4. Rigorous high school courses will better prepare students to pursue further studies in STEM fields.

OPRF school officials proceeded with detracking freshman year in 2022 despite an exhaustive MidWest REL review of nearly 4,000 pieces of literature failed to find support for detracking.  What the 2018 literature review did identify was 22 interventions with Tier 1 or Tier 2 research support (more rigorous study) and many of these interventions had been part of the earlier OPRF Huskie Scholar Academy program. 

This scholarly program’s objective was to challenge capable students to take higher level courses.  The program stemmed from a $40,000 consulting contract with Equal Opportunity Schools and produced immediately measurable benefits.  The program was discontinued by new OPRF school officials in lieu of detracking (OPRF officials Adams, Johnson, Fiorenza), and no second-semester report was produced.

Not named in the grant is River Forest district 90, although these teachers, staff and students appear to have spent much longer under research conditions.  District 90’s 2016 detracking effort called “crosswalk” (now blank on D90 website) aligns with the AIR research effort that provided a “crosswalk tool”.  In the eight years since The Midwest Achievement Gap Research Alliance work started, the gap in scores between poor and non-poor students has reached record levels of disparity, suggesting serious flaws in the “logic model” and poor district leadership.

Following 2016, then district 90 board president Ralph Martire described “a fundamental change to instructional philosophy” without publicly connecting changes to the large financial award or the future detracking freshman year he would push as district 200 board member.  The award may have camouflaged a community understanding that tax-paying residents set the aspirations for their public schools.  It also may explain why unanimously-voting board members refused to condemn abhorrent behavior of those working to deny a school board with diversity of thought.  It probably explains the inescapable rise in unserious school board candidates.  And in River Forest, it most certainly explains the sudden decline in learning that occurred immediately after the “crosswalk” was introduced. 

Oak Park district 97 wasn’t named in the grant either; however, it doesn’t seem immune to a lower ceiling as certain proposals from school officials appear to limit student potential.   Whereas River Forest district 90 did adopt block scheduling in middle school to coincide with new curricula using a student-led learning theory, Oak Park district 97 school officials are backing away from an existing middle school block schedule.  School officials reported “Adjusting the length and structure of class periods, with an emphasis on daily schedules for core subjects” at the March 18th   board meeting (timestamp 13:00). 

E3 is interested in your thoughts and questions on the US Dept Education grant influencing local detracking.  More information will be shared as it becomes available.

"In one sentence - What is the purpose of public schools?"

This was the question and while the survey is still open, here are few anonymous answers. 

Fair warning, there was no filtering out of seemingly unserious answers, these don’t represent any particular geography, and answers more than 3x the one-sentence instructions were omitted.

"To create unthinking workers for capitalism. "

"To educate the children of the community so that they can reach their highest potential. Ideally, this is done affordably as it is funded by the taxes of the whole community. "

"… to help children develop academic and social skills and knowledge so they are prepared to succeed in further learning and participation society."

"To provide an education and foundation of learning to the youth of our community. "

"To teach with academic excellence the basics of reading, writing, math, logic, and problem solving while instilling a love of learning and also completely avoiding "social engineering" or the pushing ideologies"

"To educate informed, thoughtful future citizens of the state who can think critically and are prepared for the future in a way that allows them to meaningfully contribute to society and the economy. "

 "To prepare children for adulthood and to be good citizens thru teaching fundamentals: reading, writing, arithmetic, civics, history along with critical thinking."

"Deliver literacy and numeracy; instill awareness of the complexity of human history and and present challenges; develop skills to critically assess information."

"To give children the skills to be life long learners."

"Public schools should prepare children academically for service to the local and national good."

"To maximize the potential realized for each individual student. "

"To provide a safe space for children to grow and learn."

"Currently:To erode the social fabric of society: Hyper sexualize children, disintegrate familial relationships, promulgate hatred of America, create victim mentality, inspire belief in Government and prohibit belief in God.    Should be: Teach students to read, do math, and to practice critical thinking. "

"Provide education."

That's it...do you have a different idea on the purpose of public schools?  Share it anonymously HERE.

Last, E3 is being censored by some local private River Forest Facebook groups. Share and SUBSCRIBE to ensure the newsletter reaches your inbox. 

It's E3, where equity still means fairness.