The State Department of Education released the 2015 A-F Report Cards for all public schools. While state law requires it, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister has signaled she has no confidence in the validity or reliability of the report cards in their current framework.
The Education Department determines the grades using a formula created by legislation in 2013. While accountability is supported, there have been serious problems noted with the A-F Report Cards. To get a No Child Left Behind waiver the U.S. Department of Education required Oklahoma to perform modifications to the systems as a condition.
“I am committed to a system of accountability that is accurate, reliable and meaningful,” Hofmeister said. “In its current form, the A-F Report Cards are too flawed to be useful. I am optimistic that we can have a better system.”
House Bill 1823 requires the State Board of Education to submit a report on the transparency, statistical trustworthiness, and credibility of the current system to the governor and legislative leaders by the end of the year. Researchers from Oklahoma universities are performing the research.
This year Oklahoma public schools received 212 A’s, 497 B’s, 536 C’s, 333 D’s and 183 F’s. During the previous year, the report cards recorded 284 A’s, 470 B’s, 492 C’s, 292 D’s, and 196 F’s.
“Too flawed to be useful?” Au contraire, Madame Superintendent. The grades given the schools with which I am familiar are spot on. But I am sure we can count on you to water down the process to the point where everyone gets an A or B.
How about everyone gets a trophy. That should be familiar for that generation.