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Alabama offers three tricks to fix poor urban schools

economist.com

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Re: Alabama offers three tricks to fix poor urban schools

#6
Their solution is that you must read at a 3rd grade level in order to get promoted to 4th grade. It brought them from basically the worst State to the 30th percentile in reading for 4th graders.

So, common sense? If you’re requiring proficiency in order to promote, then I’d expect to see significantly better results than this.

It’s noteworthy that they’re still basically the worst in 8th grade reading and math. Might take some time for these literate 4th graders to get up to 8th grade age.

I don’t think Alabama is a model for anything related to public education.

Re: Alabama offers three tricks to fix poor urban schools

#7
post #6

Their solution is that you must read at a 3rd grade level in order to get promoted to 4th grade. It brought them from basically the worst State to the 30th percentile in reading for 4th graders. So, common sense? If you’re requiring proficiency in order to promote, then I’d expect to see significantly better results than this. It’s noteworthy that they’re still basically the worst in 8th grade reading and math. Might…

It's also noteworthy that they have some of the most impoverished populations in their schools in the entire country.

Re: Alabama offers three tricks to fix poor urban schools

#8
post #6

Their solution is that you must read at a 3rd grade level in order to get promoted to 4th grade. It brought them from basically the worst State to the 30th percentile in reading for 4th graders. So, common sense? If you’re requiring proficiency in order to promote, then I’d expect to see significantly better results than this. It’s noteworthy that they’re still basically the worst in 8th grade reading and math. Might…

It's also noteworthy that they have some of the most impoverished populations in their schools in the entire country.

Yes, indeed. I should’ve mentioned that in my comment.

Re: Alabama offers three tricks to fix poor urban schools

#9
post #6

Their solution is that you must read at a 3rd grade level in order to get promoted to 4th grade. It brought them from basically the worst State to the 30th percentile in reading for 4th graders. So, common sense? If you’re requiring proficiency in order to promote, then I’d expect to see significantly better results than this. It’s noteworthy that they’re still basically the worst in 8th grade reading and math. Might…

> still basically the worst in 8th grade reading and math.

Doesn't that stand to reason? The changes described in this article have been in place for less than six years, so the earliest grade cohorts haven't yet made it to 8th grade!

In my opinion, it's very encouraging to see Alabama making the strides they've made so far.

Re: Alabama offers three tricks to fix poor urban schools

#10

This is less "Alabama" and instead "one blue city in a red state making policy changes while the governer takes credit for it".

Look at the chart. Adjusted for "poverty rate and other demographics", the top states are red states, so it's harder to chalk it up as some sort of n=1 outlier.
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