Princeton Review Course: $4.5 Million For One Year
Now, I'm as fond of all things Princeton as the next guy. Fonder, even.But I just read that the LAUSD has signed a one-year contract to pay the Princeton Review $4.5 million "to help students and teachers prepare for state standardized tests . . . ."
What do you get for $4.5 million? According to the L.A. Times, Kevin Howell, executive VP and general manager of the the Princeton Review said his company's role is largely logistical; in the paper's words (not Howell's), that means "printing and delivering the multiple-choice and essay tests, canning and scoring them and making results available to educators."
Is that the best use of $4.5 million?
Let's say it costs around $45,000 a year to pay a teacher's salary. (Actually, you can get them for less.) For $4.5 million, you could hire 100 teachers for a year. You could, in effect, cut IN HALF the class size of 100 teachers, for the five periods a day they teach, i.e., 500 classes every day, for one year -- assuming, of course, you had somewhere to put them (maybe have two shifts a day?).
Is it just me, or does this seem like a waste of money to you?
Read it and weep: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-princeton20aug20,1,141550.story
And, so you know, "Princeton Review" is NOT part of Princeton University.
Posted by Walter Moore @ 8/20/2006 08:58:00 AM
10 Comments:
What a joke!
These anchor babies can't even pass an Exit Exam that my 5th grader can pass with his eyes closed!
Send 'em back to Mexico!
This type of City spending is rampant. Do taxpayers know where their money is going?
For example on Tuesday the Fire Commissioners will consider a request by Deputy Chief Andy Fox and Deputy Chief Mario Rueda to approve a $60,000 expenditure to send a few chief's to an unecessary three week Harvard program.
Walter:
And where would you put the 100 new teachers? Did you happen to allocate funds for a new school in there? And the new school with most likely need support staff.
IDIOTA
To 6:07:
Reading isn't exactly your strong suit, is it?
Read the posting again, out loud if you need to. If you have trouble, ask a friend.
See if the author addressed the point you raise.
And remember to read the words inside parentheses, not just the words on the outside.
But we won't blame you; you probably came from a crowded classroom, which explains your reading disability and your lack of manners.
That kind of money could also go to hire more counselors who have ratios of 500 to 1. Students can't learn if they have major personal problems. Parents today are so busy students sometimes need someone to keep them on track at school, especially HS when parents hardly participate. Even the good students can't get the important information they need to go to college. LAUSD Boardmembers or staff must be getting a kickback somewhere...
I think you ought to find out who the lobbyist is for Princeton Review and you'll see why the District did this.
My guess is that the lobbyist is either a former elected official or someone that has worked for an elected official.
06/30/05 Contributor: The Princeton Review
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Candidate or Officeholder:
Jose Huizar
Council Member - CD14
1277167 - Huizar for Council
Schedule (type)
A - Monetary
OTH - Other)
[Period: 01/01/05-06/30/05]
Amount
$500.00
Walter:
Once again...2 shifts per day means that you're going to have to add a 2nd principal AND add more staff to handle the workload. You're obviously not very good at logistics (as seen by your campaign).
And the STARTING salary for teachers in LA is around 45K...so unless you want all 100 of the teachers to be brand new...you've got to raise that 4.5 million up by a good amount.
Yes, Wacko is thick-headed.
Where the hell are you going to find 100 accredited and qualified teachers???
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