Monday Moanin Thoughts #239 No Matter Your Rank, Dig In!

Happy January Monday Moanin to all of you. Wow, it feels like springtime in Michigan. This past week has been filled with many interesting events. On a national level a new President was inaugurated and Donald Trump began his term as the 45th President.  There is sure to be many new policies and executive orders enacted that will result in changes including education. Here in Michigan, Governor Snyder and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) released school score cards, which provide a wide range of data. This includes a top to bottom ranking of nearly every school in the state. Thankfully, this will be the final year of these rankings and the state will comply with the with the federal law that  oversees K-12 schools for 2017-18. The accountability system will switch to grades of A-F and other data points.  I don’t think that these rankings have played a key role in  improving schools. Has learning really improved or are students just experiencing a consistent dose of test preparation that can mask the real issues and minimize the results?  Consistently, high-ranking school districts publicize and market those scores to attract families and students from lower ranked districts or even within the same district. This is not the kind of competition that is healthy or effective.  As a result, for the next several weeks these rankings will be the topic of many conversations by realtors and in neighborhoods. The bottom line is that whatever your ranking, keep focusing on what you have control over. Continued focus on improving instruction and student engagement is what really counts.  Addressing  the learning gaps of all  students is essential. I appreciate the efforts of educators throughout our state. We are lucky to have them working with our kids. Be reminded, no matter where your school is ranked, dig in, be well planned, and don’t be average!

Have a great week and keep finding the good stuff.