Charlie DePascale

It Hit Different This Time

It’s never been easy to say goodbye to a friend. But the experience was different this time.

Getting Back to Basics (and Proficient) With Accountability

First Law of Holes: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

First Law of Blogs: If you find yourself feeling really emotional, don’t post.

The field routinely ignores the first. I regularly ignore the second.

So, let’s talk school accountability.

I spent a morning this week taking standardized Reading, Writing, and Mathematics tests. First takeaway, standardized tests are not meant for 65-year-olds (as long as I can still draw the clock face). Why did I put myself through that exercise? It’s all for the blog.

Livin’ On A Prayer

Don’t talk about religion they say. But the commencement kicker and 60 Minutes with Pope Francis propelled Catholics back to the top of the news cycle for a few days. For good reason, that hasn’t been a comfortable place for us.

The Personalization Paradox

On the surface, standardization seems to be the antithesis of personalization. The current attitude toward standardized tests and testing bears that out. But if we look below the surface, we might reach a very different conclusion.

Death By A Thousand Arrows

Theory of Action for Educational Assessment and Accountability: A concept that sounds good on paper until you see a theory of action on paper. Generally not much actionable action and the theory tends to be theoretical. But lots of arrows!

A Shift in My Perspective on Vertical Scales

I’m not sure whether wisdom comes with age, but I was barely 65 for twelve hours when I had an epiphany that forever changed the way that I will view vertical scales.

Top Of The World

My big employment decision came at 60. Social security is deferred ’til 68. I used a senior discount to see the Eras Tour film. I expected turning 65 to be anticlimactic. I was wrong.

The Philadelphia Story (NCME’s Version)

I don’t usually share two posts in the same week. In my last two posts, however, I wrote about the personal journey I was on last week in Philadelphia. But NCME, too, is on a journey to find itself. A journey much more consequential than mine.

Feeling All The Feels In Philly

My suitcase is unpacked. The second load of laundry is in the washer. It’s time to reflect on my future and my five days in Philadelphia.

Author Archives: Charlie DePascale