Left In Lowell

New Growth Model Shows Student Improvement

8 Responses to “New Growth Model Shows Student Improvement”

1. I don't support the van plan anymore Says:
   October 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pm

   So basically students at the Reilly and Sullivan are not showing as much year over year growth as the students at the Moody, Morey, Lincoln, Wang, Stoklosa, and Daley. Very interesting. Pay a lot of $$ to live in the “best” section of Lowell and your child gets an inferior education. It’s no wonder most folks who grew up in Belvidere have moved to the burbs to raise a family. James F. Sullivan is rolling over in his grave right now.

2. Kim Says:
   October 31st, 2009 at 12:45 am

   I have to agree that the growth model will quickly disagree with people if it shows growth in schools that were lower performing and schools like the Reilly, Pyne, and Sullivan, are showing no growth. Yes, I expect profound growth too! My daughter has been moved from her desk 3 times and has been unable to make social ties in the name of helping under-performers
   (She is bright and I was told she was moved because she was a good example for non-english language speakers) Sorry but it is my child and she is not the teacher and her scores will drop which will not help the MCAS scores overall. I love her helping but she will be pulled down!

3. waittilnextyr Says:
   October 31st, 2009 at 10:59 am

   The growth model may be flawed if it doesn’t account for the lesser ability to grow that occurs when one approaches the top of the scale.

   But even worse if the top students are being restricted in an attempt to bring up the bottom group. All students should be helped, but some should not be restricted in the attempt to improve the others. We need the top students to get even better, as well as the bottom students to move up.

4. Kim Says:
   October 31st, 2009 at 9:58 pm

   “But even worse if the top students are being restricted in an attempt to bring up the bottom group. All students should be helped, but some should not be restricted in the attempt to improve the others. We need the top students to get even better, as well as the bottom students to move up. ”

   I could not agree more! When I was in school we had programs like project enterprise for children that excelled and children were broken off into reading levels. I think the theory of having children uplift other children is fantastic as long as we also do not hold children that excel down. The Lowell schools push on our small children to help their neighbor with their work and let them know their behavior is not correct. I just think this is way too much for a 6 year old to teach another 6 year old. We as adults need to do this! This new testing system concerns me.

5. K-R-S Says:
   October 31st, 2009 at 10:44 pm

   So, as a parent with children in the Lowell Public Schools, I’d like to know exactly what the “Growth Model” is? As far as the percentiles, I know where they stand…just curious about this issue..

6. Kim Says:
   November 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm

   The growth model measures the percentage of growth that an individual child has achieved on the MCAS. Lowell has some subgroups that have shown tremendous growth but still do not pass the MCAS. Lowell wants to show that they may have had to work harder to get these children to the level that they are at vs. another community that did not have the ESL or special ed population that we have. It is a much more fair way to rate MCAS scores then the current system. The only problem that I have with it is that Lowell has school populations that are not in these “risk” groups and still many of them fail to thrive in the Lowell Schools and I am not convinced on using other chidlren to push the growth effort.

7. Kim Says:
   November 1st, 2009 at 1:42 pm

   I guess I need to know if a child barely passes the MCAS but never improves is that a negative reflection on Lowell schools? Does the system require growth from high level learners also?

8. I don't support the van plan anymore Says:
   November 1st, 2009 at 9:47 pm

   I just read an article on Boston.com titled “Grade the teachers”. It mentions the Ma. new growth model…”Last week, Massachusetts state education officials unveiled a value-added data system that can track the growth in individual students’ achievement from year to year. State officials have not laid out any formal plans to use it to assess teacher effectiveness, but it seems clear that there is interest in moving in that direction, and the state plans to cite the new database in its application for Race to the Top funds.”
   Looks like Ma. is moving toward merit pay for teachers. Thank God! We need to motivate and reward good teachers! AND weed out the bad ones. I just hope it happens before my child enters the Lowell public school system.

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