tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53821738160840509762024-03-08T15:35:05.852-08:00imaginePandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-80304208621517962002009-05-11T13:27:00.001-07:002009-05-11T13:27:59.960-07:00Final Inquiry Paper<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-1.0in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>TOPIC:</u> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>How much of what students are learning in school today applies to everyday life and are skills for future success?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>ABSTRACT <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Upon the river of knowledge, a student will drift upon their raft until they meet a teacher who can guide them towards the delta and then the sea. This sea of knowledge, a plethora of standardized tests and exams and curriculums that they must attain as their portfolio of known facts to continue on their journey is a worthwhile venture, but must be evoked in a proper manner. Urban education today in the Newark area is getting better every day, but is still far below state and national standards. The test scores and the strangling hold the curriculums have over teachers is more of a hindrance rather than help. These government instituted laws and programs made by mostly non-educators, could use some work. At the beginning and at the end of the day, there is a teacher and there is a student; and that student must learn, and that teacher must teach. That is what is most important. This paper investigated the value and importance of the current education system (mainly the curriculum and the role of standardized tests) to the most important players, namely, the administrators, the teachers and the students. We found that a greater majority of the participants / respondents believe that the curriculum and the standardized test is doing a disservice to the students and not adequately preparing them for the competitive world that they will face when they leave the doors of the school buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><b><u><br /> </u></b></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">“When will I ever use this in my life?” and “Why do I have to learn this?” are two very common questions that school aged children ask everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These questions can easily be answered by telling them that they need to do well on their next test and if they do well in school that they will get into a good college. From a very early age students are encouraged to take their schooling seriously and obtain an education, for one’s future success is almost always inextricably linked to a sound formal education. History has taught us that the ideal situation for an individual involves obtaining a formal education, being successful at exams, graduating with honors and finding a stable job or building a prosperous career. However, some students, especially in urban areas like Newark, New Jersey are not getting the education needed to become competent and successful members of society. The matter of changing school and curriculum (educational reform) to compensate for the rapidly changing world in which these schools and it student’s exist has been an ongoing battle of both failure and success in particularly urban areas. For instance, most of the students in and around the Hawthorne Avenue area in Newark come from lower income, working class families that are just barely making ends meet. Many of the parent(s) in these families have low educational backgrounds and this lower education is correlated to the lower income status that they presently possess. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">President George Bush, in an effort to raise failing schools (classified by students who are falling behind), in primarily urban areas, proposed No Child Left Behind (NCLB); a series of standardized tests and guidelines for meeting an Annual Yearly Percentage (AYP) for various subject areas or the school in concern receives less funding or ultimately is closed down. There are a number of perceived inherent problems of the NCLB act and its implementation which currently dictates and drives the focus of teaching at both public and private schools across the country. Numerous reports have emerged showing the achievement gaps which exist between different components of society, be it against racial, cultural, religious or social divides. However, the fundamental underlying common denominator remains what is taught in schools. What is the role of the curriculum in future success? The reality remains that the focus of those standardized tests as currently employed may very well serve as a contributing factor to performance gaps which exist. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Students are very different and each will take very different paths in their lives. Thus, each student will need very different tools for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At a young age students learn all sorts of different tools that will be useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They learn basic math skills, geography, reading and writing, how to paint and play music.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These are most certainly skills that will be useful in their later schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are building blocks that are necessary to their future learning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The problem seems to arise in later grades when the focus is much more on Math and English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In order to see what the students are learning we must take a look at the curriculum that is being taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It does not take long to see that curriculum in our schools are driven by standardized tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These standardized tests are what we use to measure the students, teachers, schools and school districts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The focus of school is now on finding ways to raise test scores rather than the practicality of what the students are learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, we believe this idea of standardizing curriculum and learning goes against nature; fundamentally, it defies our societal structure. There needs to be more than one solution to assessing schools and its students and this concept of more than one answer is a vital component educators should be instilling in students today. The current policies in place assume that teachers can be led to perform better if they are made much more accountable for test score gains. Standardized testing seems to be the “solve-all” solution and there is evidence to support its prosperity and its failure. Both prosperity and failure are limited to the view of test scores. Students are not being assessed in the many ways they learn limiting the validity in the assessment of the student’s learned knowledge. In addition, the curriculum and teaching styles of educators is changing due to high-stakes testing. Educators are now teaching to the test, which in turn invalidates their reliability and validity. A major issue that we want to take a look at is how the standardized tests in New Jersey change as students advance through school. In elementary school, students take the NJ Ask, where they are tested in seven different content areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Later when students prepare for the HSPA, which they take junior year of high school in order to graduate, they are only tested on two content areas.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Narrowing down our focus to two major areas, Math and English, has a great impact on their curriculum. As a result, students are being assessed on how much test content and information they can memorize in regard to passing the test instead of assessing the depth of understanding and reasoning, along with the critical thinking that goes into making the decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">This research aims to investigate the curriculum being used in the Newark Public Schools system, particularly 4 schools in the Hawthorne Ave School area (SLT III) and assess the role of standardized test in preparing the nation’s youth for the 21st century. The researchers will suggest alternative ways by which assessment can be done without taking away from the ability to teach students life skills that will be important for future success.</span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>LITERATURE REVIEW<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">The use of standardized tests by schools is commonly criticized. The tests do not necessarily test what students have learned. They do not reveal what the student has achieved. Critics have further suggested that alternatives to standardized tests should be developed and used for more effective student evaluation (Wildemuth, 1984). Herman and Golan (1991) investigated the effects of Standardized Testing on Teachers and Learning and found that all of the tests have not achieved the actual goals that the “standardizers” (designers/creators of the standardized tests) portrayed in their own outlooks of these tests. They felt as though these tests should have more bearing on what should happen in school systems and the budget plans, when in fact, these tests didn’t prove what they should have in the realms of student assessment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">Recent analysis of data has shown that in many states on every tangible measure, from qualified teachers to curriculum offering, that schools dominated by students of color had considerably less resources that schools dominated by white students (Darling-Hammond, 1998). Another study undertaken by Noulas and Ketkar (1998) measured the efficiency of public schools for the state of New Jersey using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method; they examined the effect of certain socio-economic factors on efficiency and found that the average efficiency for all schools examined was 81%. Additionally, the wealthiest districts were found to have an efficiency score of 88% while for the neediest districts the efficiency was 63%. However, when socio-economic factors were taken into consideration, the difference between the two groups became smaller. Similarly, given the same educational resources studies have shown that students of color achieve at the same level of success as white students. As a result, some states have sought to equalize educational spending, enforce higher teaching standards, and reduced teacher shortages (Darling-Hammond, 1998) in an effort to decrease the gap in performance. The Strategic Support Team of the Council of the Newark City Schools’ instructional team was tasked with the responsibility of investigating possible ventures that could be undertaken in the view of raising student achievement in Newark Public Schools. Some of the recommendations they proposed to improve the academic achievement of students include: their basic general raising of the overall values of student goals and achievement in the Newark Public Schools (NPS) and the raising of the standardized tests as well. These scores can only be raised if the achievement gap can be reduced between the minorities and the Caucasians, proving to the government that these teacher shortages have a great overall affect on the achievement of students. These proposals were built around strategies that have proven to be effective in raising performance in other major urban school systems. According to the council, there is little else in the research or in practical experience to suggest that strategies beyond those described above are likely to have much, if any, effect on student achievement. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">Americans students should leave high school with the know-how they need to make it in the real world; less than one half of our students have the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a good job (Aguirre et. al., 2000). The curriculum being used and the overall act of curriculum development are partly to blame and needs to be adjusted to include learning-how-to-learn. Once students learn ultimately how they learn, then these skills can be applied to lifelong learning skills for success in the ever-advancing future (Cornfield, 2002).</span><span style="font-family:Arial"> <span style="color:#333333">The most important thing in education is that every student deserves and opportunity at a good education. Until this happens we cannot blame the students for the gap in test scores (Darling-Hammond, 1998).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>METHODOLOGY<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">Numerous strategies were employed in the collection of data for this inquiry project. We sought to speak to members of the Newark Public Schools (NPS) administration in person and via telephone. We made efforts to speak to current and former teachers and students of the NPS system. We also tried to get the general impression of the condition of the target schools by means of on site visits. Additionally, the research team also reviewed data collected by the testing department of the NPS as they pertained to our target area and reviewed journals which also investigated various aspects of our area of interest. A formal questionnaire was not utilized but the questions asked (which served more as a guide to discussion) and topics addressed in discussion with respondents are listed in Appendix A.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"><b><u>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">The following survey results show a great deal of information regarding the Newark Public School system, specifically two middle schools, the Hawthorne Ave School and Bragaw Ave School and two High Schools, the William H Brown Academy, and The Malcolm H Shabazz School. We did not attempt to compare against schools as this was not the objective of the exercise but rather to use their test scores and figures as performance indicators under current circumstances. These statistics show that the overall scoring of the students within these schools in regards to standardized testing in all areas was particularly low. These schools are not even close to comparable to the NJ state standard nor are they in the realm of meeting any district percentile averages benchmarks. These schools were chosen because of their close proximity to our target school the Hawthorne school and in this choice we discovered some majorly overlooked scores that are exceptionally and sensationally low in comparison to the state and country average.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We utilized the test scores of the grade levels that were highest and appropriate for the NJ ASK (Grade 8 proficiency) or HSPA, two tests which had an actual effect on whether or not the students could make it to the next grade level passing or not. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-9.0pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-31.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t23" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="23" adj="5400" path="m0,10800qy10800,,21600,10800,10800,21600,,10800xm@0,10800qy10800@2@1,10800,10800@0@0,10800xe"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="val #0"> <v:f eqn="sum width 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="sum height 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 2929 10000"> <v:f eqn="sum width 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum height 0 @3"> </v:formulas> <v:path connecttype="custom" connectlocs="10800,0;3163,3163;0,10800;3163,18437;10800,21600;18437,18437;21600,10800;18437,3163" textboxrect="3163,3163,18437,18437"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t23" style="'position:absolute;" adj="495" fillcolor="yellow"><![endif]--><span style="mso-ignore:vglayout;position:absolute;z-index:0;left:0px;margin-left:143px;margin-top:249px;width:92px;height:56px"><img width="92" height="56" src="file://localhost/Users/edward/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.png" shapes="_x0000_s1026" /></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:482pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/edward/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" href="http://www.ntuaft.com/newark_map_lg.jpg"> </v:shape><![endif]--><img width="482" height="457" src="file://localhost/Users/edward/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1025" /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-31.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-31.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">The map above shows the target area (Yellow Circle) in Newark where the investigation was done (SLT III). Courtesy <a href="http://www.ntuaft.com/newark_map_lg.jpg">http://www.ntuaft.com/newark_map_lg.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for BRAGAW AVE (#13) 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-LAL-250\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">50%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">50%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2974<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16370<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103900<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">18.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">69.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-MATH-250\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">31.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">6.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">29%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16386<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">60.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">30.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">104049<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> SCIENCE<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-SC-250\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Science</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">3.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16317<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">52.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103940<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">15.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial">The above schools scores are way below the state’s average and their partial, proficient, and advanced levels are extremely LOW over all. If you look closely at the state proficient, you can sometimes see a small jump, but overall in all subjects they are usually low and way under average.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for HAWTHORNE AVE (#40) 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-LAL-470\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">48.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2974<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16370<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103900<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">18.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">69.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-MATH-470\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">76.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">20.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">29%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16386<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">60.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">30.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">104049<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> SCIENCE<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-SC-470\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Science</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">55.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">37.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16317<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">52.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103940<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">15.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">The same can be said for the Hawthorne Ave school in general. Their scores are low and not near or at state averages. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for WILLIAM H. BROWN ACADEMY (#81) 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="156" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:156.15pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="51" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="63" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="209" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:209.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:100.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-LAL-230\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" valign="top" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">86<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">55.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">1.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2974<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16370<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103900<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">18.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">69.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-MATH-230\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">85<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">85.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">29%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16386<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">60.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">30.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">104049<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> SCIENCE<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-SC-230\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Science</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">82<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">45.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">3.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16317<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">52.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103940<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">15.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">These schools scores are in the same realm as the rest of the secondary schools in the area. Of course some scores do fluctuate, but overall they are low.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for MALCOLM X SHABAZZ 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="525" style="width:525.0pt; mso-cellspacing:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#EC8807"><b>Student Performance Indicators</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family: Arial;color:blue"><u>ASSESSMENTS</u></span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA)<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/HSPA-LAL-050\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">243<br /> 292<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.5%<br /> 54.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">46.5%<br /> 45.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0%<br /> 0%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2519<br /> 2503<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">48.7%<br /> 41.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">48.9%<br /> 53.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.3%<br /> 5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11661<br /> 12206<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.4%<br /> 37.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">55.1%<br /> 57.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<br /> 5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">96984<br /> 98466<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16.6%<br /> 14.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">71.1%<br /> 66%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">12.3%<br /> 19.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family: Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA)<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/HSPA-MATH-050\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">238<br /> 284<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">79.4%<br /> 85.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">20.2%<br /> 13.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0.4%<br /> 0.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2500<br /> 2489<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">59.6%<br /> 60.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35.8%<br /> 33.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">4.6%<br /> 6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11621<br /> 12181<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">56.2%<br /> 58%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.7%<br /> 36.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">5.1%<br /> 5.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">96908<br /> 98353<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.6%<br /> 26.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.8%<br /> 50.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">23.6%<br /> 23.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">In regards to Malcolm X Shabazz, it is a High School and we do move on to the HSPA’s which is a very different test indeed. But as it is plainly shown, the scores are extremely low as well and these figures reveal a great divide between the state and the school’s average performance on the said test.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Discussions with past and current students yielded a variety of opinions as it pertains to the value of standardized tests. A majority of the students interviewed didn’t have a clear definition of what a standardized test was but was knowledgeable about the existence of such a test. Some students especially in the middle school, regarded school as something they had to do until they were 16 yrs old and had no control over that. As such, they did not have an opinion as to whether what they were learning in school was important to their future life or just a means to an end. While some students (about 25% of those interviewed) thought that the standardized tests were helpful in their efforts to get good grades and ultimately shape a career, the majority (about 75%) thought that standardized test only serve to limit the amount of knowledge they can acquire during their elementary and high school years. Most of the students contend that their teachers teach to the tests and find very little time to help students in developing social or life skills. This was in keeping with the notion put forward by Madus (1988) that tests are losing their legitimacy on evaluating students on their learned knowledge due to the “teaching of the test.” This corrupts the information that the students have learned and therefore know because instead of retrieving the information from long-term memory, they are memorizing test material and format. Additionally, some find that the lessons are usually scripted with very little room for impromptu modifications on the part of the teacher or students. School was also referred to as boring and useless by many of the students interviewed. The administrators spoken to were generally of the view that the standardized tests are not the quick fix to the numerous problems being encountered in the NPS system. One contends that the standardized test system is “what we have now and what we have to work with”. A discussion ensued about the need for alternatives to the much dreaded standardized test and some of those already being tried out in districts outside Newark. Some of those alternatives have included criterion-referenced tests, teacher-made tests, contract grading, interviews with students and their parents, and detailed documentation of a student's accomplishments (Wildemuth, 1984). Other administrators were a bit more blunt in their criticisms of the current situation and expressed that the current curriculum “focuses too much on subject content and leaves little time to engage in the overall development of the students”. The curriculum was seen as being “too tightly fit into the 180 teaching days which exists in the NPS System – resulting in some teachers being unable to complete the curriculum content”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">The teachers spoken to were equally as open as their students in condemning the current educational system and curriculum taught in schools. One recurring theme was the notion that the curriculum in use in schools in the Newark Public Schools does not include any aspect that deals with nurturing interpersonal skills or promoting other skills which should go hand in hand with education in the various subject areas. The curriculum was regarded as being one that does not teach or encourage students to think critically, be innovative or develop new ideas. Students who are able to think critically are able to solve problems effectively. Having knowledge is simply not enough in today’s world. To be effective in the work place and in personal lives, students must be able to solve problems and make effective decisions; they must be able to think critically (Synder and Snyder, 2008). There were suggestions to modify the current curriculum to address those deficiencies and aim to produce wholly developed individuals rather than book smart or content savvy individuals. The general impression from the respondents was that the current curriculum is failing the students and isn’t geared towards personal development. Students need to learn more about the world, think outside of the box, become smarter about new sources of information, develop good people skills and redefine how they learn. The curriculum needs to be adjusted to incorporate a balance between core knowledge and portable skills such as critical thinking, making connections between ideas and knowing how to learn (Wallis and Steptoe, 2006). Information technology was regarded as one of the areas that needed more attention and greater inclusion in the district’s curriculum. