Using Computer Assisted Reporting to Cover Education “ There was a time when all it took [to be a good journalist] was a dedication to truth, plenty of energy, and some talent for writing. You still need those things, but they are no longer sufficient…a journalist has to be a database manager, a data processor, and a data analyst.” Phil Meyer

Examples: What data is Available  Teachers’ Salaries/Payroll  Test Scores  School Contracts  Field Trips  Disciplinary Records  Teacher certification  Bus Driver records

Tools for Exploring Education data  Spreadsheets  Databases  Statistical software  GIS/Mapping

Basic Tool:Spreadsheets

Cull data from Text Documents Data cannot be analyze in its current format

Use Text Tools to copy data

Copy data into spreadsheet for analysis

Do Calculation

Do Calculation cont.

Pivot Tables

Pivot Table cont.

Scatterplots

Criminal Teachers database

Database query: Teacher charges and results

Education Stories Using CAR

Omaha World-Herald Data: Demographic tabulations, test scores. Findings: After leveling the demographic playing field, this five-day series analyzed standardized test scores to determine the effectiveness of individual Omaha public schools. It found schools that consistently did better than their student demographics would have predicted, and it found schools that fell short. The series then examined the characteristics of successful schools to determine what set them apart from the rest: experienced and effective teachers, better discipline in the classroom, parental and community involvement and an aggressive focus on self- improvement. Omaha World-Herald Data: Demographic tabulations, test scores. Findings: After leveling the demographic playing field, this five-day series analyzed standardized test scores to determine the effectiveness of individual Omaha public schools. It found schools that consistently did better than their student demographics would have predicted, and it found schools that fell short. The series then examined the characteristics of successful schools to determine what set them apart from the rest: experienced and effective teachers, better discipline in the classroom, parental and community involvement and an aggressive focus on self- improvement.

Atlanta Journal Constitution Data: Records from 312 schools, including payroll figures for teachers and support staff. Findings: High school football moves the world in place such as Georgia, Texas and even Mississippi. The Journal- Constitution set out to find just how important the game is to Georgia communities. What they found was a well-financed system, supported by tax dollars and supplemented by booster clubs. Head football coaches in Georgia make an average of 55% more than teachers, and the earnings of the top 10 coaches exceed that of the lieutenant governor. Atlanta Journal Constitution Data: Records from 312 schools, including payroll figures for teachers and support staff. Findings: High school football moves the world in place such as Georgia, Texas and even Mississippi. The Journal- Constitution set out to find just how important the game is to Georgia communities. What they found was a well-financed system, supported by tax dollars and supplemented by booster clubs. Head football coaches in Georgia make an average of 55% more than teachers, and the earnings of the top 10 coaches exceed that of the lieutenant governor.

The Birmingham News Data: School District Employee records, criminal court records Findings: The Birmingham News found that scores of teachers and hundreds of other school workers had secret criminal histories, including sexual-abuse convictions, and that Alabama lacked the legal ability to properly screen teachers and support workers. As a result, the state has hired additional workers to screen teachers, new laws have been proposed and workers with criminal records have been fired, Oct , The Birmingham News Data: School District Employee records, criminal court records Findings: The Birmingham News found that scores of teachers and hundreds of other school workers had secret criminal histories, including sexual-abuse convictions, and that Alabama lacked the legal ability to properly screen teachers and support workers. As a result, the state has hired additional workers to screen teachers, new laws have been proposed and workers with criminal records have been fired, Oct , 1994.

Records used and findings: Gannett News Service found that public school systems with larger numbers of minority children often rely on rely on long-term substitutes to fill jobs. The GNS investigation analyzed information culled from the federal government's newest and most thorough survey of public school teachers and principals, along with interviews with education researchers, school officials and parents across the nation. The Schools and Staffing Survey was conducted during the school year.

Records used and findings: The Des Moines Register checked state payroll records to find that despite tight budgets, "the number of employees receiving six-digit salaries at the state universities and other departments has grown by more than 1,000 since 1994." In addition, major departments have paid $1.9 million in bonuses over the past four years, reports Jonathan Roos. The paper put the salary database on its Web sitesalary database

Records used and findings: Using a copy of the state’s budget and a spreadsheet, reporter Lawrence Messina found that the governor could not fulfill a pledge not to cut the education budget and meet his goal to make a 10 percent cut in spending.

Miami Herald Data: Database of school district contracts spanning a 10 year period. Findings: lobbyists, contractors and former school officials have prospered from millions of dollars doled out by the Miami-Dade public school system, while many of the students are toiling in cramped classrooms and struggling with nearly the worst test scores in Florida.

Charleston (WV)Gazette Data: School closing documents, bus schedules and internal education department records were reviewed. Reporters built a database of bus runs, which were not computerized in most counties. Findings: School administrators across West Virginia have repeatedly ignored transportation laws and guidelines, forcing thousands of children to spend two hours or more on school buses each day.

The Virginian-Pilot Data: Database of teacher licenses built by Pilot reporters from local school district records. Findings: In a scramble to hire teachers, school districts in Virginia are employing educators who do not have traditional teacher licenses. Some have yet to pass a national teachers exam. Others have not competed college level course work. Yet, they are allowed to teach for three years with various types of alternative license.