The report submitted by Edison Schools on Philadelphia's public education system paints a somewhat misleading picture of the condition that city's schools are in, writes Mike Casserly of the Council of the Great City Schools in an op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer. While agreeing that schools in the City of Brotherly Love need dramatic improvement, Casserly complains that the report presents incomplete data and makes unfair comparisons. While Edison indicates that scores on the SAT-9 are below basic in middle and high schools, the report fails to mention that elementary schools, where the district has focused its Children Achieving reforms, are at or above national norms. Edison says that the system made "limited gains" during Philadelphia's reforms but, says Casserly, the percentage of fourth graders reading at or above basic levels rose from 43.7 percent to 59.7 percent in four years. He also argues that Edison's comparison of Philadelphia with other urban districts is skewed by the choice of comparison districts (Clark County (Las Vegas), Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale) and Houston), which are very different from Philadelphia demographically, structurally, and regionally. While noting that the Philadelphia community is ready for change, Casserly chides Edison for missing an opportunity to build public trust with a fair assessment of its schools. "Company's report doesn't inspire trust," by Michael Casserly, The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 11, 2001.
