Acceleration Denied
What happens when you audit a school district's math program and find they can't add?
A data-driven investigation into Oak Park District 97's acceleration barriers.
This blog exists for one reason:
To publicly document and hold Oak Park District 97 accountable until my daughter—and every advanced student—gets appropriate challenge in their public school.
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The Acceleration Gap: 276 to 26
When I started investigating why my daughter didn't qualify for math acceleration, I discovered public data revealing a stunning 10:1 disparity. This is how a simple question became a full investigation.
When Ready Isn't Enough: How Rubrics Measure the Wrong Things
My daughter was ready for 3rd grade math—confirmed by teachers, proven through advanced coursework, scoring 99th percentile on above-grade testing. The rubric said she wasn't qualified because she got 'Meets' instead of 'Excels' on her 1st grade report card. Here's what that reveals about measuring the wrong things.
The Feedback Loop: How Bad Rubrics Create Their Own Crisis
When accelerated students struggle, districts respond by raising the bar. But if you're measuring the wrong thing, raising the bar doesn't fix the problem—it creates a vicious cycle that blocks ready students while still accelerating unprepared ones. Here's how Oak Park District 97's rubric reveals a system stuck in its own feedback loop.
The Last Resort: When a Simple Question Requires a FOIA Request
I asked a simple question three times: What research supports your acceleration rubric thresholds? After three months of non-answers, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request. Here's what that reveals about transparency, accountability, and whether districts actually follow the law requiring 'research-based' acceleration practices.
Recent Posts
View all posts →Floors, Not Ceilings: When Legal Minimums Become Bureaucratic Maximums
I asked my local police for traffic data. They said: 'File a FOIA request.' I asked my daughter's school if she could take a math test. They said: 'She's homeschooled.' Laws meant to ensure minimums keep becoming excuses to do less. Here's why—and what happened when I filed a state complaint.
Catch-22: Denied Assessment Access Under the Same Law That Granted Enrollment
The district approved partial enrollment under 105 ILCS 5/10-20.24—then denied assessment access under the same statute. Without assessments, there's no rubric evidence. Without rubric evidence, there's no acceleration. The system creates its own impossible barrier.
The Last Resort: When a Simple Question Requires a FOIA Request
I asked a simple question three times: What research supports your acceleration rubric thresholds? After three months of non-answers, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request. Here's what that reveals about transparency, accountability, and whether districts actually follow the law requiring 'research-based' acceleration practices.
The Feedback Loop: How Bad Rubrics Create Their Own Crisis
When accelerated students struggle, districts respond by raising the bar. But if you're measuring the wrong thing, raising the bar doesn't fix the problem—it creates a vicious cycle that blocks ready students while still accelerating unprepared ones. Here's how Oak Park District 97's rubric reveals a system stuck in its own feedback loop.
When Ready Isn't Enough: How Rubrics Measure the Wrong Things
My daughter was ready for 3rd grade math—confirmed by teachers, proven through advanced coursework, scoring 99th percentile on above-grade testing. The rubric said she wasn't qualified because she got 'Meets' instead of 'Excels' on her 1st grade report card. Here's what that reveals about measuring the wrong things.