By: Diane Benjamin
Did you know some states are lowering standards to make assessments look better? The story mentions Oklahoma and Wisconsin are doing just that to combat declining test scores. It also mentions the new head of Maryland schools, Carey Wright, who is refusing to lower expectations for students. She has experience raising scores in Mississippi by doing the hard work.
Quote from Wright: “If you set the bar low, that’s all you are going to get,” Wright said. “But if you set the bar high for students, and support teachers and leaders, it’s doable.”
The story is pretty long but well worth reading. It recaps what Wright did in Mississippi. A large part was holding kids back if they couldn’t read by the 3rd grade. She ended social promotion, Illinois isn’t doing that.
You have to read a lot of the story before you get to Illinois. Superintendent Tony Sanders claims the Illinois standards are too high so he plans to cut them by 2025.
Has that already been done? See Unit 5’s latest assessment here: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?source=profile&Districtid=17064005026
Chronic absenteeism is 23% but 90% graduate
District 87 has a graduation rate 77% with 27% chronically absent: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?districtId=17064087025
Click on Academic Progress for both. Bloomington is below state average on almost everything. Unit 5 is above State average on almost everything. The Mississippi example proves low income doesn’t mean kids can’t learn.
School Board elections are April 1st. I have no idea who is running, but electing the members the teacher’s union recommends can’t be an option. The Illinois Superintendent claims standards will be cut BY 2025. Has that already happened? Parents should be demanding an education instead of lower standards that pretend students are receiving an education.
Bloomington schools need to look at what Wright did in Mississippi to go from worst system in the country to top 20%. The won’t unless parents demand it. If you can’t get your kids out of public schools at least demand your kids are educated.