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By Jim Uphoff, Ed. D.
Will Oakwood eventually join with almost ALL other school districts and by 2014 FAIL the current No Child Left Behind’s numerical mess which is built into the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) mandate? The simple answer is that unless this statistical nightmare is changed this next year, WE WILL ALSO FAIL!
WHY?
The basic standard that was built into the NCLB law is that by 2014 EVERY child will pass EVERY test demanded by the law. YES, 100 percent of all children regardless of ability, of home support, of socio-economic status, of any special needs, of any language problem, etc, MUST PASS EVERY TEST if that school district and/or building is to PASS the NCLB requirements.
Simply stated, this is a statistical impossibility! It means that the NCLB AYP was designed to put all public schools into a failure mode. There is no way that 100 percent of ANY group can do X or Y or Z. It may be a very lofty goal, but it is a totally unrealistic goal.
For example suppose we were measuring the ability of 10 year olds in fifth grade to jump X high, run X fast, throw a ball X far, etc… ALL of them must do ALL of these things by 2014 and so each year the law expects more and more of the 10 year olds to meet these basic expectations. Last year 49.6 percent of all fifth graders had to score at or above the magic marks if the school district was to meet AYP. This year, en route to 100% by 2014, 59.7 percent of the fifth graders must pass all of the tests - a 22.4 percentage INCREASE NEEDED TO MEET AYP for next school year!
Perhaps if we had contracted with some well known athletes whose bodies have been “fixed” to enable them to reach new levels, to help us reach this new level of pupil passing percentage, we might be able to “FIX” our 10 year olds and improve their physical performances enough to get by for this current year. But to get 100 percent of them to do successfully ALL of these sub-tests by 2014 is just not a reasonable expectation. It defies natural human performance and diversity - even in Oakwood.
Now for example, turn this into the reality of the academic Math tests and you have EXACTLY this problem in what it takes to meet AYP for 2007-08.
22.4 percent more fifth graders need to pass in 07-08 than did in 06-07
16.3 percent more sixth graders must pass in 07-08 than in 06-07
22.68 percent more seventh graders must pass in 07-08 than in 06-07
22.1 percent more eighth graders must pass in 07-08 than in 06-07.
The unreachable goal of 100 percent is the problem as the statisticians’ “plan” for trying to do the impossible is just an example of numerology being out of touch with the social and psychological nature of humans. This problem is just one major reason why the NCLB law MUST be changed significantly by Congress this year.
Please let Congressman Turner know how you feel about this issue!
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Sarah K. Deitz |
Calvin G. Williamson |
Sarah K. Deitz and Calvin G. Williamson, both seniors at Oakwood High School, were two of only 24 college-bound students in Ohio and two of 177 in the U.S. to achieve a 36, the highest possible composite score on the June 2007 national test administration of the ACT. About 34,000 Ohio students, and 395,000 from across the nation, completed the ACT college entrance exam in June.
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36. The average composite score for the national high school graduating class of 2007 was 21.2.
Sarah is the daughter of Dan and Linda Deitz; Calvin is the son of Greg and Dana Williamson.
The Oakwood Schools, in coordination with the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, had a successful and well-attended meeting for Oakwood Senior Citizens on Thursday, Sept. 13. The purpose of the meeting was an opportunity for senior citizens to sign up for the newly expanded Homestead Exemption and to ask questions about taxes and the school district operations.
Oakwood School Treasurer Kevin Philo and Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith helped seniors fill out the necessary application for the Homestead Exemption and answered numerous questions. The newly expanded exemption should help most
senior citizens over age 65 save almost $600 annually on property taxes without any income limitations. Applications can still be picked up at the Oakwood School Board Office but they must be submitted to the Montgomery County Auditor’s office by the deadline of Oct. 1.
Congratulations to the following Oakwood alumni were recently named to the dean’s list at Miami University.
Alexander Thomas Cranwell 250 Wiltshire Boulevard
Stephen Curry 530 Mayfield Road
Lisa Marie DeLong 300 Maysfield Road
Mark David Fogarty 430 Oakmead Place
Amanda Lehman Hahn 409 Forrer Boulevard
Bethany Lynn Harmon 127 Lonsdale
Emma Louise Harris 25 W. Thruston Boulevard
Leah Jeanne Ippisch 328 Lonsdale Avenue
Margaret Anne Jones 145 W. Peach Orchard Road
Samuel Travis Jones 145 W. Peach Orchard
Caitlin Meredith Newman 594 Garden Road
Justin Scott Quenneville 171 E. Thruston Boulevard
Kathryn Marie Quenneville 171 E. Thruston Boulevard
Jonathan Alistair Schnader 215 Beverly Place
Elizabeth Lauren Schuler 242 Forrer Boulevard
Erin Elizabeth Schumacher 809 Oakwood Avenue
Margaret Robin Slivken 1526 E Schantz Avenue
David Albert Vanderburgh 1908 Coolidge Drive
Jacqueline May Vanderburgh 1908 Coolidge Drive
Junior and senior parents are invited to attend a guidance information night on Sept. 19 in the OHS auditorium. Junior parents are asked to come at 7 p.m. The senior parents meeting begins at 8:15 p.m. Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Jacques will discuss the college application process and introduce a new, exciting website available to our students and parents. Concurrently, a representative from Collegeboard and The Princeton Review will be in the auditorium lobby to informally discuss programs available regarding standardized testing preparation (ACT/SAT).
Freshman and sophomore parents are invited to an informational meet
ing on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the OHS auditorium. Mr. Curlett, Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Jacques will present some very useful thoughts regarding your high school student and introduce an exciting website available to our students and parents.
Nov. 12 brings a representative from the Financial Aid Office at the University of Dayton to the OHS auditorium. This night is especially geared toward parents and students in the 11th and 12th grades.
Anyone in our community wishing to learn more about financing college is invited to attend. The Financial Aid presentation will begin at 7 p.m.
 Several Harman Elementary School students celebrated the much anticipated show of the season!! They did it in style. The students watched the premiere of High School Musical II with games, prizes, pizza, and fun.
Attending the party were hostesses Olivia and Jaclyn, Emma, Hollis, Katie, Veronica, Alex, Ava, Kayley, Caitlyn.
These girls were dressed in style as their favorite character and had a great time!
Oakwood Junior and Senior High School Directories will be
distributed to students this Wednesday, Sept. 19 in their homeroom. Parents, check the backpacks!
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