Charlie DePascale

Bye-bye Miss American Pie

And the three men I admire most The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost They caught the last train for the coast The day the music died Will historians and songwriters look back on July 14, 2022 as the day that standards-based Education Reform died? And is this how it ends, not with the bangContinue reading “Bye-bye Miss American Pie”

10,000 Hours

The so-called “Ten-Thousand Hour Rule” became popularized after the 2008 publication of Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success. By popularized, of course, I mean that the discussion of the relationship between success and 10,000 hours of preparation presented by Gladwell was simplified and bastardized so that it could be deliberately misapplied when presented toContinue reading “10,000 Hours”

250,000 Tubas!

Not since 76 trombones led the big parade have a bunch of brass instruments caused this much buzz – or perhaps it would be more fitting to say caused this much oom-pah. For you see, at the core of the Biden-Harris Administration National Effort to Support Student Success is a call to action to provideContinue reading “250,000 Tubas!”

July 4th – A Day to Take Stock

Growing up in Boston – the cradle of liberty, the birthplace of the American Revolution – the meaning of The Fourth of July was crystal clear. It was a day of celebration and remembrance, yes; but also, a day with an eye toward the future, a day to take stock of the three things mostContinue reading “July 4th – A Day to Take Stock”

We Swallowed a Fly

State Testing Edition I know of a state that started to test I don’t why they started to test Soon followed by the rest. First, the state tested at 4, 8, and 10 Kids filled in the bubbles and picked up a pen Their essays proved direct writing was best But I don’t why theContinue reading “We Swallowed a Fly”

Predicting, The Future of State Testing

My focus this week is on the future of state testing. Like many state tests, my thoughts contain a mix of wishful thinking, faulty forecasting, harsh reality, and not enough deep thinking. For those of you who prefer a quick read, a succinct summary of my prediction for the future of state testing is providedContinue reading “Predicting, The Future of State Testing”

Are You My Accountability System?

The new commissioner glided confidently across the room and took her spot, perched at the head of the table. Looking up at her were the young, eager faces of her newly assembled cabinet. All so very excited to be there. Each one ready to do their part to improve student learning – no, to improveContinue reading “Are You My Accountability System?”

Look to Your Left

The BLS Class of ’77 – By the Numbers Forty-five years ago this week, I walked across the stage at Hynes Auditorium in Boston, one of 226 graduates of the Boston Latin School Class of 1977. It was the culmination of a six-year odyssey. Our class looked a lot different than it did when weContinue reading “Look to Your Left”

Don’t Be Constrained by Constraints

We all know that large scale state testing is bound by constraints. Some might go so far as to argue that state testing is defined by these constraints. Time, cost, security, well-intentioned but ill-conceived federal regulations, and outdated peer review expectations all tightly shape the who, what, when, where, why, and how of state testing.Continue reading “Don’t Be Constrained by Constraints”

The Ernie Scale

Based on a true story In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Rich Hill and Stuart Kahl led their little company that could, Advanced Systems, in reimagining, reinventing, and reshaping large-scale state testing. We were a ragtag band of young idealists who didn’t know any better. Our successes and failures were spectacular. Little that weContinue reading “The Ernie Scale”