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>CONCLUSION<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">This inquiry project gave us some insight into the Newark Public School system and the numerous challenges and difficulties faced by teachers, students and administrators. Some of the hurdles we encountered while undertaking this research included not getting access to “walk through” some of our target schools and as such had to observe the schools from the outside. Our efforts to meet with a few principals who have been in office for over 20 years proved futile and as such we were not able to get a cleared picture of the situation which existed prior to the implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy and in what ways standardized tests may have changed over the years. We also found it difficult to have a detailed interview with some of the teachers since they were either in the process of completing the preparation of their students for the NJ ASK test or in the process of reviewing before the test - another testimony that the lives of the teachers and the students are “governed” by test taking and not necessarily learning life skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Notwithstanding the aforementioned difficulties, we were able to deduce that there is an overwhelming attitude and mentality of despair hovering above and surrounding participants of the NPS system. There is a strong desire for the “powers that be” to realize that the current curriculum does not adequately prepare the New Jersey child for future success. Many of the respondents believed that the state can achieve a great deal by simply tweaking the current curriculum and test system to include areas such as etiquette, critical thinking, and data analysis. Criticisms were also levied against the decision to “focus” on two subjects, math and literacy, in that, students and teachers tend to neglect other subject areas in favor of those being tested. There was also a call for a more comprehensive evaluation of students which takes into account the inability of some students to do well on structured tests. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">We believe that there is hope for the Newark Public School system but it will take some bold initiatives on the part of the administration to deviate from the norm and implement new strategies that will make Newark students stand out from amidst the rest of the nation. There needs to be a direct reversal in the trends of test scores in the four target schools identified but there is also need for modifications to be made in order to improve those tests and make them more meaningful and representative of a complete evaluation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br /> </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>REFERENCES<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Aguirre, E., Brock, W. E., Biggins, J. V., Black, J. P., Brockett P. L., Burdick, W. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>E., Burge, J. D., Carswell, B., Chapman, T. W., Cole, P. F., Conn, G. J., Cortina, G., Doyle, F. P., Foreman, J. H., Foster, B. G., Gregory, W. H., Herrera, Y., Martin, L., Jennings, M. P., Palko, S., Patterson, J., Parnell, D., Resnick, L. B., Rivera, R.E., Semerad, R. D., Sticht, T. G., Watts, G. D., Wetjen, S. M., Whitburn, G., Zimmerman, J. H. (2000). U.S. Department of Labor: What Work Requires Of Schools: A Scans Report for America 2000. <i>The Secretary’s Commission On Achieving Necessary Skills</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, June 1991, i-36.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Cornfield, I. R. (2002). Learning-To-Learn Strategies As A Basis For Effective Lifelong Learning. <i>International Journal Of Education</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, 21(4), 357-368.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Glaser, R., Silver, E. (1994). Assessment, Testing, and Instruction: Retrospect and Prospect. <i>Review of Research in Education,</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial"> 20, 393-419.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Madus, G. F. (1988). The Distortion of Teaching and Testing: High Stakes Testing and Instruction. <i>Peabody Journal of Education, </i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">65(3), 29-46.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Packer, A. (2007). Meeting Standards Will Not Guarantee Success. <i>Fairtest</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, The High School Assessments Forum: Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 2003, October 21<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Synder, L. G., Snyder, M. J. (2008). Teaching Critical Thinking Skills and Problem Solving Skills. <i>The Delta Epsilon Journal</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, L(2), 90-99.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Wallis, C., Steptoe, S., (2006, December 18). How To Bring Our Schools Out Of The 20<sup>th</sup> Century. <i>Time Magazine</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, 51-56.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Wildemuth, Barbara M. (1984). Alternatives to Standardized Tests. ERIC Digest. Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Tests Measurement and Evaluation Princeton NJ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"><a href="http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED286938">http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED286938</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br /> </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">APPENDIX A<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b>Interview Questions: Note; Not all questions were asked to respondents.</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>Teachers (from)<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">1. Are you required to?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">a. Show or submit lesson plans of your curriculum?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">b. Prove by documentation the use of the NJCCS within your curriculum plans?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">c. If yes, how is the proof documented; on the lesson plans themselves or written on the board during the lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">d. If no, why is there lack of connection between the teachers, state curriculum and the school? Do you think that this connection is beneficial to the students and the school?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">2. Do you feel that through your curriculum you are teaching your students the necessary life skills they need for future success post schooling? i.e.- Critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, reasoning skills, lifelong learning skills?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">3. Have the standardized tests changed anything specifically about your curriculum and/or teaching style? If so, what has changed?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">4. How important are standardized testing to you? Do you think it is beneficial to the students learning?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">5. Have content area class been cut as a result of standardized testing? If so, what classes? Do you feel that these classes are important to the student’s well-rounded development?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">6. What skills besides literacy and mathematical competence do you feel your students will need after graduation?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>Administration-Superintendent (from)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></u></b></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">7. How has the budget been affected, if at all, by standardized testing? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">8. Do you find yourself in Trenton trying to collect funding for your schools?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">9. How important do you feel standardized testing is for the success of your schools and students?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">10. Have you felt a true change in your schools, perhaps more pressure or stresses on yourself or the faculty due to standardized testing?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">11. What steps are you taking to ensure that your schools meet their AYP?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>Students (from)<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">12. What is a standardized test?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">13. How important are the tests to you?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">14. How do the tests make you feel? Do you like them? Do you think that they will help you for your future? If so, in what ways?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">15. Have you had any other experiences with tests? If so, what type of tests? Do you like those tests better? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">16. Do you think that standardized testing really tests your true abilities and strengths? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">17. Do you feel any changes in your classes as you have moved up through the grades about what you are learning?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">18. Do you think what you are learning is going to be useful in the real world after you graduate?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What skills do you think will be important for you after you graduate? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">20. What do you want to be when you grow up?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">21. Do you feel that after receiving your diploma, you will have all that you need for success in the future? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">22. What are you plans after graduation? Will you pursue further education (where to) or join the work force (in what line of work)? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">23. How would you change school if you could?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-46595167932721389072009-05-11T04:47:00.000-07:002009-05-11T04:48:38.711-07:00Inquiry paper<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">“When will I ever use this in my life?” and “Why do I have to learn this?” are two very common questions that school aged children ask everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These questions can easily be answered by telling them that they need to do well on their next test and if they do well in school that they will get into a good college. From a very early age students are encouraged to take their schooling seriously and obtain an education, for one’s future success is almost always inextricably linked to a sound formal education. History has taught us that the ideal situation for an individual involves obtaining a formal education, being successful at exams, graduating with honors and finding a stable job or building a prosperous career. However, some students, especially in urban areas like Newark, New Jersey are not getting the education needed to become competent and successful members of society. The matter of changing school and curriculum (educational reform) to compensate for the rapidly changing world in which these schools and it student’s exist has been an ongoing battle of both failure and success in particularly urban areas. For instance, most of the students in and around the Hawthorne Avenue area in Newark come from lower income, working class families that are just barely making ends meet. Many of the parent(s) in these families have low educational backgrounds and this lower education is correlated to the lower income status that they presently possess. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">President George Bush, in an effort to raise failing schools (classified by students who are falling behind), in primarily urban areas, proposed No Child Left Behind (NCLB); a series of standardized tests and guidelines for meeting an Annual Yearly Percentage (AYP) for various subject areas or the school in concern receives less funding or ultimately is closed down. There are a number of perceived inherent problems of the NCLB act and its implementation which currently dictates and drives the focus of teaching at both public and private schools across the country. Numerous reports have emerged showing the achievement gaps which exist between different components of society, be it against racial, cultural, religious or social divides. However, the fundamental underlying common denominator remains what is taught in schools. What is the role of the curriculum in future success? The reality remains that the focus of those standardized tests as currently employed may very well serve as a contributing factor to performance gaps which exist. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Students are very different and each will take very different paths in their lives. Thus, each student will need very different tools for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At a young age students learn all sorts of different tools that will be useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They learn basic math skills, geography, reading and writing, how to paint and play music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These are most certainly skills that will be useful in their later schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are building blocks that are necessary to their future learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The problem seems to arise in later grades when the focus is much more on Math and English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In order to see what the students are learning we must take a look at the curriculum that is being taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It does not take long to see that curriculum in our schools are driven by standardized tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These standardized tests are what we use to measure the students, teachers, schools and school districts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The focus of school is now on finding ways to raise test scores rather than the practicality of what the students are learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, we believe this idea of standardizing curriculum and learning goes against nature; fundamentally, it defies our societal structure. There needs to be more than one solution to assessing schools and its students and this concept of more than one answer is a vital component educators should be instilling in students today. The current policies in place assume that teachers can be led to perform better if they are made much more accountable for test score gains. Standardized testing seems to be the “solve-all” solution and there is evidence to support its prosperity and its failure. Both prosperity and failure are limited to the view of test scores. Students are not being assessed in the many ways they learn limiting the validity in the assessment of the student’s learned knowledge. In addition, the curriculum and teaching styles of educators is changing due to high-stakes testing. Educators are now teaching to the test, which in turn invalidates their reliability and validity. A major issue that we want to take a look at is how the standardized tests in New Jersey change as students advance through school. In elementary school, students take the NJ Ask, where they are tested in seven different content areas.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Later when students prepare for the HSPA, which they take junior year of high school in order to graduate, they are only tested on two content areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Narrowing down our focus to two major areas, Math and English, has a great impact on their curriculum. As a result, students are being assessed on how much test content and information they can memorize in regard to passing the test instead of assessing the depth of understanding and reasoning, along with the critical thinking that goes into making the decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">This research aims to investigate the curriculum being used in the Newark Public Schools system, particularly 4 schools in the Hawthorne Ave School area (SLT III) and assess the role of standardized test in preparing the nation’s youth for the 21st century. The researchers will suggest alternative ways by which assessment can be done without taking away from the ability to teach students life skills that will be important for future success.</span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>LITERATURE REVIEW<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">The use of standardized tests by schools is commonly criticized. The tests do not necessarily test what students have learned. They do not reveal what the student has achieved. Critics have further suggested that alternatives to standardized tests should be developed and used for more effective student evaluation (Wildemuth, 1984). Herman and Golan (1991) investigated the effects of Standardized Testing on Teachers and Learning and found that all of the tests have not achieved the actual goals that the “standardizers” (designers/creators of the standardized tests) portrayed in their own outlooks of these tests. They felt as though these tests should have more bearing on what should happen in school systems and the budget plans, when in fact, these tests didn’t prove what they should have in the realms of student assessment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">Recent analysis of data has shown that in many states on every tangible measure, from qualified teachers to curriculum offering, that schools dominated by students of color had considerably less resources that schools dominated by white students (Darling-Hammond, 1998). Another study undertaken by Noulas and Ketkar (1998) measured the efficiency of public schools for the state of New Jersey using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method; they examined the effect of certain socio-economic factors on efficiency and found that the average efficiency for all schools examined was 81%. Additionally, the wealthiest districts were found to have an efficiency score of 88% while for the neediest districts the efficiency was 63%. However, when socio-economic factors were taken into consideration, the difference between the two groups became smaller. Similarly, given the same educational resources studies have shown that students of color achieve at the same level of success as white students (………….). As a result, some states have sought to equalize educational spending, enforce higher teaching standards, and reduced teacher shortages (Darling-Hammond, 1998) in an effort to decrease the gap in performance. The Strategic Support Team of the Council of the Newark City Schools’ instructional team was tasked with the responsibility of investigating possible ventures that could be undertaken in the view of raising student achievement in Newark Public Schools. Some of the recommendations they proposed to improve the academic achievement of students include: their basic general raising of the overall values of student goals and achievement in the Newark Public Schools (NPS) and the raising of the standardized tests as well. These scores can only be raised if the achievement gap can be reduced between the minorities and the Caucasians, proving to the government that these teacher shortages have a great overall affect on the achievement of students. These proposals were built around strategies that have proven to be effective in raising performance in other major urban school systems. According to the council, there is little else in the research or in practical experience to suggest that strategies beyond those described above are likely to have much, if any, effect on student achievement. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">Americans students should leave high school with the know-how they need to make it in the real world; less than one half of our students have the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a good job (Aguirre et. al., 2000). The curriculum being used and the overall act of curriculum development is partly to blame and needs to be adjusted to include learning-how-to-learn. Once students learn ultimately how they learn, then these skills can be applied to lifelong learning skills for success in the ever-advancing future (Cornfield, 2002).</span><span style="font-family:Arial"> <span style="color:#333333">The most important thing in education is that every student deserves and opportunity at a good education. Until this happens we cannot blame the students for the gap in test scores (Darling-Hammond, 1998).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>METHODOLOGY<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">Numerous strategies were employed in the collection of data for this inquiry project. We sought to speak to members of the Newark Public Schools (NPS) administration in person and via telephone. We made efforts to speak to current and former teachers and students of the NPS system. We also tried to get the general impression of the condition of the target schools by means of on site visits. Additionally, the research team also reviewed data collected by the testing department of the NPS as they pertained to our target area and reviewed journals which also investigated various aspects of our area of interest. A formal questionnaire was not utilized but the questions asked (which served more as a guide to discussion) and topics addressed in discussion with respondents are listed in Appendix A.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333"><b><u>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333">The following survey results show a great deal of information regarding the Newark Public School system, specifically two middle schools, the Hawthorne Ave School and Bragaw Ave School and two High Schools, the William H Brown Academy, and The Malcolm H Shabazz School. We did not attempt to compare against schools as this was not the objective of the exercise but rather to use their test scores and figures as performance indicators under current circumstances. These statistics show that the overall scoring of the students within these schools in regards to standardized testing in all areas was particularly low. These schools are not even close to comparable to the NJ state standard nor are they in the realm of meeting any district percentile averages benchmarks. These schools were chosen because of their close proximity to our target school the Hawthorne school and in this choice we discovered some majorly overlooked scores that are exceptionally and sensationally low in comparison to the state and country average.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We utilized the test scores of the grade levels that were highest and appropriate for the NJ ASK (Grade 8 proficiency) or HSPA, two tests which had an actual effect on whether or not the students could make it to the next grade level passing or not. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-9.0pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-31.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t23" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="23" adj="5400" path="m0,10800qy10800,,21600,10800,10800,21600,,10800xm@0,10800qy10800@2@1,10800,10800@0@0,10800xe"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="val #0"> <v:f eqn="sum width 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="sum height 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 2929 10000"> <v:f eqn="sum width 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum height 0 @3"> </v:formulas> <v:path connecttype="custom" connectlocs="10800,0;3163,3163;0,10800;3163,18437;10800,21600;18437,18437;21600,10800;18437,3163" textboxrect="3163,3163,18437,18437"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t23" style="'position:absolute;" adj="495" fillcolor="yellow"><![endif]--><span style="mso-ignore:vglayout;position:absolute;z-index:0;left:0px;margin-left:143px;margin-top:249px;width:92px;height:56px"><img width="92" height="56" src="file://localhost/Users/edward/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.png" shapes="_x0000_s1026" /></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:482pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/edward/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" href="http://www.ntuaft.com/newark_map_lg.jpg"> </v:shape><![endif]--><img width="482" height="457" src="file://localhost/Users/edward/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1025" /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-31.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-31.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">The map above shows the target area (Yellow Circle) in Newark where the investigation was done (SLT III). Courtesy <a href="http://www.ntuaft.com/newark_map_lg.jpg">http://www.ntuaft.com/newark_map_lg.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for BRAGAW AVE (#13) 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-LAL-250\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">50%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">50%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2974<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16370<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103900<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">18.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">69.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-MATH-250\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">31.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">6.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">29%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16386<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">60.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">30.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">104049<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> SCIENCE<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-SC-250\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Science</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">3.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16317<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">52.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103940<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">15.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial">The above schools scores are way below the state’s average and their partial, proficient, and advanced levels are extremely LOW over all. If you look closely at the state proficient, you can sometimes see a small jump, but overall in all subjects they are usually low and way under average.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for HAWTHORNE AVE (#40) 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-LAL-470\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">48.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2974<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16370<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103900<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">18.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">69.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-MATH-470\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">76.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">20.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">29%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16386<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">60.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">30.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">104049<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> SCIENCE<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-SC-470\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Science</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">55.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">37.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16317<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">52.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103940<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">15.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">The same can be said for the Hawthorne Ave school in general. Their scores are low and not near or at state averages. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for WILLIAM H. BROWN ACADEMY (#81) 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="156" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:156.15pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="51" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="63" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="209" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:209.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:100.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-LAL-230\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" valign="top" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">86<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">55.