Educate! 021219

Dec. 19, 2002 Educate! A COMMUNITY JOURNAL ON EDUCATION IN CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG, NC WWW.EDUCATECLT.ORG High school students at or above grade level Goal Course ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 2005 English I 68% 67% 68% 90% ELPS* 61% 63% 60% 90% U.S. History 48% 53% 52% 90% Algebra I 53% 55% 64% 90% Geometry 53% 52% 50% 90% Algebra II 61% 65% 65% 90% Biology 59% 58% 65% 90% Chemistry 53% 54% 54% 90% Physics 68% 70% 80% ? 90% *Economic, Legal & Political Systems Leaving no child behind is little more than a catch phrase. In fact, we’re leaving thousands behind: Half of CMS’s geometry students failed last spring’s end-of-course test. Likewise for U.S. history students. Inside, you’ll see that individual high school results are even more bleak. It’s time for parents, citizens and educators alike to ask ... What will it take to reach Goal 2005? Educate! 02-12-19 2 ‘Acting white’: Chapel Hill’s not representative on issue I was a little confused on the ter’s degree or doctoral degree in purpose of your reporting a mini- elementary education, be licensed mally coherent survey where the From Readers and have at least three years of questions were biased for this successful teaching experience at result and the population was interns and student teachers in the elementary school level. A full biased for this result (“Survey the preservice teacher education list of qualificications and applica- challenges ‘acting white’ myth,” program. tion details is posted at http://edu- Dec. 12) Responsibilities are to travel to cation.uncc.edu/searches If Chapel Hill-Carrboro is typi- schools to supervise elementary Review of application materials cal of the respondents, then the education interns and student will begin January 27, 2003 and “acting white” myth is not even teachers; conduct seminars for continue until position is filled. addressed. What you have here is students and their cooperating Vicki Jaus a population that because of the teachers; assist with orientation atmosphere of the community, and professional development ses- Educate! is a journal on public and the success of being “educat- sions for students and cooperating education in Charlotte-Mecklenburg ed” has brought them and their teachers; review applications and parents, they are taking school assign students for internships Our aim is to supply information use- more seriously than an inner city, and other clinical experiences; ful to you in your role as student, parent low socioeconomic population communicate with teachers and or citizen interested in the welfare of where the “acting white” myth principals; and assist with other Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. lives and breathes big time. projects sponsored by the Office of Educate! is published by The Swann Mike Grant Field Experiences. The superviso- Fellowship, 1510 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204. Voice and fax: 704-342-4330. E-mail: ry assignment for this position is [email protected] Lucy Bush, presi- Teach student teachers approximately 18 students each dent; B.B. DeLaine, vice president; Steve The writer is director of the semester. In addition, the super- Johnston, executive director. Published since UNCC College of Education’s visor will hold an appointment in September 2000; 6-week average circulation office of field experiences. through last issue: 2,505. the elementary education pro- The Swann Fellowship, named for Darius We invite applications for a full- gram and will occasionally teach and Vera Swann, was formed in 1997 out of time lecturer/clinical assistant courses within the program, with several Charlotte religious congregations to be a witness to the value of diversity in public edu- professor position. This 12-month an appropriate reduction in cation and to educate the public on school nontenure-eligible position will supervision responsibilities. issues as they relate to this and allied subjects. begin July 1 and will supervise Applicants should hold a mas- The Swann Fellowship is a nonprofit organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 56-2106776. Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830- Supporting Educate! is easy online 4989. