Department of Justice reviewing concerns in the Madison Metropolitan School District

The U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service that mediates racial tension in communities is becoming involved in concerns over the achievement of racial minorities in the Madison Metropolitan School District. DOJ officials will participate in a meeting called by the Urban League to discuss minority achievement, graduation rates and expulsion rates in the district.

When it comes to 2010 statistics, 57.7% of black students in the Madison district scored proficient or better in reading tests compared with 91.7% of white students. In math, 45.3% of black students scored proficient or better compared to 88.9% of white students. When it comes to high school graduation numbers, 48.3% of black students graduated after four years of high school, compared to 87.2% of white students.

Houston public school testing charter school techniques

Houston public schools are testing whether techniques proven successful in high-performing urban charters like those in KIPP can also help raise achievement in regular public schools. Working with Roland G. Fryer, a researcher at Harvard who studies the racial achievement gap, Houston officials last year embraced five key tenets of charters at nine district secondary schools; this fall, they are expanding the program to 11 elementary schools. A similar effort is beginning in Denver.

Dr. Fryer identified five policies common to successful charters, including those run by KIPP and the Harlem Children’s Zone: longer days and years; more rigorous and selective hiring of principals and teachers; frequent quizzes whose results determine what needs to be retaught; what he calls “high-dosage tutoring”; and a “no excuses” culture. The experiment, which is known as Apollo 20 and cost $19 million in its first year, has had mixed results.