School reform not a success

How can the Sun-times claim that the Chicago Public Schools turnaround policy is succeeding when the evidence is mixed at best? [“CPS must learn from successful turnarounds,” Feb. 9] First of all, the cost of the turnaround program is estimated to be $20 million for next year. More important, however, the gains are tiny to nonexistent. Also, the study was funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, the federal agency that oversees education research and reports education statistics. But Rebecca Maynard, a commissioner at the agency, refused to approve the final version of the report, the Sun Times quoted. These turnaround schools get extra funding for very little gain, and it is unclear what these results even mean. I don’t see how the Sun-times can consider this a success. Edward Dziedzic,

Rogers Park