What’s churning:
SAT reading scores plunged to their lowest level in almost four decades, according to information released yesterday by the College Board.
The mean critical reading scores for Colorado’s class of 2011 was 497, the lowest figure since at least 1972, and identical to the national mean reading score. Colorado mean math score, at 514 was virtually flat, shows little movement since 2007 and is just five points higher than in 1972. See the detailed Colorado report here.
Nationally, the College Board reported, 43 percent of college-bound seniors met the SAT college- and career-readiness benchmark. The benchmark represents “represents the level of academic preparedness associated with a high likelihood of college success and completion.”
This year’s batch of test-takers was the largest and most diverse in the SAT’s history.
What’s on tap:
Denver Public Schools board members meet at 5 p.m. today at 900 Grant St. for their regular monthly meeting. Agenda items include the evaluation of Superintendent Tom Boasberg and a discussion of a proposed policy on credit-card spending by board members, following recent revelations that two members were over their $5,000 annual limits. Public comment is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Agenda.
Jefferson County school board members meet at 5 p.m. at district headquarters, 1829 Denver West Drive in Golden for a work session. Agenda items include a discussion of the district’s fourth quarter financial report and a presentation from the Strategic and Sustainable Change Task Force, a partnership between the district and its teachers union looking at changes related to the new state educator effectiveness law and compensation. Read the task force agreement and see the night’s agenda.
Good reads from elsewhere:
Magic Johnson, EdisonLearning team up – The former basketball star and the for-profit school operator plan to open 10 schools in Los Angeles, the Huffington Post reports.
Character-building as the key to education – Paul Tough, the preeminent education writer for the New York Times Magazine, examines the importance of character-building to a well-rounded education.