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">1.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2974<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">43.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16370<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">54.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="56" valign="top" style="width:55.85pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="51" style="width:51.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="63" valign="bottom" style="width:63.3pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103900<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" valign="bottom" style="width:56.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">18.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="75" valign="bottom" style="width:75.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">69.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="78" valign="bottom" style="width:77.65pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-MATH-230\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">85<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">85.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">62.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">29%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16386<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">60.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">30.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">104049<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK8)**<br /> SCIENCE<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/ASK8-SC-230\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Science</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">82<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">45.1%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">3.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2972<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11.8%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16317<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">52.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">8.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">103940<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">15.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">32.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<br /> **New test administered in spring 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">These schools scores are in the same realm as the rest of the secondary schools in the area. Of course some scores do fluctuate, but overall they are low.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">Table showing data for MALCOLM X SHABAZZ 2007-08 SCHOOL REPORT CARD<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="525" style="width:525.0pt; mso-cellspacing:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#EC8807"><b>Student Performance Indicators</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family: Arial;color:blue"><u>ASSESSMENTS</u></span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA)<br /> LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/HSPA-LAL-050\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Language Arts Literacy</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">243<br /> 292<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">53.5%<br /> 54.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">46.5%<br /> 45.5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0%<br /> 0%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2519<br /> 2503<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">48.7%<br /> 41.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">48.9%<br /> 53.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.3%<br /> 5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11661<br /> 12206<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">42.4%<br /> 37.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">55.1%<br /> 57.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2.5%<br /> 5%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">96984<br /> 98466<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">16.6%<br /> 14.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">71.1%<br /> 66%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">12.3%<br /> 19.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family: Arial;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="480" bgcolor="white" style="width:480.0pt;mso-cellspacing:0in;background:white"> <tbody><tr> <td width="154" colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:153.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b>High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA)<br /> MATHEMATICS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="49" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Year</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="40" rowspan="2" valign="bottom" style="width:39.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Number<br /> Tested</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="125" colspan="3" valign="bottom" style="width:124.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficiency Percentages</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000088"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="31" valign="bottom" style="width:30.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Partial</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:43.5pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Proficient</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="44" valign="bottom" style="width:44.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;background:#F0EEE7;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Advanced</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="105" rowspan="4" valign="top" style="width:105.0pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">All Students<br /> »<span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/education\.state\.nj\.us\/rc\/rc08\/details\/13\/3570\/HSPA-MATH-050\.html\0022 \\t \0022blank\0022""><span style="color:blue"><u>details for subgroups for Mathematics</u></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">School<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" valign="top" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">238<br /> 284<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">79.4%<br /> 85.9%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">20.2%<br /> 13.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">0.4%<br /> 0.4%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">District<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2500<br /> 2489<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">59.6%<br /> 60.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">35.8%<br /> 33.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">4.6%<br /> 6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">DFG<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">11621<br /> 12181<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">56.2%<br /> 58%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">38.7%<br /> 36.3%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">5.1%<br /> 5.7%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="28" valign="top" style="width:27.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">State<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="49" style="width:48.75pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top: none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2007-08<br /> 2006-07<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">96908<br /> 98353<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">24.6%<br /> 26.6%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">51.8%<br /> 50.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="50" valign="bottom" style="width:50.25pt;border:solid #EC8807 .5pt; border-top:none;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">23.6%<br /> 23.2%<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:9.75pt"> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border:solid #EC8807 .5pt;border-top:none; padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">*To protect the privacy of students, the Department of Education suppresses sufficient information to eliminate the possibility that personally identifiable information will be disclosed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">In regards to Malcolm X Shabazz, it is a High School and we do move on to the HSPA’s which is a very different test indeed. But as it is plainly shown, the scores are extremely low as well and these figures reveal a great divide between the state and the school’s average performance on the said test.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Discussions with past and current students yielded a variety of opinions as it pertains to the value of standardized tests. A majority of the students interviewed didn’t have a clear definition of what a standardized test was but was knowledgeable about the existence of such a test. Some students especially in the middle school, regarded school as something they had to do until they were 16 yrs old and had no control over that. As such, they did not have an opinion as to whether what they were learning in school was important to their future life or just a means to an end. While some students (about 25% of those interviewed) thought that the standardized test were helpful in their efforts to get good grades and ultimately shape a career, the majority (about 75%) thought that standardized test only serve to limit the amount of knowledge they can acquire during their elementary and high school years. Most of the students contend that their teachers teach to the tests and find very little time to help students in developing social or life skills. This was in keeping with the notion put forward by Madus (1988) that tests are losing their legitimacy on evaluating students on their learned knowledge due to the “teaching of the test.” This corrupts the information that the students have learned and therefore know because instead of retrieving the information from long-term memory, they are memorizing test material and format. Additionally, some find that the lessons are usually scripted with very little room for impromptu modifications on the part of the teacher or students. School was also referred to as boring and useless by many of the students interviewed. The administrators spoken to were generally of the view that the standardized tests are not the quick fix to the numerous problems being encountered in the NPS system. One contends that the standardized test system is “what we have now and what we have to work with”. A discussion ensued about the need for alternatives to the much dreaded standardized test and some of those already being tried out in districts outside Newark. Some of those alternatives have included criterion-referenced tests, teacher-made tests, contract grading, interviews with students and their parents, and detailed documentation of a student's accomplishments (Wildemuth, 1984). Other administrators were a bit more blunt in their criticisms of the current situation and expressed that the current curriculum “focuses too much on subject content and leaves little time to engage in the overall development of the students”. The curriculum was seen as being “too tightly fit into the 180 teaching days which exists in the NPS System – resulting in some teachers being unable to complete the curriculum content”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">The teachers spoken to were equally critical as their students in condemning the current educational system and curriculum taught in schools. One recurring theme was the notion that the curriculum in use in schools in the Newark Public Schools does not include any aspect that deals with nurturing interpersonal skills or promoting other skills which should go hand in hand with education in the various subject areas. The curriculum was regarded as being one that does not teach or encourage students to think critically, be innovative or develop new ideas. Students who are able to think critically are able to solve problems effectively. Having knowledge is simply not enough in today’s world. To be effective in the work place and in personal lives, students must be able to solve problems and make effective decisions; they must be able to think critically (Synder and Snyder, 2008). There were suggestions to modify the current curriculum to address those deficiencies and aim to produce wholly developed individuals rather than book smart or content savvy individuals. The general impression from the respondents was that the current curriculum is failing the students and isn’t geared towards personal development. Students need to learn more about the world, think outside of the box, become smarter about new sources of information, develop good people skills and redefine how they learn. The curriculum needs to be adjusted to incorporate a balance between core knowledge and portable skills such as critical thinking, making connections between ideas and knowing how to learn (Wallis and Steptoe, 2006). Information technology was regarded as one of the areas that needed more attention and greater inclusion in the district’s curriculum. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>CONCLUSION<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">This inquiry project gave us some insight into the Newark Public School system and the numerous challenges and difficulties faced by teachers, students and administrators. Some of the hurdles we encountered while undertaking this research included not getting access to “walk through” some of our target schools and as such had to observe the schools from the outside. Our efforts to meet with a few principals who have been in office for over 20 years proved futile and as such we were not able to get a cleared picture of the situation which existed prior to the implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy and in what ways standardized tests may have changed over the years. We also found it difficult to have a detailed interview with some of the teachers since they were either in the process of completing the preparation of their students for the NJ ASK test or in the process of reviewing before the test - another testimony that the lives of the teachers and the students are “governed” by test taking and not necessarily learning life skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">Notwithstanding the aforementioned difficulties, we were able to deduce that there is an overwhelming attitude and mentality of despair hovering above and surrounding participants of the NPS system. There is a strong desire for the “powers that be” to realize that the current curriculum does not adequately prepare the New Jersey child for future success. Many of the respondents believed that the state can achieve a great deal by simply tweaking the current curriculum and test system to include areas such as etiquette, critical thinking, data analysis. Criticisms were also levied against the decision to “focus” on two subjects, math and literacy, in that, students and teachers tend to neglect other subject areas in favor of those being tested. There was also a call for a more comprehensive evaluation of students which takes into account the inability of some students to do well on structured tests. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">We believe that there is hope for the Newark Public School system but it will take some bold initiatives on the part of the administration to deviate from the norm and implement new strategies that will make Newark students stand out from amidst the rest of the nation. There needs to be a direct reversal in the trends of test scores in the four target schools identified but there is also need for modifications to be made in order to improve those tests and make them more meaningful and representative of a complete evaluation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br /> </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>REFERENCES<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Aguirre, E., Brock, W. E., Biggins, J. V., Black, J. P., Brockett P. L., Burdick, W. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>E., Burge, J. D., Carswell, B., Chapman, T. W., Cole, P. F., Conn, G. J., Cortina, G., Doyle, F. P., Foreman, J. H., Foster, B. G., Gregory, W. H., Herrera, Y., Martin, L., Jennings, M. P., Palko, S., Patterson, J., Parnell, D., Resnick, L. B., Rivera, R.E., Semerad, R. D., Sticht, T. G., Watts, G. D., Wetjen, S. M., Whitburn, G., Zimmerman, J. H. (2000). U.S. Department of Labor: What Work Requires Of Schools: A Scans Report for America 2000. <i>The Secretary’s Commission On Achieving Necessary Skills</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, June 1991, i-36.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Cornfield, I. R. (2002). Learning-To-Learn Strategies As A Basis For Effective Lifelong Learning. <i>International Journal Of Education</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, 21(4), 357-368.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Glaser, R., Silver, E. (1994). Assessment, Testing, and Instruction: Retrospect and Prospect. <i>Review of Research in Education,</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial"> 20, 393-419.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Madus, G. F. (1988). The Distortion of Teaching and Testing: High Stakes Testing and Instruction. <i>Peabody Journal of Education, </i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">65(3), 29-46.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Packer, A. (2007). Meeting Standards Will Not Guarantee Success. <i>Fairtest</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, The High School Assessments Forum: Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 2003, October 21<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Synder, L. G., Snyder, M. J. (2008). Teaching Critical Thinking Skills and Problem Solving Skills. <i>The Delta Epsilon Journal</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, L(2), 90-99.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Wallis, C., Steptoe, S., (2006, December 18). How To Bring Our Schools Out Of The 20<sup>th</sup> Century. <i>Time Magazine</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial">, 51-56.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial">Wildemuth, Barbara M. (1984). Alternatives to Standardized Tests. ERIC Digest. Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Tests Measurement and Evaluation Princeton NJ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial"><a href="http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED286938">http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED286938</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br /> </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:Arial">APPENDIX A<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b>Interview Questions: Note; Not all questions were asked to respondents.</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>Teachers (from)<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">1. Are you required to?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">a. Show or submit lesson plans of your curriculum?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">b. Prove by documentation the use of the NJCCS within your curriculum plans?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">c. If yes, how is the proof documented; on the lesson plans themselves or written on the board during the lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">d. If no, why is there lack of connection between the teachers, state curriculum and the school? Do you think that this connection is beneficial to the students and the school?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">2. Do you feel that through your curriculum you are teaching your students the necessary life skills they need for future success post schooling? ie- Critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, reasoning skills, lifelong learning skills?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">3. Have the standardized tests changed anything specifically about your curriculum and/or teaching style? If so, what has changed?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">4. How important are standardized testing to you? Do you think it is beneficial to the students learning?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">5. Have content area class been cut as a result of standardized testing? If so, what classes? Do you feel that these classes are important to the student’s well-rounded development?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">6. What skills besides literacy and mathematical competence do you feel your students will need after graduation?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>Administration-Superintendent (from)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></u></b></span><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">7. How has the budget been affected, if at all, by standardized testing? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">8. Do you find yourself in Trenton trying to collect funding for your schools?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">9. How important do you feel standardized testing is for the success of your schools and students?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">10. Have you felt a true change in your schools, perhaps more pressure or stresses on yourself or the faculty due to standardized testing?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">11. What steps are you taking to ensure that your schools meet their AYP?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"><b><u>Students (from)<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">12. What is a standardized test?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">13. How important are the tests to you?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">14. How do the tests make you feel? Do you like them? Do you think that they will help you for your future? If so, in what ways?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">15. Have you had any other experiences with tests? If so, what type of tests? Do you like those tests better? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">16. Do you think that standardized testing really tests your true abilities and strengths? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">17. Do you feel any changes in your classes as you have moved up through the grades about what you are learning?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">18. Do you think what you are learning is going to be useful in the real world after you graduate?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What skills do you think will be important for you after you graduate? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">20. What do you want to be when you grow up?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">21. Do you feel that after receiving your diploma, you will have all that you need for success in the future? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">22. What are you plans after graduation? Will you pursue further education (where to) or join the work force (in what line of work)? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Arial">23. How would you change school if you could?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-46127865558716322102009-05-08T12:53:00.001-07:002009-05-08T12:53:52.063-07:00Blog 15 Self-Assessment<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It is true that as one ages, they learn more about themselves, their likes and dislikes, habits, and pleasures. Culture defines who we are and influences our personality, who we are human beings. Before this class, I had never given much thought about my culture or how it has shaped how I view the world and my beliefs. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Exploring my culture was much more difficult than I had anticipated. When viewing myself, it was hard to see why certain aspects of my life affected my being and who I have become today. As the pieces came together on my collage, I began to see how my experiences have really influenced my culture. The divorce, for me, was a driving force that has significantly influenced how I treat others and how I view relationships. Learning about myself has given me a truer and more complete sense of self that will give me the confidence to be myself in the classroom. Reading my classmate’s blogs regarding their culture was an eye opener as well. We all have had such different experiences and come from all aspects of life yet we all have the same vision, to educate. The more I know about others and their culture the more I will understand the diverse students that I will one day teach. I have learned that it is very important, even vital, to get to know the community it which you are serving. This will give the best insight into the student’s lives outside of school and help foster a sense of family and community in the classroom.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I have changed the way in which I look at urban areas, schools, and people. I never realized that this country’s idea of the self-sufficiency wage is so low. I have adjusted my stereotypes and now understand that some of the families are really struggling for a better life and just can’t seem to get there. The schools are failing not because of the kids, but due to the corrupt bureaucracies that are run by money and fraud. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Reading <i>Unequal Childhoods</i><span style="font-style:normal"> was very interesting and broadened my horizons about the different family make-ups and lives. Through this literature, I have also discovered the major differences in class structure and how child rearing is heavily affected by the parent’s income. Not only that, but class influences how parents communicate and interact in their child’s school and extracurricular activities. Class is a concept that I never gave much thought to and it really shapes a child’s life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As for being a future educator anywhere, I am willing to take risks like the teacher from <i>Spectacular Things</i><span style="font-style:normal"> and drive the curriculum based on democracy and student interest. There is no doubt that those children remember their experiences in Room 405 and have used what they have learned there to become better learners in the following grades. My concern was, that once in the sixth grade, if the new teacher teaches in a traditional way, will that inhibit or change the way the student’s look at school because they no longer have a say in what they are learning? Although the student’s didn’t get what they set out for, when it comes down to it, what they have gained from the process was just as rewarding not only to them, but to Mr. Shultz because they were able to see the little successes along the way. Not knowing the outcome of the curriculum or where it could potentially take you could be frightening for an educator; for that matter not knowing all of the answers. I embrace the idea of learning together. That is what education is all about. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Art is my passion. I want to share this with my students one day. Art is a process, a science, its creative and there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to expressing yourself. However, when it comes to safety issues, there is no discussion to be had. Especially with inks and acids in printmaking or using the blowtorch or kiln. I know that I will let my students have an active role in their learning and I will be there to foster a creative, comfortable, classroom community while sharing inspiration and passion to the learning and appreciation of art. I will be sure to learn about the community in which I am serving and take an active role in learning about my student’s culture’s to understand just where they are coming from and where they can grow to.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-83097664542683262282009-05-06T17:31:00.000-07:002009-05-06T17:32:08.053-07:00Our Websitehttp://sites.google.com/a/mail.montclair.edu/think-education-think-life/Home/?pageDeleted=%2FHome%2FgreatnessPandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-60284922425164156202009-04-18T18:59:00.000-07:002009-05-01T10:58:11.676-07:00Project Findings of Newark AreaOur group has been working on setting up appointments to speak to some of the teachers, administration and students in the Hawthorne area schools. Due to their spring break last week, our trip to investigate the area and speak with the needed representatives has been pushed back to this coming Friday. This trip is the final link between all of our group member's concentrations on this inquiry project and will come together as a cohesive final piece. Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-88245891116733099112009-04-18T18:41:00.000-07:002009-04-18T18:59:38.027-07:00Inquiry: What am I learning and SUMMARY<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">In researching my concentration of our inquiry question, <i>How much of what students are learning in school today applies to everyday life skills for future success?</i><span style="font-style:normal">, I have found endless literature voicing opinions both pro and con toward the subject of standardized testing. In recent years, there has been great emphasis on assessment and accountability put on by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and “teaching to the test”. This has affected schools, administrators, parents, and especially educators, their curriculum and teaching styles and the students. