myths, realities, potential and future of urban schools

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EDUCATIONAL STUDIES COLLOQUIUM The 2006-2007 Brown Bag Series Winter Semester Presents Dr. Kenneth Stephen Burnley Senior Resident Fellow Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools Urban myths will be debunked; realities, challenges and joys of serving in the urban environment will be presented; successes and the potential of urban students will be shared; and a dialogue on these topics will occur leading to questions about the future of urban schools. The conversation is designed to be stimulating and provocative while raising questions about issues of urban education to which a lack of solutions may portend grave implications for our nation and its’ preeminence Brownlee Room Thursday, April 19, 2007 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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Urban myths will be debunked; realities, challenges and joys of serving in the urban environment will be presented; successes and the potential of urban students will be shared; and a dialogue on these topics will occur leading to questions about the future of urban schools. The conversation is designed to be stimulating and provocative while raising questions about issues of urban education to which a lack of solutions may portend grave implications for our nation and its’ preeminence

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

EDUCATIONAL STUDIES COLLOQUIUM

The 2006-2007 Brown Bag SeriesWinter Semester

Presents

Dr. Kenneth Stephen BurnleySenior Resident Fellow

Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Urban myths will be debunked; realities, challenges and joys of serving in the urban environment will be presented; successes and the potential of urban students will be shared; and a dialogue on these topics will occur leading to questions about the future of urban schools. The conversation is designed to be stimulating and provocative while raising questions about issues of urban education to which a lack of solutions may portend grave implications for our nation and its’ preeminence

Brownlee RoomThursday, April 19, 200712:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Page 2: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Kenneth Stephen BurnleyBackground & Experience

• Education

• Work Experience

• Career Decisions

Page 3: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Colloquium on Urban Education in General

Detroit Public SchoolsIn Particular

Page 4: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

What is the Graduation Rate Around the Nation?

• 2002 national rate of 72% (Jay Greene and Marcus Winters, Manhattan Institute)

• “Students from historically disadvantaged minority groups (American Indian, Hispanic, Black) have little more than a fifty/fifty chance of finishing school.” (Christopher Swanson, The Urban Institute, February 2004)

• “In the class of 2002, about 78% of white students graduated….compared to 56% for African American students and 52% of Hispanic students.” (The Gates Foundation, 2005)

Page 5: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Graduation Rates Around the Nation

• Chicago 1995: 61.2%

2004: 70.7%

• Detroit 2005: 68%

• Philadelphia 2005: 41-46%

• Boston 2004: 53%

Page 6: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Graduation Rates Around the Nation (continued)

2001 Four Year Graduation Rates (Dropouts in America, Christopher B. Swanson)

Nation: 68%South: 62%West: 68%Northwest: 71%Midwest: 75%

Page 7: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

What’s My Point?Myth: DPS graduation rates are the lowest in

the nation

Truth: Contrary to popular opinion, the DPS graduation rates are NOT the worst in the nation. In fact, they are better than those for minorities nationally (Gates 50/50) are similar to or better than the rates in other urban districts, and are about 10% away from the national rate for whites (Gates)

• DPS graduation rates are not acceptable and must improve

Page 8: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Truth: Until Recently, State Calculations Varied Widely

Wild Fluctuations1998: 68% (last year of DPS calculation) 1999: 46% (beginning of state calculation)2000: 58%2001: 54% 2002: 67%2003: 44%2004: 61% (State begins to search state-wide for students)2005: 68%

Beginning in 2004, the state looked for DPS leavers in the state-wide data base. These DPS leavers were enrolled in other districts but DPS was not informed. Thus, previously, they count as dropouts for DPS.

Page 9: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

What’s Going On?

The old formula did not look at individual students. It calculated a rate based on the number of entering Grade 9 students and the number of graduates 4 years later.

