History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
The Latest from IDEA
A newsfeed on the most current research, news, and events at IDEA.
Aug. 23: Value Added is No Magic
Drawing inspiration from Goethe's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," IDEA Director John Rogers compares the Los Angeles Times' forthcoming teacher effectiveness database with the inability to control magic.
Like the orginal German poem, the Disney cartoon or live-action movie, the sorcerer's apprentice uses a little bit of magic to ease his chores. Before long, the animated mops and buckets have created an unintended flood.
Similarly, Rogers said, the Times could expect a "flood of unintended consequences" when it publishes the database of 6,000 third- through fifth-grade teachers from most effective to least. Writing on the Huffington Post, Rogers cites the faults with the value-added analysis and how that data could be used by parents, teachers and others in the community to make rash decisions and negatively affect the school environment.
"Although the apprentice had enough knowledge to set magic in motion, he could not think ahead to what he did not know," Rogers wrote, "...The Times should not believe in the magic of this data, and should realize that it cannot foresee or control all of the consequences."
Read full piece on Huffington Post.
Aug. 23: IDEA comments on LA Times piece
IDEA Director John Rogers was one of a handful education professionals to remark on the Los Angeles Times' series using value-added analysis to gauge teacher effectiveness.
Appearing in Sunday's op-ed section, Rogers said there would be serious consequences to the publication of the database ranking 6,000 third- through fifth-grade teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District, especially since the National Academy of Sciences has identified problems with value-added analysis.
"Value-added methods are a limited and underdeveloped tool. By focusing narrowly on standardized tests, these analyses ignore much learning that matters to students, parents and teachers and cannot stand alone as a measure of 'effectiveness,' " Rogers wrote in the Times.
Student research presentations available online
After a month spent gathering data, surveys and interviews, the Council of Youth Research presented its findings Friday at Los Angeles City Hall.
To an audience of about 150 people, the students shared what they learned about the state of education in California today, with particular interest in the areas of curriculum, teaching, learning resources, social and physical environments and leadership.
Each group created a PowerPoint and video documentary, which are now available on the website. Please visit the Projects & Presentations page to view the students' work.
For more information, contact Claudia Bustamante at 310-267-4408 or bustamante@gseis.ucla.edu
Aug. 6: Youth Council presents research findings at City Hall
WHO: Council of Youth Research students, UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access
WHAT: Student presentations of monthlong research project examining the equitable distribution of educational resources. Data includes about 1,000 surveys of students, and interviews with educators, administrators, community leaders and key leaders throughout the state, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and Education Undersecretary Kathryn Radtkey-Gaither.
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 6, 2010. Student presentations begin at 10 a.m. with reception to follow.
WHERE: Tom Bradley Tower at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St.
WHY: The Council of Youth Research provides Los Angeles high school students with an avenue and tools to research and shed light on school and community issues that directly affect them. Council participation encourages students to become civically engaged researchers and empowers them to insert their voices into the public debate on education.
RSVP: 310-825-7407 for free parking.
MORE: Read press release or download PDF version.
MEDIA CONTACT: Claudia Bustamante, 310-267-4408, bustamante@gseis.ucla.edu
July 29: IDEA comments on gubernatorial candidate's ed plan
in LA Times
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown released an eight-page education plan on his campaign website Wednesday that outlined his reforms, including overhauling state testing, fixing the financing system, increasing rate of high school graduates and more.
IDEA Director John Rogers commented on the plan in an article appearing in the Los Angeles Times Thursday.
"It is surprising there wouldn't be some discussion of the need for more funding so California can enter the bottom third rather than being among the very lowest," Rogers said. "If you're going to maintain high goals, clearly you need to have a decent level of investment."
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