Analysis: Madison School District has resources to close achievement gap

Matthew DeFour

The Madison School District has the money to improve low-income and minority student achievement but needs to reorganize its central administration to put more resources in the classroom, according to a group of local and national education experts who conducted a district review.

"We're recommending the system turn on its head," said Robert Peterkin, the former director of Harvard University's Urban Superintendents Program who led the review team.

New Madison schools superintendent Jennifer Cheatham, a graduate of the Harvard program, organized the team of experts as part of her transition. She plans to consult their recommendations before releasing next month a set of specific strategies and 2013-14 budget proposal.

According to the team's analysis, students need to be at the top of the "power pyramid" rather than district administration, with the focused goal of turning out graduates ready to attend college or start a career.

Central office administrators need to spend more time in the classroom and cut down on new programs that contribute to what teachers call "initiative fatigue."

Principals should have more input into hiring a more diverse staff. Teachers need more focused professional development. And all district employees need specific goals that can be measured and used to hold them accountable.

Students also need "demand parents" who take an active role, not only in school bake sales and sports, but in understanding the curriculum and educational goals for their students.

"Resources even in this environment can be brought to bear from existing dollars to your more focused set of goals and activities, rather than supporting proliferation of those activities," Peterkin told the Madison School Board on Monday night.

Cheatham said the review team had not taken a deep enough look at district finances to conclude that funding is available, but based on her assessment of the budget so far, she said the conclusion was "fairly accurate."

"The recommendations from the transition team warrant a deep look at the central office organization and our allocation of resources," she said.

The "Transition Team" Report (3MB PDF) and Superintendent Cheathem's "Entry Plan" summary.

Related:

Madison's disastrous long-term reading results.

Deja Vu: A Focus on "Adult Employment" or the Impossibility of Governance Change in the Madison Schools.

Madison has long spent more per student than most districts. The most recent 2012-2013 budget, via a kind Donna Williams and Matthew DeFour email is $392,789,303 or $14,496.74 per student (27,095 students, including pre-k).

Posted by Jim Zellmer at June 26, 2013 2:25 AM
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