Teach Effectively!

From the sound of it, the Clayton County (GA, US) schools could use some practice with teaching effectively. According to a story by Heather Vogell, writing in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, students with disabilities are faring poorly on state tests.

In the report, the state Department of Education’s 11 evaluators found:

• Many Clayton special education teachers lack training and certifications to teach grade-level math to students.

• Disabled students are removed from regular classes, dismissed early or suspended often — costing valuable class time when other strategies for managing behavior exist.

• Teachers and administrators are failing to provide some disabled students the accommodations they need to learn at the fastest pace.

• Expectations are lowered for students placed in special education. Regular education options are not always considered when they should be.

The state will give Clayton up to $60,000 and about two years to improve. The district could eventually lose federal funding if it does not.

Assistant Superintendent Luvenia Jackson said Clayton will use the report to boost reforms already under way.

In her story, Ms. Vogell leads with a parent’s concern about math instruction. Mayhaps the powers that be should spend a bit of that $60K on buying my favorite practical guide to teaching arithmetic and mathematics, Designing Effective Mathematics Instruction by Marcy Stein and colleagues. It’s research-based, eminently sensible, and shows the scope of arithmetic and mathematics from K through 8th, illustrating each concept and operation with scripted lessons.

Link to Ms. Vogell’s story.