• Formula favors stable districts and growing districts

• Penalizes districts with declining enrollment • Forces a district to count a student as a dropout if

their new enrollment is unknown (students illegally enrolled in other districts, students enrolled in districts that don’t request records from DPS, etc.)

Page 10: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

MI Projected Fiscal Year 2007 Per Pupil Funding

School Districts Per Pupil Funding

Hold Harmless

Total

Pontiac 7,269.00 0.00 7,269.00

Detroit 7,469.00 0.00 7,469.00

Livonia 8,173.00 317.00 8,490.00

Dearborn City 8,698.00 280.00 8,979.00

West Bloomfield 9,012.00 259.00 9,271.00

Grosse Pointe 10,080.00 198.00 10,178.00

Farmington 10,261.00 191.00 10,452.00

Southfield 11,187.00 157.00 11,344.00

Birmingham 12,140.00 122.00 12,262.00

Bloomfield Hills 12,220.00 120.00 12,340.00

Page 11: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: DPS wastes moneyTruth: inequitable funding places DPS in a position to be short of resources

Top 8 Metro Average $10,414

Difference in Metro Average vs. Detroit 2,945

# Detroit Students105,000

A More Equitable State School Finance Act could yield more Financial Support to DPS

Federal Funding is Limited to Use Category

$309,225,000

Page 12: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: Detroit teacher salaries are too highTruth: Detroit teacher salaries are not in the top 47 highest paying districts in the Tri-County area Salary Ranked Bachelors Max

District/County Salary Ranked

Bloomfield Hills/Oakland 72,560.00

Dearborn/Wayne 72,093.00

Walled Lake/Oakland 70,975.00

West Bloomfield/Oakland 70,854.00

Farmington/Oakland 70,026.00

Page 13: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: DPS is not closing the “student achievement gap” between it’s students and the rest of the State

Truth: Detroit is closing the achievement gap in spite of the resource gap in the two areas on which it has focused: reading and mathematics

Page 14: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Truth

In 2005 and 2006, Grades 3-8 were tested in reading and mathematics.

For reading, the gap decreased in 4 of 6 grades tested, remained the same in 1 grade, and increased in 1 grade.

For mathematics, the gap decreased in 3 of 6 grades, remained the same in 2 grades, and increased in 1 grade.

Page 15: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

What’s Going On?

Students have made progress in subjects that have been emphasized and supported with massive professional development, new programs and texts, etc.

The highly mobile student population in DPS progresses when programs are systemic across the district.

Reading and mathematics have received massive support and are systemic.

Page 16: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Grade 4 Reading

Grade 4 Reading (test change fall 2005)

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DPS 55 60 67 68 70

State 75 79 82 85 83

Winter 03 Winter 04 Winter 05 Fall 05 Fall 06

Page 17: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Grade 7 Reading

Grade 7 Reading (test change fall 2005)

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DPS 32 40 48 52 57

State 61 61 73 76 80

Winter 03 Winter 04 Winter 05 Fall 05 Fall 06

Page 18: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Grade 4 MathematicsGrade 4 Mathematics (test change fall 2005)

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DPS 45 55 54 56 65

State 65 73 73 82 85

Winter 03 Winter 04 Winter 05 Fall 05 Fall 06

Page 19: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Grade 8 MathematicsGrade 8 Mathematics (test change fall 2005)

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DPS 20 32 35 33 39

State 52 63 62 63 68

Winter 03 Winter 04 Winter 05 Fall 05 Fall 06

Page 20: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: Charter schools out perform public schoolsTruth: In the aggregate public schools out perform charter schools

• It is difficult to assess as many charter schools have fewer than 30 students at a grade so the scores are not presented

• A study using 2005 MEAP scores showed that DPS outperformed charter schools at the elementary level but not at the middle school level.

Page 21: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: Nothing “Extra” For KidsTruth: DPS Offers a Multitude of After School Academics, Sports and Activities

• Number of DPS schools offering before/after school Academic Programs

• 2002-03: 205• 2003-04: 208• 2004-05: 224Total number of offerings in various categories:

Approximately 1,600 by 04-05

*DPS Students win science, robotics, debate, state, regional and national competitions, etc.