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I have been exploring how the education that students receive, especially in low performing schools in urban areas is being affected by standardized testing. The most difficult part of this research so far, has been sorting through the endless literature that has been written on this subject and finding the “legitimate” and also the view that compliments our group’s vision of standardized testing as not being the only means of assessment for successful real life application. From my research, I have found assessment to be both an attempt at a valuable solution, yet still part of a growing problem. Student’s culture, race, and socio-economic class have much influence over a student’s performance, learning abilities/styles, and level of knowledge and these differences are not accounted for in standardized testing. Standardized tests are creating a standard of only one correct answer, therefore transforming the information being tested into a rote memorization task rather than a measure of true or deep understanding. In addition, the idea of only one right answer is not beneficial to students as they gain entrance into the real world. In most cases, there are more than one correct answer to a certain problem and the ability that these students today are being robbed of is the creative thinking “thinking outside of the box” that allows for creation of other valuable alternatives to whatever the situation at hand is.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Real life application of what is being taught in school and how to use that knowledge needs to be clearer in assessment. These tests do not leave room for the critical thinking and reasoning behind the answer chosen and that process is line between knowing if the student truly understands the content being asked or presented. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Skills such as reasoning and critical thinking are necessary skills towards lifelong learning and are considered life skills. In fact, the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) has put forth and renewed in the year 2000, standards associated on what “Work Requires of Schools” ; the skills necessary to succeed in the work place, further education and as a successful member of society. They are skills that are important in nearly every facet of life. There is a three-part foundation and a set of five competencies that include skills such as: reading, writing, mathematical reasoning, listening, speaking, creative thinking, problem solving, organizing, knowing how to learn, reasoning, responsibility, collaboration, technology, self-esteem, sociability, self management and honesty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Due to the pressure of NCLB, many educators in schools labeled low performing, based on standardized test scores only, by not meeting their Annual Yearly Percentage (AYP) are changing their curriculum and teaching style to cater to the raising of test scores. Sadly, the students are the one’s who are caught in the middle, not getting the education they could be, from the educator’s who are truly passionate about their subject matter and make an effort to reach all of their student’s different needs; in many cases the educators are going against their very nature by “teaching to the test”, The test then loses it’s legitimacy. It no longer becomes an attempt to assess what the student’s know, but how good their test taking skills are, by knowing the test format, using process of elimination and pure memorization. An assessment is a measure of what has been learned and this idea of “teaching to the test” contradicts that. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Standardized tests aren’t all around negative. But used as the only means of assessment on the state level, they are bias and not a true measure of knowledge. Some districts are incorporating other means of assessment into their processes. Assessments such as performance assessment and portfolio assessment used in conjunction with standardized tests allow for student’s who don’t perform well to shine in the way that they learn best. This idea of more than one standard for the vastly different areas and student’s being assessed, makes more sense and adds the application of life skills into the mix; a happy medium, for now.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Assessment and accountability have been discussed since the late 1960’s in America. The fact is, the world and its population are constantly changing and to accommodate that change there has to be leeway within our schools as to how assessment is achieved. Students will be faced with dilemma’s we cannot predict at this time and it is our responsibility as educators to prepare them for the ever changing, rapidly growing world. <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-43190945687295308492009-04-18T13:48:00.001-07:002009-04-18T13:48:56.061-07:00Revised Online Assignment<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">2. <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The cost of living in New Jersey is incredibly high; from rent, to taxes, food, health care, transportation expenses, childcare, and etc. The families in Unequal Childhoods, especially the working-class/poor families would all experience a tremendously lower standard of living if they moved to/lived in New Jersey. It would be especially hard on the Taylor, McAllister, Driver, and Brindle families because 3 out of the four households are run by a single female parent and all have very limited funds coming in. Tyrec Taylor’s mother works as a secretary and only earns $20,000 a year, which according to the Self Sufficiency Standard for Essex County, would barely accommodate one adult ($20,732), nevermind a family consisting of one adult, a ten year old, a thirteen year old, and an eighteen year old. The “providers” of the two other families, the McAllisters and the Brindles, are both unemployed and receive food stamps and cash stipends, along with public assistance. The rent alone for the Brindle family is hard to sustain at $650 and compared to the rent costs in New Jersey, which are the highest in the nation, they would not be able to afford livable housing conditions for that amount of money. Their living conditions now are subjected to leaky ceilings, roaches, and broken washers and dryers. The McAllister family doesn’t have enough food to go around especially with all of the extra people that live there; the eleven members of extended family that sleep and eat in the McAllister home on a weekly basis. The children have to ask permission before eating food. When there is food, there is often not enough for second helpings. The cost of food in Essex County for one adult, an infant, a preschooler, and a schoolage child is $639. Ms. McAllister certainly would not be able to feed eleven family members in Essex County New Jersey on food stamps at this cost. The Driver family, although run by Ms. Driver and her boyfriend, Mr.Fallon earn only between $15,000-$25,000 a year. In order to live in Essex County, they would need to bring in near $50,716 to live according to the efficiency standards. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">3. <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>According to the Legal Services of New Jersey, both the McAllister and Brindle families would be categorized within the poverty level of New Jersey. Both are single parents and the LSNJ states that the poverty rates are higher for single parent mothers. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although both families receive financial assistance, the quality of life, the struggle to make ends met would be far greater in New Jersey. Ms. Brindle doesn’t work because of the expense incurred on providing childcare for Melmel. Essentially, if she did work, nearly all of the funds earned would go to the cost of childcare, which is extremely expensive. In Cresskill, New Jersey, for a 9am to 3pm program, early childcare costs around $1100 per month. Ms. McAllister, with schoolaged children and being a minority, has a larger disadvantage due to her race as the LSNJ states that poverty is much higher for minorities. In the McAllister home the financial burden of providing for the extended family as well would make food even scarcer and much harder to provide for the necessities such as food and clean clothing in New Jersey. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">4. <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I feel that learning about the different the families, how they function, survive, their influences, beliefs and struggles has been an eye opener for me. Before reading Unequal Childhoods, I had never made a genuine connection to life outside of school and school. What each family (student) faces outside of school truly influences everything they do in school. I think as an educator, I should know about the community and the families who live there to better understand my students. Although this information has been very interesting and at times disturbing, I don’t feel that my overall teaching objectives will change. However, I will be more aware of my community and how my students live, which will provide me with an open-mind to adjust my teaching style to my students’ needs. It is hard to come from a different way of life, or mind set, without bringing the stereotypes that are ingrained in us, to a place that has true hardship and poverty to say that you understand what a student or the students may be living through. I think my hardest challenge is going to be able to relate to my students on that level, but I know I will try my best…that is all I can do. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-33760836802790946962009-04-18T13:44:00.000-07:002009-04-18T13:48:01.655-07:00Completed Chart<!--StartFragment--> <!--StartFragment--> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; mso-table-layout-alt:fixed;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr style="height:2.5pt"> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Tallinger<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Brindle<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Williams<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Race/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Ethnicity<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Black<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Black<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Language<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Religion<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Economics/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Employ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Each is a consultant – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Mr. T works in fundraising & Mrs. T in personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Combined annual income $175,000 – flexible hours but work evenings & weekends; also includes often traveling. Money never mentioned in front of the kids. Experiencing financial problems – firm not paying out on time leads to $7000 penalties in mortgage <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. T currently unemployed – formally worked for social services including counseling for drug related issues. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- he doesn’t pay child support<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Ms. T works as a secretary <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- has a car that works<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>occasionally <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- annual income $20,000<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- money is an issue and spoken about in this household often<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Currently Unemployed and hopes to return to work once Melmel starts school (18 months old)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- collects food stamps and cash stipends<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. B pays the Dept. of Human Services child support to offset the public assistance payment to the family<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- money is often spoken about in front of the children <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. W is a high-level manager in a major corporation: overnight trip at least once a month<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. W is a trial lawyer in a small firm handling medical malpractice cases -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>preparing the cases keeps him busy from 5am to midnight for two weeks each month; otherwise he works until 6pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- combined annual income is over $200,000<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- they rarely discuss money with Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Housing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">42 yr. Old two story house on a cul-de-sac/ Big green lawns – swimming pool<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Rented 4 bedroom, three story house<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Small rundown 3 bedroom apt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- not well maintained: leaky ceiling and many roaches<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- often the washers and dryers don’t work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- A 6 bedroom, large, old stone house with an expansive porch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and a sweeping<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>lawn<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- it is immaculately kept and expensively furnished<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Quiet suburb near major northeastern city<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Pretty quiet neighborhood with crime everywhere – father lives in an apt. in the city “the ghetto”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White working-class neighborhood that is dominated by small houses <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Quiet street in a middle-class white neighborhood in a major northeastern city<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Food<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Often eat out at fast food restaurants like Taco Bell after practices –meals together determined by the boy’s activ. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Weekly go out for fast food and once a month go to a restaurant such as Sizzler<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Nearest grocery store is a 20 min bus ride away<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- relies on food stamps: food is in short supply<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Spend most of their time in the kitchen<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- eats pretty well: fruits and vegetables<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- food is not an issue<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Norms/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Values<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Concerted Cultivation plays a huge role in development – Garrett’s scheduled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>activities define<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the families pace of life – extended family members not a large part of this family’s organization except for holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Natural Development – mother & father separated<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- append Miss to all female adult names<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- sister Anisha (13) cares for Tyrec after school while the mother is still working<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- plays with children of all ages outside of the house and develops skills in mediation, conflict management, personal responsibility, and strategizing<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Natural Development – don’t feel that the kids’ leisure time is of any real importance <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Katie’s father is inconsistently involved in her life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">-All of her siblings are of different fathers<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- very independent: fixes herself soup after school and joined a school choir<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- is concerned she is fat – she isn’t<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- was sexually molested in the first grade<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- cousin is Katie’s best friend<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- extended family is very much a part of Katie’s life and often stays with her grandmother<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Concerted Cultivation plays a huge role in development – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Especially language and its use towards entitlement <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- By the time weekends come the family is exhausted but continue for the benefits to Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Alexander is bored without structured activities – interacts with boys his age only through activities<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- consider themselves close to extended family (live far away) by talking via telephone and visiting 3 to 4 times a year <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Politics<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Mr. T has opinions on many issues, including the state of the world, which he offers freely to anyone who will listen<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Concerned about the impact of race on Alexander: “<i>it isn’t going to define who he is</i></span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Relationship w/ Local <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Where Mr. T lives is the “ghetto”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- utilizes the shops in the white neighborhood close by<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Katie takes the bus to Grandma’s by herself (20 min ride)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">-the only black family in the white neighborhood in which they live<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Formal Education – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Level + Type<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Both hold bachelor’s degrees from same Ivy League College & were involved in sports<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Mr. T dropped out of school when he was young + reading is difficult for him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Ms. T is a high school graduate<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Ms. B earned her GED<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. W has a master’s degree in liberal arts from an elite college<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. W earned his J.D. degree from a well-regarded private university<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Structures/ Institutions <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Baseball, Piano lesson, International Soccer, Forest Soccer, Swim Team, Saxophone, Cub Scouts + tryouts and tournaments.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Summer day camp, Sunday School, + Vacation bible School for the summer + football<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">After school choir<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">School activities, church life, soccer games, choir, piano,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>+ baseball<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Middle-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Working-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Working-Class/Poor<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Middle-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse;mso-table-layout-alt:fixed;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-table-overlap:never;mso-table-lspace:9.0pt;mso-table-rspace:9.0pt; mso-table-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-table-anchor-horizontal:column; mso-table-left:left;mso-table-top:.05pt;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-element:frame; mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-element-top:.05pt; mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">McAllister<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-element:frame; mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-element-top:.05pt; mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Marshall<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-element:frame; mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-element-top:.05pt; mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Handlon<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-element:frame; mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-element-top:.05pt; mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Driver<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Race/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Ethnicity<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Black<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Black<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:37.75pt"> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:37.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Language<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:37.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:37.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:37.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:37.75pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Religion<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Economics/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Employ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.25pt;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule: exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Currently unemployed and receives public assistance, but hopes to work again<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Do not own a car<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Do not have a telephone<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">-Receives aid from Aid to Families with Dependent Children <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Receives food stamps<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- has a medical card for doctor visits<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. M is employed full time in the computer industry: telecommunicates once a week and the other days travels fifty miles round trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. M is employed as a civil servant: he works nights 6 days a week, is not required to travel and leaves at 2:30am.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Combined income $100,000 per, but worries about money because of lack of job security in the computer industry: they have down-sized in recent years<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>- Mr. H works as a credit manager in a major corporation<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. H is employed as a secretary. She works 30 hours per week.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- family income of $85,000-$95,000 a year and take much of their middle class status for granted: they have many electronics and each adult has a car.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Ms. D works as a secretary for fourteen years <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Annual income between $15,000-$25,000<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">+ weekend job as a waitress<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Mr. D passed away – never paid child support<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. Fallon is in the flooring business and earns $20,000 working every other weekend and many holidays<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- money is an issues that is talked about frequently: sometimes for hours<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- in order to pay for Wendy’s tutor, Ms. D has to walk to work instead of the bus<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Housing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Lower Richmond public housing project – 2 story apt.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Refrigerator is broken<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Roaches a constant problem<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Sidewalks are littered with glass, paper, and wrappers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">4 Bedroom house on a circular street lined with recently built, two story suburban homes with a market value of $200,000<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- small front yard<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- driveway with a basketball hoop<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- large backyard <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">4 Bedroom, two story red brick house worth $245,000 in a homogenous suburban neighborhood<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Rented 3 Bedroom two-story brick house which is larger than most homes of working class families. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">-Rent is $650 a month<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Off of a busy street, a few blocks from a small business area<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Residents are all African American along with the surrounding area: there is a white working-class neighborhood within walking distance<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Housing project is considered a dangerous area<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Well-to-do racially integrated, suburban neighborhood: transitional area<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- bordered with a central city with one side consisting of an all-black middle class neighborhood and a predominantly white-neighborhood on the other side <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White suburban neighborhood<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White urban working class neighborhood not a car’s drive away from surrounding black communities<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Food<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Food is often in short supply<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- they must ask permission before eating something<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- on special occasions food may be plentiful,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but more often, there is not enough to go around<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Eat meals together<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Food is in ample supply and children often ask for items when they go to the store<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Norms/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Values<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Natural Development <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Television is always on – plays sports outside “<i>doing the same thing over and over is fun.”</i></span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Parents separated, but father buys pizza every Friday night and sometimes sleeps on the couch<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- 5 to 7 people sleep <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- children sleep in different beds on different nights<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Concerted Cultivation plays a large part in development<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mother speaks out and intervenes in Stacy’s institutional life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Always looks to put the blame on someone else: the teachers need to adjust to Stacy’s learning style – the gymnastics instructor is at fault…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Feels that there is an underlying race issue to the circumstances of her child’s encounters, but proceeds cautiously until she has enough evidence – Art the bus driver.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Concerted Cultivation a large part of Melanie’s development: mother worries that if Melanie is not involved in organized activities, they will have no one to play with after school or during breaks – but also believes that children should have free unstructured time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Misses school frequently<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- feels Melanie has a lot of homework; it’s too hard and helps her every night for 2-3 hours<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mother fails to bring Melanie to school on time or comply with the school bureaucratic rules of the school. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mother is in denial of Melanie’s learning problem and the fact that her missing school influences her learning and grades<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- intervenes awkwardly in Melanie’s schooling<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Natural Development: extended family plays a major role in Wendy’s life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- family events are very important to them <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- her two best friends are her cousins<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Wendy enjoys the little things of life: loves to play outside and watch the lightning <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Plays with all white girls<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Politics<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. M believes that intervening in Stacy’s “world” will give her the best opportunities instead of Stacy working to attain whatever she seeks. Ex. The gymnastics instructor confrontation – moving Stacy to a new level, IQ test & class, Girl Scouts.