We aren't moving the education needle far enough or fast enough for far too many
Published April 19, 2018
By Tom Campbell
by Tom Campbell, Producer and Moderator, NC SPIN, April 18, 2018
What should we expect when we invest $150 million in reading programs for our elementary students?I’m not sure what the objectives were, but I am pretty certain the results weren’t what anyone wanted.
In 2011, North Carolina’s legislative leadership recognized our reading crisis. Only 34 percent of our fourth grade students were considered proficient (having solid academic performance) in reading and just 68 percent possessed basic grade-level skills, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP test. When launching the Read to Achieve Initiative Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger stated that in the first three grades children learn to read and from that point on they read to learn. Reading proficiency is the launching pad for success in school and life.
Since then North Carolina has invested $151.7 million on Read to Achieve. The results: the 2017 NAEP assessment indicates a five percent improvement to 39 percent among fourth graders, while 33 percent of eighth graders read proficiently. Just over one-half of our state’s white or non-poor students were considered proficient, however only 19 percent of black students and 22 percent of Hispanic and low-income students achieved proficiency status.
We’ve known for years that socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority students were not receiving the “sound basic education” our constitution dictates. It is a troubling realism that we cannot change the economic circumstances, the home environments or many other factors that contribute to these students’ low performance. We are earnestly seeking solutions for low performing students but with spotty results. While some students are achieving and doing well in our current system, we clearly are not moving the needle far enough and fast enough for far too many.
Once the world’s leader in elementary and secondary education, the U.S. doesn’t even rank in the top 20 nations now. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests 15 year olds from 72 countries every three years. The 2015 scores rank the United States 40thin math, 24thin reading and 25thin science scores. Compared to the 2012 tests, we dropped 11 points in math, while remaining flat in reading and science.
Just as we united with single-mindedness to win World War II we need a similar resolve to reinvigorate our education system. It begins with higher expectations of students and parents, more rigor in subject matter, longer class days and calendar years, and includes improved technology and learning techniques, better trained educators and, yes, we need to be prepared to spend greatly increase funds for education. But too much data shows money alone isn’t the secret sauce, as we learned with the $151 million our state spent trying to improve reading. And let’s be clear on another essential point - our teachers and principals may be on the front lines, but they cannot win this war of a greatly improved educational system alone.
This country and our state are failing our children; more importantly, we are condemning ourselves to a much less healthy future. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not we are indeed part of a global economy and we cannot competitively compete with a mediocre education system. Not to overdramatize, but this is a war we cannot avoid and one we cannot afford to lose.
April 19, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Norm Kelly says:
Unfortunately though, until now, the only answer that's been tried, basically, is spending more money.
When it comes to partisan ideas, libs/alt-left zealots/education establishment types only have 1 idea. Spend more money. Raise teacher pay - which is spend more money. Build nicer schools - which is spend more money. Ask yourself, then go ask your local lib leader, what ELSE are they willing to try, what else have they authorized to be tried, what other plan do they have. These are important questions. Especially when the result of spending more money is usually lackluster improvement. Or no improvement at all.
How many of the democrap governors over the past decades has proclaimed themselves 'the education governor' in our great state? How many of them actually accomplished anything when it came to improving education outcomes? Does this tell you something? It should!
What improves basic economics, gives consumers more choice, tends to reduce costs at the same time as improving products? The one thing that not a single alt-left zealot even considers. And the one thing these same people prevent others from exploring.
It's called COMPETITION! It's contrary to Communist Core! Communist Core intends to indoctrinate all kids into exactly the same education process. Competition on the other hand allows individuals (in this case, individual schools) to experiment with what WORKS FOR THEM & their students. Competition allows parents to CHOOSE the best school for their kid(s). Choice is also another thing that not a single alt-left zealot ever thinks about or allows others to express support of. Not a single government agency, organization, accepts competition. Whenever a government agency is involved in an activity, they squash all private competition. Witness the gambling issue in NC. Private gambling: bad. Government gambling: good. What's the difference? State competition is eliminated. Just one example of one aspect that is WRONG and wrong-headed.
Does any single individual have all the answers to school improvement? Nope. The only thing we can say about single individuals having any sort of answer to the problem is that it will NOT come from a lib/alt-left zealot. Unless it involves government control, union control, none of them will think about it!
April 20, 2018 at 10:20 am
Ned Steadman says:
Some children start kindergarten already reading. Some start and do not know a letter from a number, or if given a book which way to turn it so it is right side up. We will not solve the reading problem in our schools until all children start kindergarten ready, academically and socially, to do kindergarten level work.
April 20, 2018 at 10:21 am
Mandy Smith says:
It appears we are spending a lot more money on teacher pay but getting way less from the teachers. Why aren't kids reading at grade level or above? Is it because they aren't being taught to read? Is it because the teachers are baby sitting the kids instead of teaching them? Is it because the kids are doing everything on computers & Ipad now instead of books & paper? Is it because we are no longer using a spelling book? Can't spell, sure can't read. I am very concerned about teenagers, working age kids that cannot count money, that do not know fractions. For example, I ask for 2 gallons of tea at Bojangles the other day. The young cashier couldn't find tea in gallons on her screen, she apologized profusely & said all she could find were half gallons & thought I wouldn't want those. I told her I would take 4 of those & she was just amazed that I was willing to substitute 4 half gallons for 2 whole gallons. I promise you, it never entered her mind that I was getting the exact same amount of tea wither way.
April 21, 2018 at 12:02 am
Vicki Boyet says:
And North Carolina's economic future depends upon the education our chdten receive today.
April 23, 2018 at 6:56 am
Walter Hart says:
Tom,
Interesting article. The Read to Achieve model measures student reading at the end of the third grade and provides limited interventions and supports only after students have failed. Durign the same time period of RTA, North Carolina chose to NOT fully fund PreK programs and other early interventions that actually improve reading. If North Carolina is serious about addressing this issue, leaders must put interventions in place earlier. Every grade K teacher in this state can quickly identify students who need additional support to read successfully yet RTA puts its supports at the end of grade 3. Why wait so long? To fund early literacy supports and interventions in all lower grades, and to support PreK and lower class sizes, lottery funding could be used for its original, intended purposes rather than supplanting existing educational funding.
Walter Hart
China Grove
