Public Schools Taking Steps to Improve…Something

When your school system suffers from the following:

• 46% proficiency in Reading
• 39% proficiency in Math
• 31% proficiency in reading for black students
• 25% proficiency in math for black students
• 65% graduation rate (in 5 years)

 And are told, that to improve the situation, you need to implement the following steps (pdf link):

• A top-to-bottom organizational focus on student achievement, supported by a consistent and continuous message from superintendent and board
• The rigorous use of achievement data to inform instructional, staffing, and programmatic decisions by teachers, principals, and central office staff
• Systems to hire, develop, and retain effective teachers and principals in all schools
• The full engagement of families and the larger community in promoting achievement

What steps would you take to improve your schools and the quality of education for your students?

If you are the Pittsburgh Public School system, then obviously, you’d take the following steps:

• Hire Better Teachers  Drop the word “public” from the school system.
• Encourage Parents to Help with Education  Make a new logo. Complete with circles, triangles and squares
• Use achievement data to help recognize areas of concern   Hire a marketing consultant to make a new slogan, “Excellence for all”
• Improve communication between parents and teachers   Build a customer service center, aimed at boosting the district’s image
• Improve the reading and math classes   Teach kids how to put on a condom

The Pittsburgh Public School System, sorry the Pittsburgh School System, is surely in line to work wonders in the field of education, graduation and help to bring a new generation of leaders into the world. Congratulations.

Curious, if only 39% of your student body will be able to recognize a logo with circles, squares and triangles – won’t that alienate your customer base? Oh well. Guess that’s a hurdle we’ll cross when we come to it.