Re: #10) Direct all questions to the professionals
As a reminder that we writers don't really know what's going on in the schools, MSDE points parents and other concerned citizens to teachers and principals.
Staff & Reporter Archive
Paul Katula
Paul Katula is the executive editor of the Voxitatis Research Foundation, which publishes this blog. For more information, see the About page.
Stories by Paul Katula
Re: #8) Info from the MSA is valuable
By Paul Katula
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We are skeptical that any information we might glean from an outdated test would be valuable to anybody, but MSDE says it is.
Re: #7) College-ready PARCC tests are a go in 2014-15
By Paul Katula
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We question whether or not the Common Core State Standards actually prepare kids for college and careers, and we have some impressive company in our skepticism.
Re: #6) Federal law requires kids to take the MSA
By Paul Katula
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We might learn something about federal education law (and its enforcement) from what other states have done. Here, we look at California.
Re: #9) PARCC field test will improve test quality
By Paul Katula
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As MSDE points out, the sole purpose of a field test, which PARCC will administer this year, is to improve the quality of the test itself. No value to kids this year.
Concussions increase the risk of depression in teens
By Paul Katula
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Teens with a history of concussions are more likely to become depressed than teens who have never had a concussion, so be vigilant as you work with them.
Home page backdrop: Environmental literacy
By Paul Katula
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Our home page has a new background picture as of Jan 11, a photo we hope calls attention to environmental literacy in Maryland and across the country.
Pretty colors & dangerous fire in a chem experiment
By Paul Katula
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The rainbow flame chemistry demo goes wrong, once again, in a Manhattan classroom, badly burning a young boy, who is now hanging on to his life.
Bills introduced in Md. to cancel the MSA
By Paul Katula
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The Maryland General Assembly has introduced emergency legislation that seeks to cancel the state's tests in reading and math used for accountability purposes.
2 words about student data privacy: Snowden, Target
By Paul Katula
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Based on a webinar with a student data privacy expert panel of 3, we consider a question not asked in this first report of a series.