Neil Campbell

Mostly education stuff. Formerly @edprogress + @usedgov and elsewhere. Dad, husband, Philly sports fan, Wawa enthusiast. Opinions here are my own. He/him.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@MatthewAKraft Congratulations, that is wonderful news.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@chingos Love this analysis Matt. Has your team ever looked at controlling for these demographic measures over time in a particular state? For example, how would MA's 2024 performance compare to MA in 2013 with those controls?

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@HKorbey Guess it depends on specifics of what is being practiced by whom. MJ practicing unguarded 12 ft shots facing the basket won't add much for him. But it was hugely valuable to master 12 ft turn around/fade over a defender. Open 12 ft practice would be valuable for me though.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@chingos @ari_meltzer Fascinating work! On top of space & enrollment effects, can't ignore fed fiscal rules. If school Title I eligibility & $ is driver of more low-income students being in 'small' classes today, marginal (& total) state/local $ to comply w/ limits has to go to all schools.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@alexanderrusso These are great, but require care. Talks about Juab's huge turnover (Sup't + 3 of 5 principals & "nearly half" of staff) but not comp district. The study flagged big changes in Wasatch (higher enrollment+ a new online program) that weren't mentioned.
https://t.co/nihsjkmEs7

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

IMO this framing that teaching got worse is likely to be used as ammunition to cut budgets and funding, making pandemic recovery harder. Just like the framing of ESSER mismanagement folks like @jessgartner and @RebeccaSibilia critiqued earlier this week.
https://t.co/SByRylUT10

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

It is wonderful that @CRPE_edu has followed a panel of school system leaders over a few years to get a sense of big issues and challenges. I've learned a lot, but the narrative framing of this report seems out over its skis based on the methodology. 🧵
https://t.co/XonU7MmeKp

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

I don't doubt that educators need feedback, PD, and strong curricular resources to improve instruction - especially given the increased stress, behavior challenges, lower student attendance, and wider dispersion of readiness/achievement they have encountered.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@mattyglesias I don't agree with the theory, but there is one behind the push. This piece was a heck of a deep dive on the controversy - where this one study plays a big role.

https://t.co/9djtD5lUPw

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

School systems really need to step up their game as buyers and negotiators. Don't take vendors' descriptions or evidence claims at face value. And don't sign contracts unless they have protection allowing for early exit or lower costs if usage is low.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

This is great reporting but maddening to see the traction this company has had in the marketplace. The model they tout is not even tutoring. It is homework help and conflicts with so much of the research on effective tutoring. 🧵

[Kalyn Belsha @kalynbelsha]

NEW: Paper tells schools it offers expert 1:1 virtual tutoring. In reality, tutors are often juggling multiple kids at once & are told to help students w/ subjects they don't know. The pace is so demanding some tutors have worked on the toilet to keep up https://t.co/MNtp6MJ52K

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

(1) Their model is not high dosage & scheduled 2-3x per week for an extended period, it is not aligned to classroom curriculum (6) or how kids are doing with that content (5), does not have a consistent tutor kids know and can come to trust (7).

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@territaylor @SecSmithEllis @EdWriters Feel for y'all, that is tough timing. Had that happen a week before pandemic shut down, also a bad time to lose contain. But it brings a smile now as I just rewatched the video wanting to tell Santa he moved to a big boy bed.

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

And those declines were concentrated in and lasted longest in high poverty districts.

https://t.co/2Q1kyjZFwh

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

Big part of what changed is that after decades of increasing investments, funding declined.
Nationwide current expenditures:
89-99 = real per pupil expenditures +11.7%
99-09 = real per pupil expenditures +20.2%
09-19 = real per pupil expenditures -1.7%

https://t.co/Smsa5wILU7

[Sandy Kress @Kress_Sandy]

This is a chart folks concerned w/ US public education ought to study closely. Whatever your views, our most disadvantaged kids, who were improving a lot before a decade ago, have fallen badly. What did we change? What are no longer doing, or as much or as well? Why this drop?

[Neil Campbell @neilcampbell77]

@RebeccaSibilia Maybe folks at ED working on safe schools programs would know?
https://t.co/e6iJlHacKc