Only 17% of 8th Graders Can Read at Grade Level in Chicago Schools Overseen by Obama

[Revmitchell]

Only 17% of 8th Graders Can Read at Grade Level in Chicago Schools Overseen by Obama Education Secretary-Designee



In 2007, only 17 percent of eighth graders tested at or above grade level in reading in Chicago Public Schools – the school system administered by Arne Duncan since 2001.

President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday tapped Duncan to become secretary of education in the upcoming administration.


More Here

Oh well. Don't hold them accountable to their results. Only their intentions.

 

[menageriekeeper]

From the article:

By 2007, only 17 percent of Chicago eighth graders were at or above grade level in reading.

In 2007, 29 percent of eighth grade students scored at or above grade-level in reading,

Contradictory information within two paragraphs of each other in this article make me suspicious that someone (mainly the article's writer) didn't quite do enough research.

Got anything better?

 

[Revmitchell]

Not contradictory at all look at it again.

 

[targus]

From the article:

"By 2007, only 17 percent of Chicago eighth graders were at or above grade level in reading. "

"In 2007, 29 percent of eighth grade students scored at or above grade-level in reading,"

Contradictory information within two paragraphs of each other in this article make me suspicious that someone (mainly the article's writer) didn't quite do enough research.

Got anything better?

You missed the sentence between that answers your question:

"Nationally, students did much better on average in reading, math, science, and writing."

The 17% refers to Chicago eighth grade students and the 29% refers to eighth graders nationally.

 

[menageriekeeper]

I stand corrected!

 

[Pastor Larry]

President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday tapped Duncan to become secretary of education in the upcoming administration.

Yet another in the ever increasing parade of illustrations of Obama's bad judgment. He just doesn't get it. He surrounds himself with inept people.

Perhaps the only worse choice would have been the recently fired (as of last night) superintendent of the DEtroit Public Schools. She would have fit in well at the federal level where money is no bject. Here she couldn't balance the budget or educate people. There, she would only have to fail at the latter.

 

[JustChristian]

Yet another in the ever increasing parade of illustrations of Obama's bad judgment. He just doesn't get it. He surrounds himself with inept people.

Perhaps the only worse choice would have been the recently fired (as of last night) superintendent of the DEtroit Public Schools. She would have fit in well at the federal level where money is no bject. Here she couldn't balance the budget or educate people. There, she would only have to fail at the latter.

Give it up. You lost the election. You can either accept that gracefully or continue your rants.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Way to address his points.

Fact is, the guy most responsible for the 17% is now going to be running your public schools.

 

[just-want-peace]

Give it up. You lost the election. You can either accept that gracefully or continue your rants.

Nothing like a good discussion of the topic to keep interest up, right?

Unless of course the truth hurts and you aim to shift focus.

You really do need to learn to be a bit more discreet though, cause this attempt is pitifully obvious.

But, as I said on another post "Old habits die hard"!

 

[Bro. Curtis]

And the only one ranting is you, J/C.

 

[donnA]

Give it up. You lost the election. You can either accept that gracefully or continue your rants.

This is the kind of public schools obama wants to create and this is all you have to say, you don't care if kids can't read, as long as obama is president.
Well, sacrificing children't isn't new for obama is it.

 

[LeBuick]

The 17% refers to Chicago eighth grade students and the 29% refers to eighth graders nationally.

Not a fair comparison with the large population and gang infested areas in Chicago. 17% is probably the number that shows up. I would wonder how Chicago stacks up to other large cities like NY or LA. I think that would be a more fair measuring stick.

 

[targus]

17% or 29% ...

Both are abysmal.

That aside, in my opinion the schools should be a local matter - not Federal.

 

[Spinach]

In order for me to accurately make a judgement on this matter, I would have to know the stats before this individual was in control of the Chicago schools. And, as another poster mentioned, I'd have to know how other like cities stacked up.

JustChristian, you are an interesting individual.

 

[targus]

I'm guessing that the percentages given are taken from the standardized tests manadated by "No Child Left Behind".

I don't have the interest to investigate it any further.

But as I said 17% and 29% are both abysmal.

 

[Pastor Larry]

Give it up. You lost the election.

I don't know if you know this or not, but I wasn't even running. I didn't lose anything.

The fact remains that Obama makes bad choices. This is another example. He just picked Rep Lahood for Transportation Secretary. Except that it is reported that the guy knows very little about transportation.

You can either accept that gracefully or continue your rants.

I am not ranting (unless you know of a definition of "rant" that I don't know about). You are probably just upset at the truth, and since you don't have any good explanation as to why Obama chose the leader of a failure to lead again, you attack the messenger.

 

[JamieinNH]

If I am reading and understanding this PDF right, the original article is clearly wrong.

This PDF that is linked below shows that 61% read at basic level. With 39% reading below the level, which is consistent with the other larger cities listed.


PDF LINKIE

 

[billwald]

Sounds about par for a big city school system. Half the kids in Chicago probably go to Parochial schools.

 

[targus]

If I am reading and understanding this PDF right, the original article is clearly wrong.

This PDF that is linked below shows that 61% read at basic level. With 39% reading below the level, which is consistent with the other larger cities listed.


PDF LINKIE

From your PDF:

"The percentage of students in Chicago who performed at or above the
NAEP Proficient level was 17 percent in 2007."

"The percentage of students in Chicago who performed at or above the
NAEP Basic level was 61 percent in 2007."

There is your 17% mentioned in the OP article.

So the question now is - What is Proficient level and what is Basic level?

Here is a link for anyone who cares to understand the difference.

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/Reading/achieveall.asp (half way down the page)

 

[JamieinNH]

From your PDF:

"The percentage of students in Chicago who performed at or above the
NAEP Proficient level was 17 percent in 2007."

"The percentage of students in Chicago who performed at or above the
NAEP Basic level was 61 percent in 2007."

There is your 17% mentioned in the OP article.

So the question now is - What is Proficient level and what is Basic level?

Here is a link for anyone who cares to understand the difference.

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/Reading/achieveall.asp (half way down the page)

This isn't what the article stated though, they didn't say anything about Proficient or Basic level.

Here is what the first post quoted:
In 2007, only 17 percent of eighth graders tested at or above grade level in reading in Chicago Public School

The article wants us to believe that only 17% can read at grade level, which isn't so. 61% of the students can read at grade level (Basic) and others have a higher ability.

The 61% is also in line with the other larger cities. So I don't know what the fuss is about.


Just more of nothing my opinion....