LEV is Among the Worst
Here is a link to a story on the LEV blog with the headline "Washington among the worst when it comes to Black male graduation rates".
The story - written by the League of Education Voters - says:
Now, I'm not proud of the state's 48% graduation rate for black male students, nor am I proud of the state's graduation rate of 66% among white male students. Consequently, I'm not proud that our "gap" is only 18 percentage points instead of the national average of 30 percentage points. Still, that doesn't make us "among the worst".
By the way, the LEV doesn't mention that this data is from 2007/2008.
I have to wonder if the LEV misrepresents all data this way or if this misrepresentation was among their worst.
The story - written by the League of Education Voters - says:
"The Schott Foundation has released individual report cards revealing the graduation rates of Black male students, and Washington is among the worst performers."Later in the story, however, the LEV admits:
"The national graduation average for Black male students in the 2007-2008 school year is 47 percent, which technically means that Washington is slightly above average."Waitaminnut. Does LEV know what the word "worst" means? If Washington State is, in fact, above average, how can LEV claim that it is "among the worst"? Washington isn't even among the worse, let alone the worst. If this article is reflective of the LEV's ability to interpret data, then they stink at it.
Now, I'm not proud of the state's 48% graduation rate for black male students, nor am I proud of the state's graduation rate of 66% among white male students. Consequently, I'm not proud that our "gap" is only 18 percentage points instead of the national average of 30 percentage points. Still, that doesn't make us "among the worst".
By the way, the LEV doesn't mention that this data is from 2007/2008.
I have to wonder if the LEV misrepresents all data this way or if this misrepresentation was among their worst.
Comments
It is not about being right or wrong - it's about telling the truth and then you can draw your own conclusions and give your readers/followers that.
What is very clear is that some legislators are fed lines - "facts" - and go around stating them without even knowing they are true or having read the source material that that fact came from.
It's sad.
** Geeezzz
They certainly don't to LEV.
See: "The facts don't matter" with the League of Education Voters
http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/the-facts-dont-matter/
As always, Blogger lets me down by not catching the link. Sorry for the cut and paste exercise.
Dora
But in this case, you really need to actually look at the data. Mathematically, being above the average doesn't mean much. Just a few states being REALLY bad will skew the average down.
In this case, if you actually look at the report behind this data, you would find that Washington ranks 19th worst on the list. That means 31 states are better than Washington. You can argue about where the cutoff of "worst" is, I suppose, but it hurts your credibility a bit to get nitpicky that way.
North end mom
The national average graduation rate for Black male students is 47%. Washington state's Black male graduation rate is 48%. It is, essentially, average, though slightly above.
The national average graduation rate for White male students is 78%. Washington state's White male graduation rate is 66%. That number is BELOW the average and to a significant degree: 12 percentage points - 15% lower than the national average.
Where is the alarm about our state's White male graduation rate?
A state by state ranking is silly when Vermont has 778 students and New York has over 274,000.
The folks who put this report together aren't that great with data analysis either.
"Certain types of data are Benchmarked at the highest level obtained by one of the states or districts included in the Yes We Can report. It is assumed that the goal in each state is to close the racial and gender achievement gaps."
When you use the top score as the benchmark you insure that everyone fails to meet the benchmark and you can therefore label every result as a failure.
Facts don't matter.
Money does.
Thats all.
LEV is an astroturf organization that has lost touch with its original goals. They now seem more interested in self-promotion and corporate interests than in actual on the ground supporting schools. They have joined in the mob mentality that wants to turn teachers into enemies. For personal reasons, I find this heartbreaking.
And emphatically YES, they manipulate data to support their own messages.
I just don't think this particular issue is a strong way to point out LEV's failings. They can then turn around and say you think 48% graduation rate is just fine, so long as we are above the average. They want to marginalize people who don't support their version of "reform," and we have to be careful not to give them easy ways to do it.
North end mom
SolvayGirl
I think we need to (and Melissa and Charlie usually do -- but not always) craft all our responses by making clear what our position on the merits is -- the other side will still attempt to mis-cast it, but when it is there in black and white (e.g. -- Melissa's "status quo" statements), it is at least easy to counter the untruths when they come.
Seattle Male Strippers and exotic male dancers for birthday and bachelorette parties in Seattle so book a male stripper Online or Call 425-458-6116.
Be continue a dreamers.
Good Luck.
A webmaster of Seattle strippers