A piece in today's Wall Street Journal describes how some schools systems are using high-tech systems to track students' performance in great detail, emailing each grade home to parents as soon as the teacher logs it in. Montgomery County, MD., is highlighted in much of the story--it spends about $47 million each year on data-driven technology, which it says has helped nearly close the achievement gap in early grades and more quickly identify minority students with academic gifts, steering them into challenging programs. But not everyone is thrilled--some groups say gifted students and students with disabilities are the ones losing out as the district spends millions on technology, focuses on closing the achievement gap, and frequently uses standardized tests. It's certainly an interesting debate. Check out the story here and a good number of reader comments here.
