Questions Moffett's math

Interim Superintendent Ken Moffett said in his April 6 guest opinion that "Our Title 1 schools outperform our schools of greater socioeconomic wealth in the similar schools category- meaning that compared to other students of similar circumstances, our Title 1 schools are held up as models to other districts."

Roll 'em up, Pleasant Valley. Let's look at the numbers under those sleeves. Yes, PVSD's Title 1 schools outperform their nonTitle 1 schools in the similar schools category. The Title 1 schools rank 2, 6, 6 and 9 compared to similar schools (median 6, mean 5.75). The non-Title 1 schools rank 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6 and 7 (median 4, mean 4.25).

No, that does not mean that compared to other students of similar circumstances they are held up as models to other districts. A ranking of 1 or 2 is considered "well below average," 3 or 4 "below average," 5 or 6 "about average," 7 or 8 "above average" and 9 or 10 "well above average."

PVSD has two schools out of 12 above average. One of those is Title 1- hardly "model." The state has actually identified the 476 Title 1 programs they consider models- see the 2007 "Title 1 Academic Achieving Schools List" on the California Department of Education website.

Standard and Poor's has identified 103 California schools making progress toward narrowing achievement gaps between student groups- see www.schoolmatters. com. There are no PVSD schools on either list.

Suggesting that Title 1 students are at the heart of PVSD's recent decisionmaking is just another attempt to disorient us and make numbers disappear. I'd expect a little awe from a show I've paid thousands to see. Instead it's just the same tired curiosity about what they'll pull from their hats next.

Pleasant Valley, do the right thing: Roll up your own sleeves. Make this a reality. We deserve better performances. Kim Marra Stephenson Camarillo