THE test scores of District Public Schools students have increased significantly. Inside the administration of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty there was a tug over who would make the announcement and who should receive the credit for improvements, according to government sources.
The standardized test scores are up reportedly in reading and math at both the elementary and high school levels. The increases are between 4 and 10 percentage points, say government sources. DCPS students may have performed better than students at charter schools.
The State Superintendent of Education and the State Board of Education were poised to make the announcement of the improvements at a press conference on July 18th. But Fenty and Chancellor Michelle Rhee have commandeered that event; the announcement will be made tomorrow.
Some board members are angry that Fenty will take credit for the students' improved performance. They argue that former Superintendent Clifford Janey deserves the praise. They say that there should be a detailed analysis of how students at schools that have been closed and where principals were fired performed on the tests. Others say that this year’s improvements may simply be that students are getting used to the test.
Undoubtedly, State Superintendent of Education Deborah Gist and the state board will determine exactly what caused the dramatic hike in scores.
As for who gets the credit? That’s easy: The man who controls the microphone.
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