November 2010 Board Watch Report Card
| The Pittsburgh Public School Board earned another B- for their governance for the months of August, September, and October.
Some Things to Note in this Report Card:
- Role clarity is still the area where the Board has the lowest scores
- Grades improved in all areas but all letter grades remain the same as in the August Report Card
- In each meeting, Transparency grades were the highest.
Minimum
Score |
Grade |
| 05.0 |
A+ |
| -->4.67 |
A |
| --> 4.33 |
A- |
| --> 4.00 |
B+ |
| -->3.67 |
B |
| --> 3.33 |
B- |
| --> 3.00 |
C+ |
| --> 2.67 |
C |
| --> 2.33 |
C- |
| --> 2.00 |
D+ |
| --> 1.67 |
D |
| --> 1.33 |
D- |
| --> 1.0 |
F |
|
What is the Grading Scale?
Scores are calculated on a scale with a 1.0 being the lowest possible score (an F) and a 5.0 being the highest. (an A+). The grading scale listed to the left shows the minimum score required to earn each letter grade. So, for example, the lowest score the Board could earn and still get a B- would be a 3.33. |
|
|
Here is a breakdown of the scores for each report card:
| |
Mar 09 |
June 09 |
Nov 09 |
Feb 10 |
May 10 |
Aug 10 |
Nov 10 |
| Focus & Mission |
3.28 C+ |
3.24 C+ |
3.59 B- |
2.95 C |
3.29 C+ |
3.33 B- |
3.49 B- |
| Transparency |
3.51 B- |
4.02 B+ |
4.29 B+ |
4.14 B+ |
4.05 B+ |
4.20 B+ |
4.32 B+ |
| Conduct |
3.43 B- |
3.25 C+ |
3.74 B |
3.39 B- |
3.49 B- |
3.67 B |
3.69 B |
| Role Clarity |
3.10 C+ |
2.98 C |
3.10 C+ |
3.00 C+ |
3.05 C+ |
2.83 C |
2.99 C |
| Competency |
3.28 C+ |
3.27 C+ |
3.39 B- |
3.34 B- |
3.31 C+ |
3.59 B- |
3.66 B- |
| Overall |
3.32 C+ |
3.35 B- |
3.62 B- |
3.36 B- |
3.44 B- |
3.53 B- |
3.63 B- |
The Moral of the Story: FOCUS ON POLICY
The area of greatest challenge for the School Board has been in the area of ROLE CLARITY. Fulfilling their role as a Reform School Board means they are focusing time and energy on reviewing, modifying and setting policies that are focused on achieving the district’s goals. School Board leadership requires planning for change and monitoring factors that would indicate success, not just reacting to proposed changes.
With each report card, A+ Schools has made recommendations for ways that the School Board could better function. Larger improvements in scores will require deeper, more structural changes to be made. Much work is still left to be done in the area of creating a deliberate time and process for policymaking.
Some ways that the board can do that is:
- On each board tab, list the district policy number that corresponds to the item for quick reference by Board members and the public- for example, a board tab related to guidance counseling would be related to policy #107.
- Assign someone to maintain the list of policy issues that need to be revisited at a later date as they arise in discussion.
- Assign a section of the Board meeting’s agenda to discussing new policy matters from the list of items that arose in Board meeting conversations.
A+ Schools asks the Pittsburgh Public School Board to better fulfill their role as policy-makers by creating a deliberate time and process for the act of policy-making. We also ask the public to join us in our request.
What You Can Do
Volunteer for Board Watch
Contact your School Board Member
Testify at a Public Hearing
Attend or Watch a School Board Meeting
For More Information
Changes The Board has Made as a Result of Board Watch
Other Report Cards
August 2011 Report Card
May 2011 Report Card
February 2011 Report Card
November 2010 Report Card
August 2010 Report Card
May 2010 Report Card
February 2010 Report Card
November 2009 Report Card
June 2009 Report Card
March 2009 Report Card
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