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Believes their race influences the way they are treated: Gymnastics instructor & Art, the Bus Driver<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Relationship w/ Local <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- neighborhood is safe enough to walk to local stores, Wendy’s dance lessons and religious instruction<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Formal Education – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Level + Type<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">High School Graduate?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- was a high school athlete<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. M is a college graduate and holds a masters degree in Math. The black sorority she pledged for is still a big part of her life. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. M was active in his fraternity during his undergraduate years. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. H completed 2 years of junior college <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. H<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>has an M.A. in credit and financial management <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Ms. D has a high school diploma<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. Fallon is a high school graduate<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Structures/ Institutions <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Church: Sunday school, youth choir, + junior ushers. A series of different summer camps, basketball, gymnastics, horseback riding, piano lessons<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Every Sunday Church service, Sunday school and youth choir practice<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- piano lessons, Girl Scouts: Cookies for the homeless” school holiday performance + special holiday performances for her church Christmas show.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>–swim team<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">CCD and dance lessons<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Working-Class/poor<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Middle-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Middle-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column;mso-element-top:.05pt;mso-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Working-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:fuchsia;">Yanelli<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Race/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Ethnicity<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Language<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Religion<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Economics/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Employ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mrs. Y works off the books cleaning houses for $12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Mr. Y is a house painter <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- they do not have health insurance <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- were once on welfare<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- do not have a checking account<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- Money is always tight <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Housing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Small 2 bedroom brick house: open the front door right to the curb<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">White working class neighborhood with narrow streets and narrow houses<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">All black neighborhood a few blocks away<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Food<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Norms/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Values<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Natural Development: Billy plays with other children from the neighborhood, watched television and goes with his mother to run errands.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">-He is often in trouble at school<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- The Y’s are close to their extended family<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">- The family uses directives to get their point across: Billy Shower, Billy Move- gets hit with a leather belt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">-feel school was a threatening force<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Politics<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Relationship w/ Local <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Formal Education – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Level + Type<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Both parents dropped out of high school<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Structures/ Institutions <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Baseball and Mr. Y is Billy’s coach<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;">Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#339966;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;">Working Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; mso-table-layout-alt:fixed;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr style="height:2.5pt"> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255); font-size:13px;"><br /></span></p></td><td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"><br /></td><td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"><br /></td><td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:2.5pt"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-33678097212322075802009-04-15T21:36:00.001-07:002009-04-15T21:36:30.260-07:00Online Assignment<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">2. <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The cost of living in New Jersey is incredibly high; from rent, to taxes, food, health care, transportation expenses, childcare, and etc. The families in Unequal Childhoods, especially the working-class/poor families would all experience a tremendously lower standard of living if they moved to/lived in New Jersey. It would be especially hard on the Taylor, McAllister, and Brindle families because all of the households are run by a single female parent and have very limited funds coming in. Tyrec Taylor’s mother works as a secretary and only earns $20,000 a year, which according to the Self Sufficiency Standard for Essex County, would barely accommodate one adult ($20,732), nevermind a family consisting of one adult, a ten year old, a thirteen year old, and an eighteen year old. The “providers” of the two other families, the McAllister’s and the Brindles, are both unemployed and receive food stamps and cash stipends, along with public assistance. The rent alone for the Brindle family is hard to sustain at $650 and compared to the rent costs in New Jersey, which are the highest in the nation, they would not be able to afford livable housing conditions for that amount of money. Their living conditions now are subjected to leaky ceilings, roaches, and broken washers and dryers. The McAllister family doesn’t have enough food to go around especially with all of the extra people that live there; the eleven members of extended family that sleep and eat in the McAllister home on a weekly basis. The children have to ask permission before eating food. When there is food, there is often not enough for second helpings. The cost of food in Essex County for one adult, an infant, a preschooler, and a schoolage child is $639. Ms. McAllister certainly would not be able to feed eleven family members in Essex County New Jersey on food stamps at this cost. The Driver family, although run by Ms. Driver and her boyfriend earn only between $15,000-$25,000 a year. In order to live in Essex County, they would need to bring in near $50,716 to live according to the efficiency standards. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">3. <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>According to the Legal Services of New Jersey, both the McAllister and Brindle families would be categorized with the poverty level of New Jersey. Both are single parents and the LSNJ states that the poverty rates are higher for single parent mothers. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although both families receive financial assistance, the quality of life, the struggle to make ends met would be far greater in New Jersey. Ms. Brindle doesn’t work because of the expense incurred on providing childcare for Melmel. Essentially, if she did work, nearly all of the funds earned would go to the cost of childcare, which is extremely expensive. In Cresskill, New Jersey, for a 9am to 3pm program, early childcare costs around $1100 per month. Ms. McAllister, with schoolaged children and being a minority, has a larger disadvantage due to her race as the LSNJ states that poverty is much higher for minorities. In the McAllister home the financial burden of providing for the extended family as well would make food even scarcer and much harder to provide for the necessities such as food and clean clothing in New Jersey. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">4. <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I feel that learning about the different the families, how they function, survive, their influences, and struggles has been an eye opener for me. Before reading Unequal Childhoods, I had never made a genuine connection to life outside of school and school. What each family (student) faces outside of school truly influences everything they do in school. I think as an educator, I should know about the community and the families who live there to better understand my students. Although this information has been very interesting and at times disturbing, I don’t feel that my overall teaching objectives will change. However, I will be more aware of my community and how my students live, which will provide me with an open-mind to adjust my teaching style to my students’ needs. It is hard to come from a different way of life, or mind set, without bringing the stereotypes that are ingrained in us, to a place that has true hardship and poverty to say that you understand what a student or the students may be living through. I think my hardest challenge is going to be able to relate to my students on that level, but I know I will try my best…that is all I can do. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-82642479204181319412009-04-15T19:45:00.000-07:002009-04-15T19:46:06.130-07:00Chart to be continued...<!--StartFragment--> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; mso-table-layout-alt:fixed;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:fuchsia">Tallinger<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:fuchsia">Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:fuchsia">Brindle<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:fuchsia">Williams<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Race/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Ethnicity<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Black<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">White<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Black<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Language<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">English<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Religion<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Catholic or Protestant<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Economics/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Employ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Each is a consultant – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Mr. T works in fundraising & Mrs. T in personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Combined annual income $175,000 – flexible hours but work evenings & weekends; also includes often traveling. Money never mentioned in front of the kids. Experiencing financial problems – firm not paying out on time leads to $7000 penalties in mortgage <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Mr. T currently unemployed – formally worked for social services including counseling for drug related issues. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- he doesn’t pay child support<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Ms. T works as a secretary <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- has a car that works<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>occasionally <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- annual income $20,000<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- money is an issue and spoken about in this household often<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Currently Unemployed and hopes to return to work once Melmel starts school (18 months old)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- collects food stamps and cash stipends<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Mr. B pays the Dept. of Human Services child support to offset the public assistance payment to the family<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- money is often spoken about in front of the children <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Mrs. W is a high-level manager in a major corporation: overnight trip at least once a month<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Mr. W is a trial lawyer in a small firm handling medical malpractice cases -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>preparing the cases keeps him busy from 5am to midnight for two weeks each month; otherwise he works until 6pm<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- combined annual income is over $200,000<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- they rarely discuss money with Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Housing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">42 yr. Old two story house on a cul-de-sac/ Big green lawns – swimming pool<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Rented 4 bedroom, three story house<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Small rundown 3 bedroom apt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- not well maintained: leaky ceiling and many roaches<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- often the washers and dryers don’t work<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- A 6 bedroom, large, old stone house with an expansive porch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and a sweeping<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>lawn<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- it is immaculately kept and expensively furnished<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Quiet suburb near major northeastern city<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Pretty quiet neighborhood with crime everywhere – father lives in an apt. in the city “the ghetto”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">White working-class neighborhood that is dominated by small houses <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Quiet street in a middle-class white neighborhood in a major northeastern city<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Food<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Often eat out at fast food restaurants like Taco Bell after practices –meals together determined by the boy’s activ. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Weekly go out for fast food and once a month go to a restaurant such as Sizzler<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Nearest grocery store is a 20 min bus ride away<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- relies on food stamps: food is in short supply<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Spend most of their time in the kitchen<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- eats pretty well: fruits and vegetables<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- food is not an issue<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Norms/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Values<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Concerted Cultivation plays a huge role in development – Garrett’s scheduled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>activities define<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the families pace of life – extended family members not a large part of this family’s organization except for holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Natural Development – mother & father separated<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- append Miss to all female adult names<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- sister Anisha (13) cares for Tyrec after school while the mother is still working<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- plays with children of all ages outside of the house and develops skills in mediation, conflict management, personal responsibility, and strategizing<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Natural Development – don’t feel that the kids’ leisure time is of any real importance <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Katie’s father is inconsistently involved in her life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">-All of her siblings are of different fathers<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- very independent: fixes herself soup after school and joined a school choir<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- is concerned she is fat – she isn’t<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- was sexually molested in the first grade<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- cousin is Katie’s best friend<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- extended family is very much a part of Katie’s life and often stays with her grandmother<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Concerted Cultivation plays a huge role in development – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Especially language and its use towards entitlement <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- By the time weekends come the family is exhausted but continue for the benefits to Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Alexander is bored without structured activities – interacts with boys his age only through activities<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- considered themselves close to extended family (live far away) by talking via telephone and visiting 3 to 4 times a year <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Politics<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Mr. T has opinions on many issues, including the state of the world, which he offers freely to anyone who will listen<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Concerned about the impact of race on Alexander: “<i>it isn’t going to define who he is</i></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Relationship w/ Local <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Geography<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Where Mr. T lives is the “ghetto”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- utilizes the shops in the white neighborhood close by<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Katie takes the bus to Grandma’s by herself (20 min ride)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">-the only black family in the white neighborhood in which they live<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Formal Education – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Level + Type<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Both hold bachelor’s degrees from same Ivy League College & were involved in sports<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Mr. T dropped out of school when he was young + reading is difficult for him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Ms. T is a high school graduate<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Ms. B earned her GED<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Mrs. W has a master’s degree in liberal arts from an elite college<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">- Mr. W earned his J.D. degree from a well-regarded private university<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color:#339966">Structures/ Institutions <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Baseball, Piano lesson, International Soccer, Forest Soccer, Swim Team, Saxophone, Cub Scouts + tryouts and tournaments.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Summer day camp, Sunday School, + Vacation bible School for the summer + football<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">After school choir<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">School activities, church life, soccer games, choir, piano,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>+ baseball<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="68" valign="top" style="width:.95in;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#339966">Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Middle-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Working-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Working-Class/Poor<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="99" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Middle-Class<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-90573608169045319622009-04-06T18:59:00.000-07:002009-04-06T19:00:25.334-07:00Group Intro<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:200%">Introduction</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%">“When will I ever use this in my life?” and “Why do I have to learn this?” are two very common questions that school aged children ask everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These questions can easily be answered by telling them that they need to do well on their next test and if they do well in school that they will get into a good college. From a very early age students are encouraged to take their schooling seriously and obtain an education, for one’s future success is almost always inextricably linked to a sound formal education. History has taught us that the ideal situation for an individual involves obtaining a formal education, being successful at exams, graduating with honors and finding a stable job or building a prosperous career. However, some students, especially in urban areas like Newark, New Jersey are not getting the education needed to become competent and successful members of society. The matter of changing school and curriculum (educational reform) to compensate for the rapidly changing world in which these schools and it student’s exist has been an ongoing battle of both failure and success in particularly urban areas. For instance, most of the students in and around the Hawthorne Avenue area in Newark come from lower income, working class families that are just barely making ends meet. Many of the parent(s) in these families have low educational backgrounds and this lower education is correlated to the lower income status that they presently possess. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%">President George Bush, in an effort to raise failing schools (classified by students who are falling behind), in primarily urban areas, proposed No Child Left Behind (NCLB); a series of standardized tests and guidelines for meeting an Annual Yearly Percentage (AYP) for various subject areas or the school in concern receives less funding or ultimately is closed down. There are a number of perceived inherent problems of the NCLB act and its implementation which currently dictates and drives the focus of teaching at both public and private schools across the country. Numerous reports have emerged showing the achievement gaps which exist between different components of society, be it against racial, cultural, religious or social divides. However, the fundamental underlying common denominator remains what is taught in schools. What is the role of the curriculum in future success? The reality remains that the focus of those standardized tests as currently employed may very well serve as a contributing factor to performance gaps which exist. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%">Students are very different and each will take very different paths in their lives. Thus, each student will need very different tools for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At a young age students learn all sorts of different tools that will be useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They learn basic math skills, geography, reading and writing, how to paint and play music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These are most certainly skills that will be useful in their later schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are building blocks that are necessary to their future learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The problem seems to arise in later grades when the focus is much more on Math and English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In order to see what the students are learning we must take a look at the curriculum that is being taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It does not take long to see that curriculum in our schools are driven by standardized tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These standardized tests are what we use to measure the students, teachers, schools and school districts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The focus of school is now on finding ways to raise test scores rather than the practicality of what the students are learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, we believe this idea of standardizing curriculum and learning goes against nature; fundamentally, it defies our societal structure. There needs to be more than one solution to assessing schools and its students and this concept of more than one answer is a vital component educators should be instilling in students today. The current policies in place assume that teachers can be led to perform better if they are made much more accountable for test score gains. Standardized testing seems to be the “solve-all” solution and there is evidence to support its prosperity and its failure. Both prosperity and failure are limited to the view of test scores. Students are not being assessed in the many ways they learn limiting the validity in the assessment of the student’s learned knowledge. In addition, the curriculum and teaching styles of educators is changing due to high-stakes testing. Educators are now teaching to the test, which in turn invalidates their reliability and validity. A major issue that we want to take a look at is how the standardized tests in New Jersey change as students advance through school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In elementary school students take the NJ Ask, where they are tested in seven different content areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Later when students prepare for the HSPA, which they take junior year of high school in order to graduate, they are only tested on two content areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Narrowing down our focus to two major areas, Math and English, has a great impact on their curriculum. As a result, students are being assessed on how much test content and information they can memorize in regard to passing the test instead of assessing the depth of understanding and reasoning, along with the critical thinking that goes into making the decisions. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-32096004270880932592009-04-06T04:46:00.000-07:002009-04-06T04:47:11.746-07:00Introduction<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><b>How much of what students are learning in school today applies to everyday life skills for future success?</b></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Students, especially in urban areas like Newark, are not getting the education needed to become competent and successful members of society. The matter of changing school and curriculum (educational reform) to compensate for the rapidly changing world in which these schools and it student’s exist has been an ongoing battle of both failure and success in particularly urban areas. Most of the students in and around the area of Hawthorne Avenue in Newark come from lower income, working class families that are just barely making ends meet. Many of the parent(s) in these families have low educational backgrounds and this lower education is correlated to the lower income status that they presently possess. President George Bush, in an effort to raise failing schools classified by students who are falling behind, in primarily urban areas, proposed No Child Left Behind; a series of standardized tests and guidelines for meeting an Annual Yearly Percentage (AYP) or the school in concern receives less funding or ultimately is closed down. President Bush did not account for the diversity in which students and their families come from. Diversity in many contexts such as: locale, socio-economic class, race, ethnicity, gender, family structure, disabilities, etc. and most importantly, that all students learn, retain, and recall information differently. This idea of standardizing curriculum and learning goes against nature; fundamentally, it defies our societal structure. There needs to be more than one solution to assessing schools and its students and this concept of more than one answer is a vital component educators should be instilling in students today.