Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell endorsed a report Thursday that suggests more data are the key to learning what's working – and what's not – in education.
The McKinsey Report calls for the development of a comprehensive state education data system, one that would track individual public school students and teachers over time. The report recommends expanding and linking K-12 information to data about preschool, higher education, the work force and social services.
The report was compiled by McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm.
"We spend $60 billion annually on public education, and we know from No Child Left Behind that our schools are not doing well, especially in serving children of color," said Russlynn Ali, executive director for Education Trust West, a national educational policy organization that supports the report. "We know the outcome data, but very little about how to fix these problems … we can't do schools better unless we do data better."
The California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System – which, simply put, follows student achievement over time – would be part of the comprehensive data system. This database was used for the first time this year, with dramatic results. In July, the state reported that one in four high schoolers drops out, nearly double the rate reported the year before.
O'Connell said the proposed system will cost money, but that its foundation can be laid now at no cost.
Cost or no cost, some teachers are wary. Tom Gardner, president of the Elk Grove Education Association, which is part of the California Teachers Association, said the need for accountability in public education is without question.
EGEA is for data collection that is "valid" and "truly used" to improve education, he said, but he is reticent to endorse a system that evaluates teacher performance narrowly, such as through test scores alone.
"The valid accountability for me is when my principal watches me teach," he said. "It's pretty clear what good teaching looks like."
Call The Bee's Melissa Nix, (916) 321-1090.
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