October 28th, 2009
DPS deserves credit for addressing student needs
It’s been said that insanity is defined as doing the same things in the same ways and expecting different results. Yet that’s what we in education have done for years.
We have known what it takes to reform education, but have not been willing to turn that knowledge into action. Today, however, we have a few forces working in our favor.
First, we know more about improvement initiatives that work. Second, the U.S. Department of Education will allocate significant funds to schools that take bold, aggressive steps and use the most recently proven practices to improve schools. Finally, teachers have greater access to the tools they need to better meet the needs of students.
Recently, Denver Public Schools held regional meetings to announce some bold steps to effect change in a few of its most struggling schools. Parents and teachers alike were and continue to be frustrated. As a father of three, I completely understand. No one - whether parent, teacher, principal, district administrator or even Realtor - wants to close a school or dramatically change it. I get that.
Years ago, I had to close a couple of schools in inner-city Baltimore. Revamping the curriculum or hiring different teachers wasn’t sufficient. No amount of time will lessen my memories of the parents, teachers and community members who attended those meetings.
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