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Standardized testing seems to be the “solve-all” solution and there is evidence to support its prosperity and its failure. Both prosperity and failure are limited to the view of test scores. Students are not being assessed in the many ways they learn limiting the validity in the assessment of the student’s learned knowledge. In addition, the curriculum and teaching styles of educators is changing due to high-stakes testing. Educators are now teaching to the test, which in turn invalidates their reliability and validity. As a result, students are being assessed on how much test content and information they can memorize in regard to passing the test instead of assessing the depth of understanding and reasoning, along with the critical thinking that goes into making the decisions (their answers). School shouldn’t be solely about passing tests, they should concentrate, enhance, and order the knowledge that the students have learned and can use sufficiently in the world to contribute to society and use for the next steps in life. With the curriculum emphasized on teaching towards the test, these critical life skills of reasoning, decision making, critical thinking, life long learning, and etc. either aren’t being taught at all or in very limited doses. Standardized tests aren’t providing the students with the skills needed, not only for school but also, after graduation, in the work place, and in life. Many of the students coming from urban areas do not pursue further education and join the work force directly after graduation. The Secretary’s Commission of Necessary Skills released a set of competencies and foundations that are needed of schools for use in the workforce. These skills are the foundation of a competent and successful member of society. Skills such as literacy, mathematical reasoning, collaboration, critical thinking, lifelong learning, and many more will help a student to success in any facet of life. In a world that is undergoing many rapid changes of globalization, it is important for one to understand how to work with others and make intelligent decisions. It also requires more cognitive demand on students who need to be able to think creatively, out side of the box, and understand the choices they make ultimately create a path. Students are not being taught <i>how</i><span style="font-style:normal"> to think, they are being taught </span><i>what</i><span style="font-style:normal"> to think due to standardized tests that only have one correct answer. Teaching our students that there is always more than one solution and how to learn building upon their strengths will help them more in future ventures than filling in the correct bubble in number 2 pencil; a method proven to be forgotten of regurgitated useless information not connected to real life use and experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Unfortunately, educators are not preparing students with these necessary skills due to the pressures of teaching to the test. It is these students in the low income, low performing schools that are ultimately being set up for failure and the continuance of this connection of low education leading to low socio-economic status. The concept of standardized testing is not only found within the United States. The techniques of teaching curriculum and providing assessment in countries such as Belgium and Sweden are much different. Students in these countries out perform the United States on Math and Science high-stakes tests and have higher success rates. The curriculum across seas is much more specialized, leaving out forgettable details and focusing on the truly important issues. Also, assessment is much broader than in the United States. Across seas, standardized testing is not the only means of assessment. Other countries use portfolio and performance based testing, (along with others) that can be used in juncture with standardized testing, but gives students the ability to show what they are capable of, how they reason, make decisions, and grow based on their natural talents and interests. School reform is not a new issue; it has been talked about for years and slowly little steps are being taken. There will never be one answer that fits all; education and the world are rapidly ever changing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-7025949510799764752009-03-29T17:07:00.000-07:002009-03-29T17:41:34.277-07:00Life Skills & Assessment<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:center">Question Posed in Depth and My Concentration in This Study<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:center"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How much of what students are learning in school today applies to everyday life skills for future success?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:center"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">What our group would like to explore in this study is if the students, especially in urban areas like Newark, are getting the education needed to become competent and successful members of society. The issue of changing school and curriculum (educational reform) to compensate for the rapidly changing world in which these schools and it student’s exist has been an ongoing battle of both failure and success in particularly urban areas. Most of the students in the area we will be looking at, Newark, come from the lower income, working class families that are just barely making ends meet. The parent(s) in these families have low educational backgrounds and this lower education is linked to the lower income status they possess. President George Bush, in an effort to raise the failing schools and students in all areas, rural, urban, and suburban, proposed No Child Left Behind; a series of standardized tests and guidelines for meeting AYP or the school receives less funding or is closed down. What President Bush did not account for is that the students and families in all areas are different; some come to school hungry; some schools simply do not have the funding for necessities such as paper; and most importantly, all students learn differently. He did not leave room for other remedies and solutions to each area’s different social class make-up, ethnicities, poverty and etc. This idea of standardizing, everything goes against nature; there needs to be more than one solution to assessing schools and students. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">What is happening due to the standardized testing is educators are teaching to the test, which right off the bat makes them invalid. The students are then being assessed on how much test content and information they can memorize to pass instead of assessing the depth, reasoning, and critical thinking that goes into making decisions of what they really know and understand. What our group strives to find is if these tests are giving the students the skills and tools needed, not only for school but, after graduation and in the work place, and in life. Many of the students coming from urban areas do not pursue further education and join the work force after graduation. The Secretary’s Commission of Necessary Skills released a set of competencies and foundations that are needed in the workforce. These skills are the foundation of a competent and successful member of society. Skills such as reasoning, critical thinking, and lifelong learning, etc. will help a student to success in any facet of life. In a world that is undergoing many changes of globalization it is important for one to understand how to work with others and make intelligent decisions, also part of SCANS. Unfortunately, educators are not preparing students with these necessary skills due to the pressures of “teaching to the test.” It is these students in the low income, low performing schools that are ultimately being set up for failure and the continuance of this concept of low education leading to low socio-economic status. We will also be exploring across seas and comparing techniques; curriculum and assessment of other countries such as Belgium and Sweden, where students out perform the United States on Math and Science tests and have higher success rates. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">My part in this study really dives into the issues of “teaching to the test” and how all students learn, retain, and recall information differently. Also, how this rapidly changing world requires more cognitive demand on its students who need to be able to think creatively, out side of the box, and be able to reason intelligently. Students are not being taught how to think, they are being taught what to think because these standardized tests only have one right answer. We need to teach our students that there is always more than one solution and teach them how to learn and think critically building upon their strengths. If you want to see a student involved and interested, relate the content to something they care about and answer the question that students inevitably ask, “Why do I have to learn this stuff?” My other issue has to do with passing test after test – for what? Just to pass? School shouldn’t be solely about passing, it should be about what the students have learned and can use sufficiently in the world to contribute to society and use for the next steps in life. I will pose alternative forms of assessment, such as portfolio based and performance based, that can be used in juncture with standardized testing, but gives students the ability to show what they are capable of, how they reason, make decisions, and grow on their natural talents and interests. School reform is not a new issue; it has been talked about for years and slowly little steps are being taken. <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-64488615713282082412009-03-28T13:53:00.000-07:002009-03-28T13:54:23.859-07:00Research Topic<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Topic:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How much of what students are learning in school today applies to everyday life skills for future success?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Data Type:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Qualitative<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Interview<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>a. Students- Current, Dropouts, Graduates<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>b. Teachers<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>c. Administration- Superintendent/Principal (+20 years exp.)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>d. Janitors<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Observation<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>a.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Facility- Inside and Out<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>b. Area/People Around the Facility- Few Block Radius<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>c. Student/Teacher Interaction- During and Outside of Class<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>d. Student/Student Interaction- During and Outside of Class<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>e. Teacher/Teacher Interaction<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Interview Questions:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></b><span style="font-weight:normal"><u>Teachers<o:p></o:p></u></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></b><span style="font-weight:normal">1. Are you required to<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>a. Show or submit lesson plans of your curriculum?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in">b. Prove by documentation the use of the NJCCS within your curriculum plans?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in">c. If yes, how is the proof documented; on the lesson plans themselves or written on the board during the lesson.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in">d. If no, why is there lack of connection between the teachers, state curriculum and the school? Do you think that this connection is beneficial to the students and the school?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">2. Do you feel that through your curriculum you are teaching your students the necessary life skills they need for future success post schooling? ie- Critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, reasoning skills, lifelong learning skills?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">3. Have the standardized tests changed anything specifically about your curriculum and/or teaching style? If so, what has changed?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">4. How important are standardized testing to you? Do you think it is beneficial to the students learning?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">5. Have content area class been cut as a result of standardized testing? If so, what classes? Do you feel that these classes are important to the student’s well-rounded development?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">6. What skills besides literacy and mathematical competence do you feel your students will need after graduation? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><u>Administration-Superintendent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>7. How has the budget been affected, if at all, by standardized testing?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">8. Do you find yourself in Trenton trying to collect funding for your schools?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">9. How important do you feel standardized testing is for the success of your schools and students?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">10. Have you felt a true change in your schools, perhaps more pressure or stresses on yourself or the faculty due to standardized testing?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>11.What steps are you taking to ensure that your schools meet their AYP?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><u>Students<o:p></o:p></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>12. What is a standardized test?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>13. How important are the tests to you?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">14. How do the tests make you feel? Do you like them? Do you think that they will help you for your future? If so, in what ways?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">15. Have you had any other experiences with tests? If so, what type of tests? Do you like those tests better? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">16. Do you think that standardized testing really tests your true abilities and strengths? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">17. Do you feel any changes in your classes as you have moved up through the grades about what you are learning?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">18. Do you think what you are learning is going to be useful in the real world after you graduate?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">19.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What skills do you think will be important for you after you graduate? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">20. What do you want to be when you grow up?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">21. Do you feel that after receiving your diploma, you will have all that you need for success in the future? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">22. What are you plans after graduation? Will you pursue further education (where to) or join the work force (in what line of work)? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">23. How would you change school if you could? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Data Charts<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></b><span style="font-weight:normal">1. Pie Chart representative of the races/ethnicity of the students and faculty of the <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>school.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>2. Pie Chart representative of the social classes and family make up of the school.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">3. Bar Graphs representative of the performance of standardized testing broken up into the years, content being assessed, and scores.<o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-64984553484539576832009-03-21T16:23:00.001-07:002009-03-21T16:30:13.835-07:00Annotated Bibliography<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Aguirre, E., Brock, W. E., Biggins, J. V., Black, J. P., Brockett P. L., Burdick, W. E., <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Burge, J. D., Carswell, B., Chapman, T. W., Cole, P. F., Conn, G. J., Cortina, G., Doyle, F. P., Foreman, J. H., Foster, B. G., Gregory, W. H., Herrera, Y., Martin, L., Jennings, M. P., Palko, S., Patterson, J., Parnell, D., Resnick, L. B., Rivera, R.E., Semerad, R. D., Sticht, T. G., Watts, G. D., Wetjen, S. M., Whitburn, G., Zimmerman, J. H. (2000). U.S. Department of Labor: What Work Requires Of Schools: A Scans Report for America 2000. <i>The Secretary’s Commission On Achieving Necessary Skills</i><span style="font-style:normal">, June 1991, i-36.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><a href="http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/whatwork/whatwork.pdf"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/whatwork/whatwork.pdf</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> All young Americans should leave high school with the know-how they need to make it in the real world; less than one half of our students have the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a good job. The nation’s schools are failing to develop the full academic abilities of most students and utterly failing the majority of poor, disadvantaged, and minority students. It is proven that low skills lead to low wages and low profits. SCANS, The Secretary’s Commission on Necessary Skills have compiled a set of foundations and competencies needed to perform in the workplace and in further education, in many cases simultaneously.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cornfield, I. R. (2002). Learning-To-Learn Strategies As A Basis For Effective Lifelong <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Learning. <i>International Journal Of Education</i><span style="font-style:normal">, 21(4), 357-368.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Great changes have occurred in our world regarding education, technology, and the economy. With these revolutions, the nature of work, skill, and knowledge have changed in the way of being more cognitively demanding. The importance of incorporating the teaching of cognitive and metacognitive skills in the classroom will give students the lifelong learning skills needed at all levels of schooling and beyond in the world of work. Curriculum needs to be adjusted to include learning-how-to-learn. Once students learn ultimately how they learn, then these skills can be applied to lifelong learning skills for success in the ever-advancing future.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Glaser, R., Silver, E. (1994). Assessment, Testing, and Instruction: Retrospect and <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Prospect. <i>Review of Research in Education,</i><span style="font-style:normal"> 20, 393-419.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">http://www.jstor.org/stable/1167389</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Assessment is both part of the problem and part of the solution. There is evidence that suggests both sides of the argument. Assessment other than high stakes tests can be used as a valid measure of the performance and thinking students foster. These other types of tests such as selective testing and performance based testing can be used in addition to the state and national tests. What we must teach our students is that there is more than one right answer to a single problem and standardized tests do not leave room for the critical thinking and reasoning that accompanies this real life application of education and life skills.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Packer, A. (2007). Meeting Standards Will Not Guarantee Success. <i>Fairtest</i><span style="font-style:normal">, The High <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>School Assessments Forum: Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 2003, October 21.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> What determines success? – High test scores or skills needed for lifelong learning and the work force? Educators need to think about what the economy is going to look like for the students they are teaching now who will enter the work force in the future. Today, many jobs have already been moved across seas due to globalization and computers are taking over jobs once done by humans. Employers want creative problem solvers, decision makers, collaborative team players, effective communicators, and life long learners, but high stakes assessments are hindering these valued skills. A math test may take away from an art lesson and that art lesson may have given the student who thinks creatively a job with the Ford Company who needs a new design for their Taurus, which is no longer attracting consumers. Also, assuming that all students are alike by giving them the same standards-based tests is unfair because not all students learn and retain information in the same way. What is wanted is more productive workers, more informed citizens, more lifelong learning, and more developed human beings. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">http://www.fairtest.org/meeting-standards-will-not-guarantee-success</span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Madus, G. F. (1988). The Distortion of Teaching and Testing: High Stakes Testing and <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Instruction. <i>Peabody Journal of Education, </i><span style="font-style:normal">65(3), 29-46.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Tests are losing their legitimacy on testing students on their learned knowledge due to the “teaching of the test.” This corrupts the information that the students have learned and therefore know because instead of retrieving the information from long-term memory, they are memorizing test material and format. The scores are no longer valid because memorizing stock sentences as prompts for example, is not an indicator of how well or creatively one can write. It has now become an assessment of the student’s ability to recall memorized information.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><a href="http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.montclair.edu:2048/stable/pdfplus/1492818.pdf"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.montclair.edu:2048/stable/pdfplus/1492818.pdf</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wallis, C., Steptoe, S., (2006, December 18). How To Bring Our Schools Out Of The <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">20<sup>th</sup> Century. <i>Time Magazine</i><span style="font-style:normal">, 51-56.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> We need to take our schools into the 21<sup>st</sup> century and prepare our students for the uncertainty they will face in the world ahead of them. Advances in technology and our global economy will have tremendous effects on what the world will look like for students when they enter the work world or even adulthood. Students need to learn more about the world, think outside of the box, become smarter about new sources of information, develop good people skills and redefine how they learn. The curriculum needs to be adjusted to incorporate a balance between core knowledge and portable skills such as critical thinking, making connections between ideas and knowing how to learn. It is suggested that the curriculum of the United States should become more like those of Singapore, Belgium, and Sweden, where students out perform students on math and science tests. In these countries key concepts are taught in depth and smaller textbooks are used to focus on the powerful and important ideas instead of forgettable details. Also, the curriculum should be more interdisciplinary to help students to think creatively aiding in the production of new breakthroughs in technology and such.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Synder, L. G., Snyder, M. J. (2008). Teaching Critical Thinking Skills and Problem <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Solving Skills. <i>The Delta Epsilon Journal</i><span style="font-style:normal">, L(2), 90-99.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Students who are able to think critically are able to solve problems effectively. Having knowledge is simply not enough in today’s world. To be effective in the work place and in personal lives, students must be able to solve problems and make effective decisions; they must be able to think critically. Thinking critically should be implemented by teaching students how to think, instead of what to think. Unfortunately, standardized curricula and the focus on “teaching the test” undermine the educator’s ability to address critical thinking in the classroom. Also, on standardized tests, students cannot apply critical thinking skills; instead they are only recalling facts. This type of assessment does indicate the student’s knowledge and understanding of the idea, concept, or content area being assessed. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-49543268071661242552009-03-08T19:01:00.000-07:002009-03-08T19:05:27.881-07:00Culture of Self Revised<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I grew up in Ridgefield, New Jersey for the most part; a small, wealthy, predominantly white, suburban community where education was valued, being involved in structured extracurricular activities and getting into the big universities was the main focus in high school, class had much to do with your social status and acceptance, the number of minorities enrolled in my district could be counted on my fingers, family, along with it’s traditional structure and moral values was the accepted, and respect and manners were a given while addressing elders. My family life however, was substantially different from this stereotypical standard associated with suburban life. Although I am white, my family never quite fully fit into the persona of the suburban American family who owned a home, with the white picket fence, two parents happily married including the stay at home mother, and the breadwinner father, where daily family dinners were a ritual, and little financial worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although many of my friends lived the glorified suburban standard of life, I surely did not.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">When I was four, my mother and father got divorced; it was a terrible experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remember clinging onto my father’s leg as my mother was pushing and throwing his belongings down the stairs at us. My brother was not even a year old at the time, so he has a very different perspective of our family structure than I do. For JJ, that’s just the way things were/are; we lived with Mommy and we saw Daddy on the weekends, summers, and some holidays. My father tried to keep things between them civil for us; he always had our best intentions in mind. My mother always took good care of us physically, but abused both my brother and I verbally. I got the brunt of it. For as long as I can remember, she has called me every name in the book and kicked me out of the house for the first time when I was four. My dad, who moved in with my grandparents (where we all still live today) got a call from my mom during the school week saying, “Come pick this f*cking b*tch up.” Needless to say, each time it happened he went to get me and drove me all the way back the next morning to go to school. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">We lived with my mother because she didn’t want to give up the custodial rights to my father, although she was very eager to get rid of us every weekend. I think it had something to do with finances too; I’m not really too sure about that. I do know however, we never had any money for extras and my mother NEVER paid for anything more than the necessities. The entire financial burden was placed on my father. If we needed medicine, clothes, school supplies, class trip money, entertainment funds for a trip to the <i>Sweet Shop </i></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">or <i>Dairy Queen</i></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;"> with friends, application fees for college, etc., the response we would get was, “Go ask your father.” Now, giving my mother the benefit of the doubt, maybe she simply didn’t make enough each week to include extras, but my dad paid child support so that should have covered all of the extra amenities for my brother and I. Also, we seemed to move frequently from apartment to apartment, although in the same town (except for two years: first and second grades in Bogota) my understanding of stability was very unstable in itself. I found comfort in structured activities, like my Jazz dance class on the weekends as a kid, being in school with my friends: including all of the extra curricular activities, and simply playing with my brother on the weekends seemed to be activities that I enjoyed greatly because they were constant. I also came to find that alone time was something that I enjoyed whether I was cleaning (I loved to clean and organize as a kid, I still do), expressing myself creatively through fine arts, listening to music, or being outside observing nature. