A low

NCLB and California have identified the lowest of the low, so please check out this article. And I have many wonderings about these schools that have left behind students, teachers, and communities.

What counts as a failing school? Which students go to these failing schools? Which teachers work at these failing schools?

What should be done when a school's failing? Will money improve test scores in these schools? Will a new principal fix things? How does 'going charter' affect the school's culture, goals, and daily work?

Dancing with districts

Site recruitment and selection is tough stuff and involves an odd type of matchmaking process! Basically, when I thought studying theory was hard, I had no idea about the challenges of getting into the field and dealing with what's going on in the 'real world'. I've emailed and called and visited. I've left messages, asked questions, and gotten invited to meetings. Ooh-la la!

I just ordered my UC Berkeley business cards exclaiming my PhD candidate status :> Fancy town, if I do say so myself.

My heart sometimes skips a beat when I get an email or phone call from a potential district/site/coach. Tralala, it must be love OR it's the bizarro world of dissertation research ;)