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Your tax-deductible donations to support the continued publication of To be removed from distribution, message: Educate! may be made online. Go to www.networkforgood.org and [email protected]. In body of the message, type: unsubscribe swann name@ type in keyword Swann Fellowship domain.etc. To be added to our distribution list, subscribe at www.educateclt.org. THIS ISSUE OF EDUCATE! WASMADEPOSSIBLEINPARTBYDONATIONSFROM: Ruth M. Cobb The gaps in achievement are both large sented for blacks, Hispanics and whites. by high school. In all cases, data is pre- results for a smaller number of EOC tests, page. Charts beginning on page 4 show of CMS was used for the charts on this on several end-of-course tests. Data for all above grade level, last spring and in 2001, percentage of students who tested at or grade level. more of high school students working on community in our goal of having 90% or lay out in grim detail “where we are” as a CMS end-of-course test results, ’01 vs. ’02 01 02 01 02 01 02 47.2 01 02 0134.9 02 01 02 BHW BHW Percent of students deemed at or above grade level, 2001 vs. 2002, by demographic group 49.5 In the first set of charts, bars show the Charts below and on pages that follow 45.0 Algebra I Algebra II Biology Chemistry ELPS English I Geometry Physics U.S. History Composite 49.2 41.0 to reach Goal 2005? 48.7 56.2 85.2 74.6 What will it take 86.0 80.4 01 02 01 02 01 02 22.2 01 02 0145.6 02 01 02 BHW BHW 23.4 42.5 39.0 59.9 35.5 56.7 70.5 74.1 70.2 76.5 01 02 01 02 01 02 34.7 01 02 0132.6 02 01 02 BHW BHW 60.6 41.7 56.7 39.7 80.8 50.3 ours – begin on page 9. achievements and miscues – and some of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Notes about their are struggling with the same issues facing published Many this communities year. page 4. Excerpts from what they wrote begin on ture that emerges is grim. 2005 for each high Again, school. the pic- charts looks at four components of Goal and widespread. 78.8 78.5 also We looked back over what we have asked We readers for their thoughts. to What’s be done? Beginning on page 12, another set of 85.3 83.3 01 02 01 02 01 02 30.6 01 02 0130.5 02 01 02 BHW BHW 28.2 29.3 38.9 42.3 34.8 47.3 69.8 65.7 70.4 67.3 01 02 01 02 01 02 01 02 01 02 01 02 35.4 40.6 Educate! 02-12-19 BHW BHW 38.9 39.6 43.8 45.8 46.6 40.7 75.5 82.9 77.8 80.7 3 Educate! 02-12-19 4 Readers comment on what it will take If CMS student achievement continues to improve skills. a few points a year as it has been lately, the system’s Rich Boss 2005 goals won’t be reached. More important, thousands of children will graduate or drop out without Meeting goal requires culture change in CMS the skills to meet the world. The writer, director of the N.C. Education Alliance, On Monday, Educate! invited readers to comment. is a former CMS school board member. Below are their solutions. It will take No Excuses and a laser focus on academic achievement. Concentrate our resources on reading It will take building the academic foundation and Here is pie-in-the-sky what gets us there by 2005: capacity for high school courses – no social promo- – The TV in every Charlotte home disappears. tion. – Every kid gets three good meals and a good It will take data-driven policy decisions from those night’s sleep and a hug from their parents every day. who do not chase rabbit trails of political correct- Probably nothing gets us there by 2005, but here ness. is what gets us there in the long run that is in the Unless there is a culture change within the sys- control of the schools: tem you will not have dramatic results. 1. An even better focus on getting kids reading by Lindalyn Kakadelis the end of first grade. This will take lots of resources in kindergarten and first grade, and Teach core subjects every day resources for preschool – and it will take parents I think it is better for the entire school system to reading to/with their kids every night and making have “core” subjects taught every day of the week, learning fun for the kids. (Parental involvement can and not on that “A”/“B” day routine. I believe kids be influenced by strong school leadership!) will learn better and more efficiently. This will also 2. At higher grades as well, focusing on literacy help them to be more in tune with their subjects skills. You can’t test at grade level in biology unless and teachers. you have strong reading comprehension and writing Also, weekly (and/or daily) quizzes will help build End-of-course results, by CMS high school Percent of students deemed at or above grade level, 2001 vs.

Load more