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">My brother and I spent the weekends with our father and paternal grandparents. My brother and I, because we have gone through all of these life experiences together, were very close. More so than that, I took care of him (changed his diapers starting at age five) and watched after him during the week, so the weekend was my time to relax and be a kid. My dad, being a police officer, works crazy hours and even if he asked my mother to keep us until he got out of work or perhaps keep us for the weekend if my grandparents were away, she would never let us stay with her. Friday came and we were out no matter what! My dad always had to rearrange his life to fit her needs and it was never the other way around. In theory, my dad always got the <i>sh*t end of the stick</i></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;"> even when it came to holidays. I think we woke up with him on Christmas once as kids, when we still believed in Santa.” My brother and I would be threatened if we said we wanted to go by dad or even see him saying, “Then why don’t you go live with your father.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And finally, after she punched me in the face, that being the final straw, I moved in with my father when I was sixteen years old. I didn’t talk to her for one year after that and my brother stayed with her because she manipulated him with guilt trips to make him stay. I should have gone to live with dad sooner. But, since the idea was always expressed as a threat, it never seemed appealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Additionally, I was afraid to leave all of my friends, my school; the life away from my house that I enjoyed and especially my brother. My father worked it out that I still went to school with my friends and graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was so much better living with Dad, but I missed my brother. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Unfortunately, my mother is sick now, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and we don’t talk often. She definitely has taught me what type of mother and educator not to be. Her choices, judgment, and rational have proved themselves to be encompassed in selfishness and greed, an embarrassment to both my brother and I. Since I have been sixteen years old, I have lived with my grandparents and my father in an owned home in the suburban community of River Edge, New Jersey. I consider my grandmother to be more of a solid mother figure than my mother has ever been. My grandmother was a foster child and doesn’t know too much about her heritage. She did bring with her protestant faith that she designated as hers but did not practice regularly or put onto us. Heritage and religion weren’t strong definitive qualities in my household. I wasn’t brought up with strict religious implications in either household like many of my friends. I should mention that I never associated with anyone from River Edge because my life was very much still part of Ridgefield. However, I went to CCD, made my holy communion and have a cross hanging in my room because in both communities that was the accepted and our family was so different as it was, that in a sense, we had to conform. But, by no means does Catholicism or Protestant faith really define me as a person. I will not get married in a church although I do believe there is a God because of fear of not to. I believe in the more scientific explanations of how the universe and we were created. My grandmother also raised me with the 1940’s etiquette, manners, and respect she learned growing up including the idea that cursing, as a woman, was absolutely not accepted. However, although I don’t curse at home, I somehow developed a trucker’s mouth around my friends. I believe that my mother had a large influence on that aspect of me because of the way she spoke to me as a child. I uphold respect for my elders and those who work very hard to make our communities a better place to live like educators, policemen, firefighters, and paramedics, make eye contact with a person during conversation, and use manners and politeness in my actions and speech. My grandfather on the other hand is not religious, but is the stereotypical stubborn German. My great-grandfather, my Poppop’s father was an officer in Germany in World War I. He and my great-grandmother immigrated to America in 1922 and had twins, my Poppop and my great-uncle. Both my grandfather and my great-uncle have lost their ability to communicate in German and therefore our main language spoken at home is English. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Although I am of German and Irish heritage (my mother’s mother was German and Irish) and of Catholic and Protestant faith, I consider myself an agnostic American. I was born here and influenced by suburban American culture and its environment. Although one could arguably say that my broken family life and lower economic status weren’t cognizant of my suburban upbringing. However, in spite of my family adopting our own traditions and customs regarding our time together and the activities in which we participate, each has been influenced by suburban culture and accommodated by us through our experiences to fit our needs. My experiences are a huge part of my culture along with the environment I have grown up in. I believe that my experiences truly have shaped my thinking and me as an adult. From middle school through high school, I always felt like an outsider; I was different. Not having the accepted life that everyone around me did was hard socially. I missed out on the social interactions with friends on the weekends and in high school being social is a big part of one’s acceptance and identity. I feel that this lack of acceptance has proven itself to take me longer in finding and accepting myself. I am fortunate to have my brother and my two best friends that have been there through everything: all the way back to kindergarten. I feel that school was very important for me; it was my stability. I was very involved in every aspect of drumming in the music department and the creative outlets like editor-in-chief of the yearbook. There were times that I didn’t leave school until nine o’clock at night because I would much rather be involved with my friends than go home to my mother. My father was very supportive of my active high school life and even when I moved in with him, he didn’t ask me to quit any of my extracurricular activities especially since they looked good on my transcripts and college applications.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Going to college was a big deal in Dad’s home, in my community, and in school; it wasn’t an option. After grammar school, you went to high school and then off to college. My mother does not have a college degree and did not care if my brother and I went to college or not. My father on the other hand, went to an automotive technical school for two years out in Colorado. His brother and sister, my aunt and uncle went to Michigan State University, so when you go to college in my family, you go away. Where to go to college was a big deal coming from such a small town. I wanted to go somewhere that I could start over and be me, not defined as what kind of family I came from and also somewhere that I could meet different types of people coming from all backgrounds and experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Ridgefield Memorial’s population was very small (ninety-eight in our graduating class) and predominantly white; I think we had six black students in the whole school. Our junior high school was located in the same building and as the high school and as I traveled through the grades, I started to see an increase in the Asian ethnicity of the students. They tended to keep to themselves and as I approached eleventh grade, there was a true segregation between the whites in Asians not only in our graduating class but also, within the whole school. Many times they didn’t want to socialize with us or did they try. They spoke Korean amoungst themselves in school even after learning English. What did bring us together was the competition of where we were going to school. I ended up going away to North Carolina, Catawba College and then to New York, Manhattanville College. It turns out that I went the furthest distance as compared to anyone in my graduating class. I found a whole new culture down south and an extremely mixed culture community at Manhattanville.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">I feel that my culture: experiences, family life, community, agnostic religion, gender, and exposure to race and ethnicity (although limited) have really shaped who I am today. I feel that I can relate to children of single parent homes and abusive parent(s) maybe not in the extreme context that some of my students will bring to me, but with a better understanding then someone who has not been through it at all. I think I have risen above the negative connotation and social disconnect that divorced/broken families endure in suburban communities. I also understand that my situation was not nearly as bad as it could have been. I had positive reinforcement and support from my father and grandparents that pushed me to want to better myself, to be an independent woman, and have goals towards success. They also fostered creativity providing the reasoning and ability to think outside of the box instilling that there was always more than one answer to whatever the situation may be. I have been fortunate coming from the suburban community that I have to have a caring family, friends, a roof over my head, enough food to eat, and clothes to keep me warm, an adequate education with educators who really cared, choice in the structured extracurricular activities in which I participated in, and the freedom to choose where I attended furthered my education. I hope I can pass onto my students that you can rise above educationally, almost anything and find the positives in any situation as long as you believe in yourself enough to make change. Take J. K. Rowling for example. It is possible to come from nothing and use education and creativity to make something of one’s self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have internalized how my mother has treated my brother and I and this has given me a greater understanding of how an individual can be affected by another whether in a positive or negative way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hope to be an insightful, creative, inspiring, active, caring, and understanding educator and learn more about the students, their culture and experiences, and their needs in urban areas. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-9705140093732137272009-03-02T10:07:00.000-08:002009-03-02T10:54:40.732-08:00Open Blog #4 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px; ">According to the reading of the last chapter in Fruchter, it seems that when a controversial subject is introduced within a school district that is directly related to or especially challenges the views, beliefs, and culture of the children’s families who attend there, more parent and community involvement is guaranteed. Why is it that when a district trying to make positive changes in the current educational system calls for reform, there is limited parent and community support? It could be perhaps, because the reform isn’t challenging or relating directly to the children’s families in a way that gives them a true voice. In 1991, when The Children of the Rainbow Multicultural Program was introduced to New York City’s schools, it raised such a commotion with an outpouring of participation and involvement from the community members and parents to the school board meetings most of them challenging the program from being implemented. This opposition went deeper than just the curriculum in the classroom, “several speakers expressed blatant and sometime vicious homophobia.” Unfortunately, we live in a society that is faced with homophobia, racism, segregation, and etc. This is why we need reform. We need to educate on acceptance on sexual orientation or race or culture; we are all part of the same human race. If controversial propaganda in the school district works to gain involvement in the school therefore allowing the expression of democracy and have the community, parents, and students have an active role in some of the decision-making regarding reform and curriculum, then we need to utilize that. If the bureaucracies listen to the students and the community in which these students represent and will inevitably run in the future, they may have a different perspective for change. This involvement may help reduce the changing to “choice schools” and foster the support for reform that the district needs. The first step should be, breaking down the corrupt bureaucracies or holding them accountable and then provoking the parents with reform that challenges their beliefs to give them a major role in the curriculum their children will learn.</span><!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-58092776737897596242009-03-01T18:18:00.000-08:002009-03-01T18:19:18.019-08:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:200%"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>Culture of Self<o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I grew up in Ridgefield for the most part. When I was four, my mother and father got divorced; it was a terrible experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remember clinging onto my father’s leg as my mother was pushing and throwing his belongings down the stairs at us. My brother was not even a year old at the time, so he has a very different perspective of the divorce than I do. For JJ, that’s just the way things were; we lived with Mommy and we saw Daddy on the weekends, summers, and some holidays. My father tried to keep things between them civil for us; he always had our best intentions in mind. My mother always took good care of us physically, but abused both my brother and I verbally. I got the brunt of it. For as long as I can remember, she has called me every name in the book and kicked me out of the house for the first time when I was four. My dad, who moved in with my grandparents (where we all still live today) got a call from my mom during the school week saying, “Come pick this f*cking b*tch up.” Needless to say, he went to get me and drove me all the way back the next morning to go to school. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">We lived with my mother because she didn’t want to give up the custodial rights to my father, although she was very eager to get rid of us every weekend. I think it had something to do with finances too. We never had any money for extras and my mother NEVER paid for anything more than the necessities. The entire financial burden was placed on him. If we needed medicine, school clothes, school supplies, money to go on a class trip, application fees for college, etc the response we would get was, “Go ask your father.” Now, giving her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she didn’t make enough to include extras, but my dad paid child support so that should have covered all of the extra amenities for my brother and I. My dad, being a police officer, works crazy hours and even if he asked my mother to keep us until he got out of work or perhaps keep us for the weekend if my grandparents were away, she would never let us stay with her. Friday came and we were out no matter what! My dad always had to rearrange his life to fit her needs and it was never the other way around. So, my dad always got the shit end of the stick even when it came to holidays. I think we woke up with him on Christmas once as kids, when we still believed in Santa. We would tell her that we wanted to wake up with daddy but she would always “threaten” my brother and I saying, “Then go live with your father.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And finally, after she punched me in the face, I said that’s it and I moved in with my father when I was sixteen years old. I didn’t talk to her for one year after that and my brother stayed with her because she manipulated him with guilt trips to make him stay. I don’t know why I didn’t go and live with dad sooner. Maybe because the way she expressed living with him as negative and came through as a threat. Plus, I was afraid to leave all of my friends. We worked it out that I still went to school with my friends and graduated from Ridgefield. It was so much better living with Dad, but I missed my brother. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Unfortunately, my mother is sick now, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and we don’t talk often. She is still selfish and manipulative and has ruined our relationship and recently the relationship between her and my brother. She definitely has taught me what type of mother not to be. Her choices and judgment have proved themselves to be an embarrassment to both my brother and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I consider my grandmother to be more of a solid mother figure than she has ever been. My grandmother was a foster child and doesn’t know too much about her heritage. She did bring with her protestant faith that she designated as hers but did not practice regularly or put onto us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I wasn’t brought up with strict religious implications in either household. I went to CCD, made my holy communion and have a cross hanging in my room. But, by no means does Catholicism really define me as a person. I will not get married in a church and I do believe there is a God because of fear of not to. I believe in the more scientific explanations of how the universe and we were created. My grandfather on the other hand is not religious, but is the stereotypical stubborn German. My great-grandfather, my Poppop’s father was an officer in Germany in World War I. He and my great-grandmother immigrated to America in 1922 and had twins, my Poppop and my great-uncle George. My grandfather has lost his ability to communicate in German and therefore our main language spoken at home is English.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Although I am of German and Irish heritage (my mother’s mother was German and Irish) I consider myself American. I was born here and influenced by American culture and environment. I feel that my broken family life is related to that of families in urban areas more so than the suburban community that I grew up in. I was one of the very few who did not have both parents at home. I always felt like an outsider; I was different. I didn’t have the typical life that everyone around me did. I missed out on the social interactions on the weekends and in high school being social is a big part of one’s existence. I am fortunate though to have two best friends have been there through everything, that date all the way back to kindergarten. It seemed like everyone else had it so much better than I did, the parents, the money, the stability, and etc. I feel that school was very important for me; it was my stability. I was very involved in every aspect of drumming in the music department and the creative outlets like editor-in-chief of the yearbook. There were times that I didn’t leave school until nine o’clock at night because I would much rather be involved with my friends than go home to my mother. My father was very supportive of my active high school life and even when I moved in with him, he didn’t ask me to quit any of my extracurricular activities especially since they looked good on my transcripts and college applications.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Going to college was a big deal in Dad’s home, in my community, and in school. It’s just what you did. After grammar school, you go to high school and then off to college. My mother does not have a college degree and my father went to an automotive technical school for two years out in Colorado. His brother and sister, my aunt and uncle went to Michigan State University, so when you go to college in my family, you go away. Where to go to college was a big deal coming from such a small town. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The high school that I attended was very small (ninety-eight in our graduating class) and predominantly white; I think we had two black students in the whole school. Our junior high school was located in the same building and as the high school and as I traveled through the grades, I started to see an increase in the Asian ethnicity of the students. They tended to keep to themselves and as I approached eleventh grade, there was a true segregation between the whites in Asians in our graduating class. Many times they didn’t want to socialize with us or did they try. They spoke Korean amoungst themselves in school even after learning English. What did bring us together was the competition of where we were going to school. I ended up going away to North Carolina, Catawba College and then to New York, Manhattanville College. It turns out that I was the only one in my class to go the furthest away. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I feel that my experiences, family life, community, culture, agnostic religion, and exposure to race and ethnicity (although limited) have really shaped me. I feel that I can relate to children of single parent homes and abusive parents maybe not in the extreme context that some of my students will bring to me, but a better understanding then someone who has not been through it at all. I think I have risen above my negative situation and I know that it has not been as bad as it could have been. I had positive reinforcement and support from my father and grandparents to do great things and succeed in life. I hope I can pass that onto my students, that you can rise above as long as you believe in yourself. I think that I internalized how my mother has treated my brother and I and this will help me respect other people’s feelings inside and outside of the classroom. I hope to be an insightful, creative, inspiring, active, caring, and understanding educator. Even after culture and our experiences, we are all still human. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-3699310998553515652009-02-22T10:45:00.000-08:002009-03-02T10:07:42.618-08:00My Question????<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;"> My question deals with the curriculum and instruction in urban schools. Because of No Child Left Behind, schools have become so focused on teaching the test that teachers are not able to focus on the other important content areas and life skills besides literacy and mathematics. This form of assessment is used to mandate that schools raise their school rankings and bring their AYP to nearly unreachable levels or funding will be cut. How can that be a viable solution? Most schools don't have the necessary means and resources it needs now, how can taking resources away help? Also, what is teaching "the test" really going to teach a child...if you learn how to memorize information to regurgitate it to take a test well you can do/be anything?! NO. My problem is, these students aren't learning the necessary valuable skills that are going to help them succeed not only in future educational endeavors, but in life. What they are learning or should be learning in school would give children a well-rounded educational experience - Isn't that what we should be preparing students for - LIFE? I feel that students in urban areas are not receiving life skills. I don't feel that all of the failure should be put onto the educator's shoulders as it most often does. I feel that due to NCLB, teachers are inhibited in their teaching style because of having to place so much emphasis on the test and are not rewarded for all of their other successes and progresses made with their students.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;">An example of our urban schools not teaching the necessary life skills is little Ivan's mother from the Camden (video clip from class). She could only read at a 4th grade level and couldn't provide her family with the essentials, such as food or a home, because she didn't have the skills to get or maintain a job. These kids like Ivan are the future. We need to prepare them to make decisions that are going to impact themselves and the world, especially at a young age when they are moldable and want to go to school and learn. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;">I feel that SCANS, the Secretary's Commission of Necessary Skills should be incorporated into the curriculum to provide students the skills needed to survive in this world. As you can see, I feel negatively towards NCLB. I think that it places unnecessary stress and pressure on the educator and inhibits teaching styles that may excite and engage the students more. I also feel that time is being taken away from other important content areas and life skills. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;">So, in short I guess my question is, why aren't we preparing kids with the skills they need for life, (school and the workplace) especially in urban areas where most graduates do not pursue further education? <i>This stereotype of most urban students not pursuing further education does not suggest a lowering of standards because if the students have the life skills needed intermixed with the understanding and application of the content areas, students will be able to make just decisions regarding their futures and may decide on their own to pursue further education</i></span><span style="color:#666699;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;">Content areas can be taught through the SCANS skills. For example, the basic SCANS skill arithmetic, can be taught by learning to budget, save and invest money; balance a checkbook; measure for building and/or cooking, estimate time; etc. These are skills can and will used for the long term, with success, if real life application and understanding is taught and learned. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;">****Link for SCANS. You have to download to pdf. The foundations and competencies are on page 6. </span><span style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;color:#666699;"><a href="http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/teaching/"><span style="Times New Roman";font-family:";color:#666699;"><b>http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/teaching/</b></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;color:#666699;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;">To be continued....<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#666699;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#666699;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#666699;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#99CC00;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-54347780831332291902009-02-14T11:34:00.000-08:002009-02-14T11:35:04.620-08:00Influences: Urban Schools<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The major influence that helps shape urban schools in America is the history of the United Sates: more specifically, its population, industrialization/globalization, and education. History provides the opportunity to look back at a point in time objectively to learn and grow from either the strengths or downfalls of the time frame or events being scrutinized. Fruchter commences with an important Supreme Court case in 1954 and makes observations on how some important events, since then, have shaped our urban educational system’s progress or lack there of, whereas Anderson and Summerfield compare and contrast urban, rural, and suburban schools while sharing and exposing the myths and the history going back to the roots of educational philosophies, rural schooling. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The Frutcher piece opens with these three influences, population, industrialization/globalization, and education, introducing the Brown vs. the Board of Education case from 1954. He states, “the nation’s schools are more segregated [now] than they were when the case was decided” (p. 7).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the 1950’s, the population of the United States was growing rapidly racially and culturally facing major issues such as the struggles of (de)segregation and the emigration of minorities looking for the land of the free and opportunity. Unfortunately, “the United States as a nation is but 228 years old and existed as a slave nation longer than it has existed as a free one” (p. 7). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The population, fearing integration, opposed, many times violently, keeping the schools segregated by making alternate schools for the whites to go, thus creating achievement gaps between the white alternate schools and the “minority” schools. Segregation was also due to industrialization/globalization and expansion of roads, driving the white-middleclass out into the suburbs leaving urban areas all ‘black’ (p. 9). The threat of integrated schooling also created additional issues, gaps, in the economic classes, “low-cost mortgages, subsided by the federal government [was] made available almost entirely to white families only (p. 13). Although the Brown vs. Board of Education case was passed to alleviate segregation, Fruchter feels that the Supreme Court tricked the nation into believing that something was being done towards equality, but feels that nothing has really been carried out successfully or purposefully and this is evident in the issues facing our urban schools today.