Charlie DePascale

Morbid Math

“Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty—a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show.” – Bertrand RussellContinue reading “Morbid Math”

The One Constant Through All the Years

Opening Day! Is there a two-word phrase that fills the mind and soul with a greater sense of excitement and hope for what lies ahead – Free Samples, Half Off, I Do, I’m Pregnant, Leave Meeting? No, nothing comes close to the start of baseball season. Coming out of hibernation to reconnect with an oldContinue reading “The One Constant Through All the Years”

Our World Turned Upside Down

The world turned upside down – the phrase referenced in Hamilton to describe the impact of end of the American Revolution seems an apt choice to summarize the current state of affairs in K-12 large-scale testing and educational measurement. The field still cannot seem to get out of its own way when discussing whether annualContinue reading “Our World Turned Upside Down”

Is It Still The Same Boat?

You pick up a lot as you journey through life; and you never know what will be valuable and what will be worthless. Never in a million years would I have guessed when I signed up for an introductory philosophy course my final semester in college that I would encounter a thought experiment that wouldContinue reading “Is It Still The Same Boat?”

What’s Happened, Happened

Spoiler and content warning: This post includes details from the film Tenet and a discussion of the future of large-scale testing which may upset the reader or spoil the movie if you have not seen it. The Armageddon and the Apocalypse are not for the faint of heart. I am not a movie guy byContinue reading “What’s Happened, Happened”

Nothing New Under the Sun

You may view state testing as a monolith, an impersonal political, corporate structure indivisible and uniform, a large single upright block of stone with columns of ovals etched on it and a Pearson logo laser engraved in the bottom left corner. But you would be wrong. The block of stone could just as easily bearContinue reading “Nothing New Under the Sun”

Shove Those Deficits Up Your Assets

I have seen the light! Praise be the ivory tower, I have seen the light! Enough already with talk of learning loss, achievement gaps, and labels like substantially below proficient. Cast off the cloak of deficits and wrap yourself in the warmth of potential and growth. I confess that it took me too long toContinue reading “Shove Those Deficits Up Your Assets”

It’s Time, for a Change

As we approach the one-year anniversary of watching Americans struggle to read graphs, interpret data, and cope with the harsh reality that even the tiniest percentage of a very large number is still too many individual stories, there may have never been a time when there was such universal agreement that it’s time for aContinue reading “It’s Time, for a Change”

Emma and Allie

A story of Learning, Loss, and Middle School Life This is the story of two girls, Emma and Allie. They met on the softball team in the spring of third grade. They became fast friends. Even though they just met, it was like they had known each other their entire lives. Over the next fewContinue reading “Emma and Allie”

All Aboard!

When the recovery train leaves the station will we be ready to hop on board Throughout this month I have stressed the importance that planning will play in the recovery from the impact of the pandemic on student learning. What does that planning look like? What should be considered? And what role do large-scale stateContinue reading “All Aboard!”