Cala, Brizard Spar Over Grad Rates in Email Exchange

Former Interim Superintendent William Cala and current Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard got into an email tiff over graduation rate data.

Brizard has been touting an increase in the number of students who graduated last spring, even though the graduation rate has fallen. Cala takes him to task for his math, something I did a while back in a blog post.

When reached by phone, Cala said, “My point is not a criticism of what he’s doing. He’s got a lot of things he could hang his hat on. You can’t hang your hat on something that’s not true.”

I asked Cala – who has been a harsh critic of standardized testing – how much the graduation rate matters when assessing a school district’s performance.

“I think the grad rate is the only thing that matters,” he said. But he said in a district with a high concentration of poverty, closing poor-performing schools or replacing the leadership is not the answer. “All of this is just rearranging the deck chairs. None of the solutions have been proven to work.”

Here is the email exchange, obtained by 13WHAM News. (Many people were copied in, which is why the first email from Cala does not directly address Brizard.)

Cala’s Email (starts by quoting a Brizard media statement):

Brizard’s Statement:
I have made clear my belief that teachers and principals are the number one factor influencing student success and my commitment to supporting them in the important work they do. I have also made clear that we cannot continue doing things the way we always have and expect different results. We are moving forward with reform efforts that to date have resulted in a 12-point increase in the graduation rate in three years and that will lead to continued progress in student achievement. That progress cannot be hindered by those who would stay rooted in what hasn't worked.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. Brizard had nothing to do with a 12 point graduation increase. Here are the facts. In 2007 the graduation results were announced by SED for 2006 graduates at 39%. In 2008 the results for the 2007 year were announced at 51%. 2008 was Brizard’s first year. The 12% increase came before he stepped in the door. The real facts are that graduation rates dipped below 51% during his tenure, thus actually losing ground.

Bill

Brizard Weighs In:

Bill,

For the record…

Despite the requirements for students to graduate from high school becoming more stringent, the class of 2009 represented the greatest amount of students graduating from high schools in the District over the last five years. A total of 1,334 students in the 2009 class graduated high school in four years. This represented an increase of 16% over the 1,153 students that graduated from the 2008 class. As the State begins to phase out local diplomas, the criteria for the earning a local diploma was more rigorous for the 2009 class compared to the class of 2008. Also, the 2009 class increased by 704 students compared to the 2008 class. A larger denominator cast a shadow over the dramatic increase in the number of students graduating and actually seems to depict lower graduation performance. With all students accounted for, the graduation rate for the 2009 class was 46% through August 2009. In addition to the increase in overall graduates in the 2009 total, the number of students achieving a Regents Diploma also increased to a record 739 (15% increase from the 2008 class).

And… for the pièce de résistance, the class of 2010 will be at …. – oh yes you may take credit for that as well.

All the best and a great Christmas to you and your family.

Jean-Claude

Cala’s Response:

Jean-Claude,

First of all, I have NEVER taken credit publicly or privately for any increase or decrease in test scores or graduation rates. They have proven to be totally unreliable and I have written prolifically on the topic. I think it is absurd to believe that graduation rates can dramatically increase (or decrease) in one, two or even three years. Graduation rates will be affected by years of systemic change beginning at early grade levels. Of the 4 most effective programs in the country that show the most significant gains in graduation rates, 3 are based in early childhood.

Second, you cannot discount the denominator in the determination of a rate. The state statistics are clear on the RCSD graduation rates over the last 4 years.

I applaud your energy and effort to improve RCSD, however, the statement about a 12% increase in the graduation rate is incorrect.

Bill