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;line-height:200%"><i>What purports to be an analysis of the inevitable failure American public education turns out to be an analysis of the failure of urban public education, in other words, that one third of all our school systems serving poor African American and Latino students. An analysis that cloaks itself in universal rhetoric is actually locating far more specific failure in our nations urban schools and blaming the ethnic and racial diversity of our nation’s urban population for this failure. (p.18)<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Dropout rates and achievement gaps in urban areas are more so than in suburban and rural schools. This is due to the variety of cultures living in these centers whose parents may not speak English, creating a communication barrier between home and school. Also, many of these families are poor, so the parents, who may be working more than one job to provide for their families, may not be at home to keep their kids on task with their studies or homework and may also have no control of what their children are doing after school hours. Parents play an important role in students’ success academically providing stability, encouragement, and support, which many of these families may not have. Bourdieu, a French sociologist has “defined and elaborated a concept he called ‘habitus’ by which he meant the values, beliefs, assumptions, expectations, symbols, and rituals of the society’s dominant classes” (p. 28).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This theory suggests that students, people take in the dominant culture around them and this shapes their interactions, knowledge, and language. In John Edgar Wideman’s <i>Brother’s and Keepers</i><span style="font-style:normal">, Robby describes the culture of the 1960’s urban area he grew up in, “‘normal’ was poverty, drugs, street crime, Vietnam, or prison” (p. 33). This perspective of life is not uncommon in urban areas can influence the behavior and success of the inhabitants there.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Not all urban schools and students fail. “Schools serving the children of our military personnel stationed both in this country and abroad, are run by the department of Defense Education Activity agency, or DoDEA” (p. 19) and have a high achievement within their black students. There is question to whether there is validity in the comparison because military bases differ from urban schooling in discipline and expectations of education and also in they way economically that they are comprised; There are no class extremes, wealthy or poor. Nonetheless, the achievement gap between the students of color and whites has nearly closed in these schools. “DoDEA’s successes indicate that school cultures can be organized to produce high levels of academic achievement by their students of color” (p. 23). Frutcher emphasizes that the DoDEA schools are not the answer for “the reform of low-performing urban schools. But it is an important example of how school cultures can be organized, at scale, to produce academic successes for students of color…using the organizational structure that combines accountability and autonomy” (p. 23). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The work of Chubb and Moe suggests that “democratic control of public education inevitably produces bureaucracy, and bureaucracy inevitably produces ineffective schooling” (p. 15). The theory of bureaucracy isn’t upheld in DoDEA schools and is evidenced by the high achievement of all of their students, although they are run through congress offering the same standards and curricula through all of its schools. But it offers the right balance of autocracy and homogeneity in each individual school it needs for success. Chubb and Moe state:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;line-height:200%"><i>Social homogeneity (a political category that involves substantial agreement about education issues) seems to characterize broad political agreement about the goals, policies, and practices of public education. Chubb and Moe then argue that such homogeneity is far more characteristic of suburban and rural settings than of urban areas, and that urban areas are far more heterogeneous, diverse, contentious, and problem-ridden. (p. 17)<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><i><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></i><span style="font-style:normal">Anderson and Summerfield would agree that suburban and rural schools share more characteristics of homogeneity than urban schools but they would argue that suburban and urban schools are more alike statistically than one much imagine. Further, what one conceptualizes as being rural may even find is more urban that previously perceived. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">According to the National Center for Educational Statistics NCES, “Nevada schools (11.5 rural) were more urbanized than New York State’s schools (16.7 rural)” (p. 30). The NCES conducted a crime study from urban and suburban schools in 1999 and found “the long held beliefs about urban school violence and the suburban school environment [being safer] would appear to be challenged by national crime fighters” (p.31). Chubb and Moe’s idea of heterogeneity in urban schools is accurate, but the “problem-ridden” stereotype labeled to urban schools is not always necessarily true. Here, crime wise, suburban areas are statistically worse-off than urban areas. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The myths implying the student-teacher ratio as being much less in urban areas and students being lost in the educational system due to large class sizes, is not true according to the NCES. In fact, “the ratio for all schools is approximately the same” (p. 31). In addition, the NCES found that suburban schools pay out the most expenses to things other than instruction, whereas rural schools pay more towards instruction, but get more state funding making them “less expensive to the locals and more expensive to the state. [This is] a surprising find to someone who believes that urban schools are overburdened with administrative costs” (p. 32) and that smaller schools, rural schools are less expensive and better. Thomas Jefferson saw small schools, rural schools as the foundation for the future.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Historically, rural schools, the one room schoolhouse, taught lessons that started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This was Thomas Jefferson’s vision: that everyone would be morally educated from the bible and America would be a “ nation of yeoman farmers” (p. 34). It was in the 1920’s that there was a real distinction between an urban school and a rural school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Urban schools started out as comprehensive high schools teaching vocations to the working class, due to industrialization and Jefferson’s rural ideal was lost. The creation of the urban school was “ideal living in the industrialized world. The men could work in the city while the children were raised and schooled in the country” (p. 36). After the Second World War, reform in the educational system was deemed necessary because the world had changed and moved too far away from the Jefferson ideals to go back. “To [try and] capture the ideals of rural America” (p. 36), the idea of small schools created a reform, a movement, Sizer calls the “Essential School” (p. 37) that goes back to the idea of the academies; “the original academy was a garden or grove near Athens’ that numbered Plato among its members. This was the <i>original </i><span style="font-style:normal">rural school” (p. 38). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;line-height:200%"><i>What is most interesting about the essential school movement is its historical antecedent: the New England academy of the nineteenth century, which Sizer documented. The academies, like essential or core curriculum schools, did not have vocational education. Essential schools tend toward the size and organization of the academy model; they tend to be community based, i. e. homogenous. The administration is minimal, the bureaucracy limited, and one finds the teacher facing his multiaged homogenous community and teaching the essential knowledge of the world to the future small farmers that Jefferson so revered (p. 38).<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><i><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></i><span style="font-style:normal">Fruchter and Chubb & Moe would agree this concept of the Essential School to be a successful one based on the homogeneity, small class sizes, minimal bureaucracy, and teachings of knowledge important for success in the world. The history of the United States, its population, industrialization/globalization, and education have contributed greatly in shaping urban schools. What we take from this, that is, what we have learned make for interesting reforms and trial and error pedagogy in our schools. As for the unresolved issue of segregation, I don’t know if that will ever truly be resolved. It is however in human nature for humans to find a level of conformability in sticking with other members of their culture or race. In a way, we segregate ourselves purposefully. Perhaps we should study our behaviors more as to how cultures and individuals naturally react within society and use this information along with the psychology behind how students effectively learn and apply it to the real life competences and successful pedagogies. We ultimately need to stop trying to change how we innately act as humans and adapt our lives and learning to the natural processes we inherently possess. The need for greater understanding of ourselves as a human race and knowledge will give us the tools we need to prosper in any situation including our educational system, especially in urban schools.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-64342647576189830362009-02-03T19:01:00.001-08:002009-02-03T19:02:00.566-08:00Movies, Music, TV, & News O MY (revised)<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Movies:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lean On Me<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Based on a true story of an urban community in Patterson NJ, it shows how Joe Clark (the principal) made a difference in one school bringing education back to the students by removing the troublemakers, drug dealers and gang members. He restored hope and unity to the students of Eastside High. This story shows that it only takes one person who really believes in change and consistency to make a positive difference. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sub-Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pretty in Pink<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This movie is about a girl who is from a low income split family from the wrong side of the tracks who is subjected to peer pressures when asked to the prom by the popular wealthy boy. She is ashamed of where she comes from and his friends are disgusted that he can be dating a girl who is lower on their scale according to popularity and money. They try to break through the biases and date anyway but in the end the pressure gets to be too much. It shows that a school can be very diverse no only culturally, but economically as well, which can also make a gap in the sociability. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rural<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Napoleon Dynamite<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This movie is about a boy who is socially out-casted in school because of his “goofy and strange” persona. The school population is primarily white until Pedro moves there from Mexico. Napoleon tries to welcome the newcomer by taking him under his wing helping him run for class president. Pedro’s character shows how different cultures can uphold conflicting views of what is acceptable in school because he doesn’t understand why he got into trouble for beating a piñata of Summer, another candidate, when that is tradition in Mexico. It depicts that people in these rural areas are “behind” from the entertainment industries and culturally mixed fast-paced city life.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Music:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Linkin Park: Hands Held High<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“When the rich wage war it’s the poor who die” This song doesn’t have to do with education directly, but more of the poor urban communities. The government is corrupt making wars to get our country out of greedy debt to make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer. The gap between the economic levels is growing rapidly. It is the people from these communities that are going to war because some of them rationalize that they are going to die on the streets anyway, they may as well get a good education, go to war and have a chance at life. Sometimes, this is the only outlet for those who are too poor to get an education, or didn’t receive a good education at the urban school they attended and therefore do not have the grades to go to college, so the military is the only way.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sub-Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pink Floyd: Another Brick in The Wall<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“We don’t need no education; we don’t need no thought control.” This song is about the educational oppression from the government’s mandated form of education, which tries to mold school children into mindless drones of society. Specifically, Roger Waters means, “we don’t need [THIS] type of education.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is high school aged students saying who needs school; why can’t we think for ourselves? At the end of the song he says, “if you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding”, implying that there are consequences…I may be pushing it, but if you don’t do your work and studying you can’t get good grades.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rural<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alice Cooper: School’s Out for the Summer<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“School’s out for the summer…school’s been blown to pieces.” My reasoning here is pretty disturbing. First, that Marilyn Manson was from a rural community and he grew up listening to ACDC and Alice Cooper – the music of the devil, according to some. He eventually took Alice Cooper’s image and music steps further into a modern-heavy metal. (I had independent reading in high school and we had to choose an autobiography and I chose him).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In this type of music, image, generally speaking, has a lot to do with the type of music listened to. The connection - Columbine happened in a rural area with high school students dressed in the “all black” and trench coats, the image of Alice Cooper’s/Marilyn Manson’s music.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">TV<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everybody Hates Chris<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">About a young African American kid who grows up in a very stereotypical black household. He goes to school in an urban community and gets blamed for everything whether innocent or guilty. His struggles come from his perception as a school aged student in an urban area.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sub-Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Simpsons<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This TV show depicts a middle class family with two middle school aged kids, one being the “brainy and smart” (Lisa) and the other (Bart) who gets into trouble frequently and rebels against the teachers, principal, and school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rural<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">South Park<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The cartoon is based in a rural community and the characters make fun of every culture equally. It is a very controversial show. “Chef” and “Token” are the only black characters in the show and they play racist and stereotypical parts. There are other cultures that are demoralized depending on the episode. I feel in most cases in rural schools, there is not a melting pot of cultures and the tendency to become racist, naïve, or stereotypical comes into play because there is only this generalization/assumption of the culture on the television. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">News:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">U.N. Predicts Urban Population Explosion – NY Times 2009<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“By next year, more than half the world’s population, 3.3 billion people, will for the first time live in towns and cities, and the number is expected to swell to almost five billion by 2030, according to a <span style="font-family:Georgia"><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/united_nations_population_fund/index.html?inline=nyt-org"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:windowtext;text-underline:#004277;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><u style="text-underline:#004277">United Nations Population Fund</u></span></a></span> report released yesterday.” This means that communities are going to become more diverse and crowded, which will lead to a rise to the already over crowded schools, making a good education even harder to attain. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sub-Urban<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Photo Id cards – Ridgefield, N.J. 2002<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In an attempt at securing the safety at Ridgefield Memorial High School, one year after I graduated, students were asked to wear photo identification around their necks. Also, police officers roam the hallways to monitor the traffic in and out of the school. I believe that this action was based as a reaction to September 11, since the school is only a few miles from NYC.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rural<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Columbine Massacre, Denver, CO 1999<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Two bullied high school students went into their high school in Denver and started shooting everyone from classmates to faculty. There were 12 fatalities. They had been plotting their attack for over a year acquiring arsenal over the internet. This shows that our perception of quiet rural towns can be very distorted and that in this digitally enhanced world, technologies such as the internet can yield some terrible information when in the hands of the wrong people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-32191508022343158702009-02-02T18:12:00.001-08:002009-02-02T18:13:01.447-08:00Frames of Reference: Urban Schools Paper<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">When asked to define or name characteristics of urban schools, culture, low-income families, struggle, stress, overcrowded and under-funded, drugs and crime, safety, and defiance to learn, come to mind. Some of these associations may be naïve and even stereotypical, but they are the associations that come to my mind. There are certain stereotypes that coincide with nearly every facet of life. Lets take Irish culture for example. A notorious stereotype is that all people of Irish decent are a bunch of drunks. While this may be true in some cases, it is extremely naïve to think that the statement, <i>all Irish are drunks</i><span style="font-style:normal"> to be fact. While I do not believe that all urban students do drugs, commit crimes, and have no interest in learning, I do believe that these students are subjected to it more often and do struggle to make the right decisions, whether it be a struggle towards social acceptance or following what they know is to be true to themselves. This is difficult at any age.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>For me, the visual I conjure of urban schools and the educational setting looks like this: An old school building that looks similar to an old factory, which has signs of neglect of care on the outside, plopped in the middle of a busy street block with commercial stores across the street and next to it. There are no trees or grassy fields to play football or baseball, just cement fields and structures. On the inside of the school, the main corridor looks like any other school with display cases and lockers except for the metal detectors and security guards who determine whether or not you gain entrance into school today. Although these measures are an attempt at securing safety, the idea of needing that level of security is frightening and stressful in itself. The hallways, main office, and classrooms look the same as they had in 1900; nothing about the structure or persona of ‘school’ has changed. The hallways are dark, not very inviting or well kept. Some of the teachers come into their classrooms with the same drab, exhausted expression as the day before, wondering how they are going to reach the children who do not want to be bothered and when the day will end, while other teachers bring a level of enthusiasm to reach their students and get burnt out by the early afternoon. Most of the students enter their classrooms loudly and in no disposition to learn while others roam the hallways, find ways to cut school, or the few who really want an education, sit in the shadows of the disrupted classroom environment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>As you may have assumed, I have never visited a typical urban school and have concocted the worst-case scenario of it. I have attained the knowledge of what I think to know of urban schools from television, movies and simple stereotypical generalizations. I have however, visited an academy in Newark, Science Park High School that blew my mind as to the idea of what an urban school is. Science Park High School is different in nature however, taking academically high-end students on an application basis. The facility looks nothing like a traditional high school. Science Park High School’s structure inside and out is technologically state of the art, aesthetically pleasing, artful, and museum-like on the inside and uses solar technology on the outside. Its qualities are not that of a typical high school with narrow hallways and rows of lockers; instead, a huge, open and inviting space for the students to gather and disperse off to class. So, I know that my description of an urban high school is over the top and not true of all schools in urban communities. Having said that, I would like to learn more about the students’, teachers’, and facilities of urban districts and take this negative concept of an urban school and foster positive associations and change, like that of what I’ve seen at Science Park High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>My hope is that I can instill change in each of the three important aspects of education: the students, teachers, and school. If I can reach out to one student and really make a difference in that child’s life, or bring a new perspective to a seasoned educator, or create a new program within the school to keep students interested, off the streets and engaged, then I have done my job. As an educator, you will never reach every student that you teach. A good educator will try. My idea of an urban school may subconsciously persuade me to think or act negatively towards the environment and its counterparts as a whole. This preconceived notion can seriously inhibit exemplary teaching habits. I believe that keeping an open mind, fostering a positive outlook, and remembering that very generally speaking, these students are all kids with the same basic needs bringing with them their personal experiences, identities, and talents, which make them all unique. As an educator, I feel getting to know my students, not just academically, will help me connect and employ the best learning strategies to keep them engaged. I also feel that if I show through my lessons how passionate and enthusiastic I am about the subject matter, that may spark an interest in my students within that content and may even help them to a realization of their passions or talents. Working together with other educators will help me learn about environment that I am entering from those who have already experienced it. Collaboration and consistency between educators is a must and expands the realm of learning, creativity, and opportunity into unimaginable levels. In retrospect, the educators are all their for the same reason, for the students.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>My positive outlook and theories seem glamorous and easily stated. No matter how much schooling one has in the field of education, only hands on experience is going to truly give you the knowledge needed to succeed in the field. Schooling, will give future educators and me the tools and strategies needed as a starting point to soar from. Instruction is about trial and error; we learn best from failure. Each school is different, each class, each student, staff, administration, funding, educator, and the list goes on. The school administration has to support and work with the teachers towards a goal or success. I’m not talking just standardized test scores either. Education should truly be about the students; their future needs, strengths, ambitions, learning styles, successes and failures (failure as being positive) not the school’s ranking as compared to standardized test scores. I believe in creative thinking techniques, project-based learning, and choice-based methods that mesh the content areas together and give the students a greater involvement in their educational achievements. The teachers then become the mentors having an external role. I also believe that students should have an active role within the community. Teaching the ‘test’ is not going to give students the skills needed to succeed in life as the document SCANS (The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) suggests. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">SCANS addresses the issues that an individual will need in not only the work place, but in life. The skills found in the five competencies of SCANS include: identifying, organizing, planning, and allocating resources; interpersonal skills; acquiring and using information; understanding complex inter-relationships; and being able to work with a variety of technologies. The prerequisites for these skills are found in a three-part foundation and they include: <i>basic skills</i><span style="font-style:normal"> such as reading, writing, performing arithmetic and mathematical operations, listening and speaking; </span><i>thinking skills</i><span style="font-style:normal"> such as thinking creatively, making decisions, solving problems, visualizing, reasoning and knowing how to learn; and </span><i>personal qualities</i><span style="font-style:normal"> such as displaying responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity, and honesty. These competencies and foundations are what students should be learning intertwined with the different content areas as applied to real life to solve the question the students will inevitably ask, “Why do I have to learn this stuff?” I feel that reluctance to learn stems from this question of why I need to know this and interest in the subject area. In urban schools, like any other schools, this is an overlooked detail.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">As long as I have a good head on my shoulders, use rationalization, understanding, and learn from my experiences past, present, and future, I will be a competent and strong educator. My enthusiastic ways of thinking and teaching will project towards the future and give my students an understanding of themselves and the world around them by relating what they are learning to real life scenarios. I hope to overcome any of the negative associations I have towards urban schools and grow to make change in not only the students but also, the teachers, and school itself. The power is within us to give the future the hope, strength, and confidence it needs to take on the great responsibility life. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:200%"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-88903477240441485712009-01-30T16:53:00.000-08:002009-01-30T16:54:49.883-08:00Frames of Reference: Urban SchoolsPandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-62800772360917358642009-01-27T18:26:00.000-08:002009-01-27T19:00:49.698-08:00So i was thinking... this relates more to my ELRS Learning Theories class, but there are certain ideas or interests that grab our attention as individuals and give us the freedom to learn without the pressure of having to learn. I have noticed, especially in a school setting, anything that stimulates me to think creatively or express myself artistically motivates me to want to do and complete the task/assignment with enthusiasm. This relates now to our class because I was a little intimidated by the this class, first, because I have almost no previous knowledge of the course content and second the workload seems intense after reading the 14 page syllabus. I am however, intrigued and excited to explore the cultural collage, learn more about myself and how I can take that knowledge, expand and apply it to becoming a better, efficient educator... and of course learn about students'/teachers' needs in the inner city.Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382173816084050976.post-62752718539093070962009-01-27T17:51:00.000-08:002009-01-27T17:53:12.759-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This is my first blog</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">!</span>Pandorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837455040805454121noreply@blogger.com0