[NLA] Collaspe of the AELS?

[Venu Thelakkat]

As a person who has wrestled with the National Reporting System in New York City for the past two years and has seen both the good and the bad, I would prefer that the NRS not collapse.  It is not a perfect system but one that I would prefer to think will evolve as it comes to terms with the realities of the world (or worlds) it is trying to document.  In New York City, having to deal with NRS has raised the consciousness of people in the field about how data about their programs and students is being used and has led to very intelligent discussions about what the best way to do that.  Also, sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't.  We will always have to live with accountability systems.  I shudder at the thought at having to adapt to another one.  

We have also had no significant drop-off in student enrollment since we implemented in NRS.  One additional hypothesis I would like to add about declining numbers is that as more and more sophisticated data collection systems are put in place, double counting of students become less prevalent.  While I am not saying that this is the only reason for smaller enrollment numbers, new smaller numbers may be just more accurate than in the past.

Venu Thelakkat
Director of ALIES/Data Analysis
Literacy Assistance Center
32 Broadway 
New York, NY 10004
venut at lacnyc.org
www.alies.org
phone: (212) 803-3370  Fax :(212) 785-3685
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Deborah W. Yoho 
  To: NLA list 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 3:44 PM
  Subject: [NLA] Collaspe of the AELS?



  Unless I committed a remarkable typo both in my head and while typing, I just want to stipulate I never said the AELS would collaspe of its own weight.  I said the NRS would.  I am fascinated by the turn the discussion has taken since my posting. In my own mind, I have been reflecting on the interesting situation I find myself in: working so hard to make the NRS work when in my heart and mind I don't believe it ever will.   Since I don't have a copy of my own message,  I did say the NRS, didn't I?  

  Deborah W. Yoho
  Moderator, NIFL-Health Discussion Group
  Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
  921 Woodrow Street  Columbia, SC  29205
  803-765-2555    dwyoho at earthlink.net




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