Page 22: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: DPS does not partner with outside organizations

Truth: In 2004-05, there were 1,307 partnerships operating in Detroit schools

Page 23: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Myth: People flee mixed-race neighborhoods due to perception of bad schoolsTruth: Some do, but more flee for economic reasons

• Percent saying it is very or somewhat likely that fear of lower quality schools would keep them from moving into a mixed-race neighborhood

Black: 20% White: 32%

Page 24: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Truth (con’t) Percent saying it is very likely that fear of

lower property values would keep them from moving into a mixed-race neighborhood

Black: 40% White: 46%

Source: Mitchell Research and Communications, Inc. survey of 650 metro Detroiters, Aug. 13-17, 2001 (+ or – 4.4%)

Page 25: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Accomplishments

July 1, 2000 Initial Assessment

June 30, 2005 Final Assessment

See handout accompanying this presentation for details

Page 26: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Systemic Improvement In Student Achievement

How to do it, and how it was done in DPS

• Literacy

• Mathematics

*See handout accompanying this presentation for details

Page 27: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Challenges

• Declining enrollment• State midyear reductions in the

business plan caused student/teacher disruptions

• Finance inequity• Racism/bigotry• Bright flight

Page 28: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Challenges

• Disproportionate numbers of lower socio economic homes

• NCLB collision course with school finance

• Media representation without regard to human natures need for imbalance in positive to negative stories

Page 29: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Challenges: Declining Population

Estimated Population of Detroit July 1, 2005: 892,034• Change from 2000 to 2005 -59,236

Source: SEMCOG Population and Households in Southeast Michigan, 2000-2005

Page 30: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Challenges: Segregation

• 2002: Metro Detroit is “nations most segregated metropolis.” Detroit News, February 19, 2002

• 1989: “Detroit [metro area] is second in housing segregation among 10 metro areas.”

Hyper-segregation in U.S. Metropolitan Areas: Blacks and Hispanic Segregation Along Five Dimensions,” Douglas Massey, University of Chicago Population Research Center as reported in Free Press, 8-4-1989

Page 31: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Page 32: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Segregation

• “Metro Detroit has the highest level of neighborhood segregation between blacks and whites in the nation.”

Separate analyses of 2000 census data by The Detroit News, the Brookings Institution, and the State University of New York at Albany.

Page 33: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

The Cost of Segregation

Page 34: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Segregation

• “Black suburbanization is a trend we’re seeing across the country.” Jacob Vigdor, Duke University for the Brookings Institution report on segregation data

• Of the 185 cities and townships in the six-county Detroit region, 115 are more than 95 percent white. (From the 2000 census)

Page 35: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Joys

• Systemically improving student achievement and performance

• Stewardship over Detroit’s resources• Leading a challenge most cower from• Serving• Solving complex human challenges• Grace and humor under fire

Page 36: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

Joys(Continued)

• Building a team• Building relationships• Creating a vision, mission, goals with

annual objectives where the whole Organization makes it happen one team on one page

• Succeeding where others said we couldn’t

• Theodore Roosevelt

Page 37: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

In Spite of the Accomplishments The Challenges Seem To Be Winning The Day and Suggest a Continued Spiral Downward for Urban School Districts Worst Fears• Spiral Down Continues• Workforce Suffers• Productive Citizens

Declines• US Loses Preeminence• Inequitable Funding

continues• Racism is our Achilles

Heel

Best Hopes• NCLB Finally Inspires

the Nation• Schools Not Seen as

the Problem• The Village Really

Operates• Medical Home

Conditional Cash Transfers

• Regentrification

Page 38: Myths, Realities, Potential and Future of Urban Schools

What Do You Think Can Be Done?

What are your worst fears?

What are your best hopes?

What would you do?