On School Measurement

Last week Melissa B. Taboada reported the following in the Austin Amercan-Statesman:

For the second consecutive year, more than two of three schools statewide earned top academic honors exemplary and recognized ratings Texas Education Agency officials announced Friday.

But even as he lauded the numbers, state Education Commissioner Robert Scott defended the special formulas used to help most campuses boost their ratings a level and claim those titles.

The Texas Projection Measure allows districts to count as passing certain students who fail but are projected to pass within three years. Critics say the system gives a false boost to districts.

There is an interesting tie to my work as a business consultant here.

All too often people in business fall prey to pantometry – measurement for the sake of measurement. This usually takes the form of measuring something that should instead be a judgment. A good example in business is the annual performance review. These types of measurement give us the illusion of control. The story reported shows that governments, especially in the area of education are susceptible to the same error and are businesses.

What matters in this case in not how many schools did or did not meet the standards or even how many did or did not use “special measures” to pretend they met the standard, but rather, what matters is that the parents feel that their child is getting educated.

The only thing that will allow this to happen is school vouchers. Let the parents decide what kind of education is right for their child!