Based on the preliminary TASS results, Moses explained he would look at all
the data from all seven schools.
While Donald J. Claxton, a spokesperson for the school district, ruled out
additional Edison Schools being inaugurated in the school district, he
explained, the costs related to Edison Schools "will most likely increase
next school year."
"It is my understanding that the reason they suggested that costs for
Edison schools may increase next year is because the costs have been increasing
in the past, and it is based largely on student attendance," Claxton said.
Dallas Public Schools has two years remaining on a five-year contract with
Edison Schools. Costs for Edison’s operation have escalated each year of the
contract. With the average school in the district receiving about $2,800 per
pupil, Edison receives $5,937 per pupil – or $39 million this year. The
district has the option to terminate the contract based on several factors,
including student performance.
In the FY2000-2001 budget, Edison was funded with $15 million and according
to Project Evaluator Michael Dryden, "the Dallas-Edison partnership will
conservatively cost the DISD at least $46 million over the life of the contract
just in overvalued per pupil funds."
"There will likely be more students enrolled in the program next year,
so the base attendance, multiplied by what is described as a complex formula,
suggests that costs next year could increase as much as another
million-plus," Claxton said. "Already, we are paying Edison about $38
million per year. In talking with budget officials last night, we started at a
little more than $36 million."
Referring to an increase in the number of Edison schools in the school
district, Claxton explained, "while we will not make a presumption of what
the board will decide, it is highly unlikely that the administration would
consider making a recommendation to increase the number of DISD (Edison)
schools."
Last year, Moses asked the board to give the Edison project an additional
year in the school district before making any further decisions because there
was not sufficient data to validate whether or not their efforts were indeed
beneficial to the district's students in those schools.
Moses requested an additional year so that data like this year’s TAAS
scores could be included in consideration of what Edison’s future involvement
in Dallas Public Schools might be.
"That data has just come in," Claxton said, "but the district
is not ready at this time to move forward with any recommendations as officials
like Dr. (Larry) Groppel (deputy superintendent of business services), and Dr.
(William) Webster, (assistant superintendent) still are reviewing the data and
making comparisons and proper analysis."
"Until such time as they have completed their studies, met with Dr.
Moses and a decision is made as to what type of recommendation should/could be
made to the board, there will be little else that the administration is in a
position to comment on about Edison schools."
The school district will release the TASS test’s final results on June 1.
Preliminary TAAS results this year indicate that three Edison schools are rated
low performing. TAAS test scores help determine a school’s rating. Achievement
levels in Dallas’ Edison schools have fluctuated:
• Henderson Elementary has been rated low-performing since being managed by
Edison.
• Blair Elementary will drop to low performing this school year after being
rated "acceptable" for two years.
• Titche Elementary will shed its low-performing rating for an acceptable
rating this year.
• Hernandez Elementary will receive a low-performing rating this year after
being acceptable last year.
• Runyon, Medrano and Maple Lawn elementary schools have maintained an
acceptable rating since coming under Edison.
In 1995, Edison schools began operation in the Sherman Independent School
District. Sherman ISD cancelled its contract with Edison in 2000. Recently,
Boston Renaissance Charter School, one of Edison’s largest schools at 1,300
students, terminated its contract with the for-profit company partly because of
lagging test scores.
In the months before it was approved in Dallas, endless questions were aired
on Edison’s handling of special education students and a track record of
disillusioned teacher organizations. The Edison Project presented an
uncomfortable mix of results, including some impressive academic gains in some
of its schools.
In Duluth, Minn., teachers complained non-union employees filled 29 of 30
teaching positions. At a Midwest Edison Project school, special education
students attended regular classrooms and three of four special education
teachers at the school served as regular teachers.
The Edison Project was initially rejected by the Dallas school board, a month
later, October 1999, they approved it on a slim 5-4 vote. Parents were not too
happy with Edison being installed at Bowie elementary. Parents subsequently had
a series of meetings with then-Superintendent Bill Rojas to express their
discontent with the corporation’s involvement with their children.
Teachers and staff at the elementary school were confused about their
employment. Later, it was revealed some Edison teachers at Titche Elementary had
not been paid. Some teachers were left in classrooms without appropriate
materials and even empty classrooms.
In February 2001, New York parents voted down an Edison contract that would
have implemented the project in five schools -- three in Brooklyn, one in
Manhattan, and one in the Bronx. Parents and the Philadelphia school board also
recently voted out Edison.
While the Dallas schools board was jumping through hoops to obtain reports
from Edison officials, New York city parents plead with their school district
not to enter into a the $1.5 million experience.
In New York, Edison planned to invest up to $2 million in each of the five
schools (total $10 million) for new reading and math programs and for teacher
training. In Dallas that figure for school investment was then projected to be
$30 million over the five-year duration of the contract that was approved.
Last year, the board also amended Edison’s budget by adding $3.2 million
because school district projections were made and were lower than what they
actually were, according to officials
