In addition to ranking states’ educational quality in an annual education report card, Education Week made Code of Conduct their theme for Quality Counts 2013. The report focuses on “the impact of a school’s social and disciplinary environment on students’ ability to learn and on the teachers and administrators tasked with guiding them.”
After last year’s tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, but also based on other factors, Education Week decided to highlight the impact of school environment on those who learn and work in schools. In addition to the pressing issue of school safety, “strong peer and student-teacher relationships, effective and positive ways to address student misbehavior, supports for social and emotional development, and the involvement of parents and community groups” are all issues highlighted in their detailed annual report.
Christopher B. Swanson, Vice President of Editorial Projects in Education, the nonprofit organization that publishes Education Week, said, “there is growing agreement that a school’s broader climate profoundly affects student achievement and serves as a precursor for effective instruction, deep engagement in learning, and academic success.”
For an excellent resource on the theme of school climate, see Education Week’s on demand webinar entitled “Quality Counts: Involving Students in School Climate” at this link: http://www.edweek.org/ew/marketplace/webinars/webinars.html?intc=ml
Beyond the particular focus on school climate, Education Week included their annual report on state education, in which Maryland again ranked first.
Maryland received solid grades in each of the five categories employed by Education Week to make their rankings:
- Chance for Success – Maryland received a B+ grade (sixth in the nation). This category includes such factors as parental education, family income, student performance, and graduation rates.
- Transitions and Alignment – Maryland was among eight States with an A grade. This category includes early childhood education, college readiness policies, and workforce policies.
- School Finance – Maryland received a B grade (eighth in the nation). This category is based on school funding and equity in finance.
- K-12 Achievement – Maryland received a B grade (third in the nation, 2012 data). This category includes National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores and an analysis of achievement gaps.
- Standards, Assessments, and Accountability– Maryland received a B+ grade (2012 data). Maryland has a long history of high standards and detailed statewide accountability programs.
- The Teaching Profession – Maryland ranked third in the nation with a B grade (third in the nation, 2012 data). Maryland continues to improve the quality of its education workforce.
Reacting to the positive news, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said, “From the earliest days of our Administration, job creation and its primary ingredient, education, have topped our agenda. Every year of this Administration, even during the toughest of times, we have invested to make this a reality.”
State Superintendent Dr. Lillian M. Lowery added, “Maryland public schools are so fortunate to have bipartisan support throughout the State. Our schools have the benefit of strong support from the Governor, other elected officials, educators, parents, business leaders, and the public at large. This ranking could not be achieved without the support of every partner, and we won’t be able to continue our improvement without that broad coalition.”
Maryland received a B+ overall, and the nation as a whole received a C+ ranking, up from a C last year. These grades come across as quite positive compared with those given last week by StudentsFirst in their state report cards.
For more information, please visit these links:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/qc/index.html
http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2013/01/10/
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/pressrelease_details/2013_01_10
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/10/quality-counts-education-rankings-2013_n_2451431.html
