More parents want out of schools that don't make the grade

By Adam Owens

Posted: Aug. 27, 2008

The number of students requesting to move out of under-performing schools in Wake County is rising. In the 2007-2008 school year, 104 students decided to transfer to better-performing schools. In the 2008-2009 school year, 382 families have submitted transfer requests as of August 29th.

The option is provided in federal No Child Left Behind legislation aimed at making education systems more accountable to parents and students. A school that receives federal money and does not make AYP or adequate yearly progress in the same subject for two consecutive years must offer students the choice of moving to a school that does make the grade.

The increase in transfer requests comes after preliminary test results showed less than a quarter of Wake County public schools met AYP standards in 2007-2008. The number of schools required to allow students to move out jumped from 10 last school year to 14 this school year.

Wake County school leaders say more schools fell below the testing standards because the achievement bar was raised. No Child Left Behind expectations were increased 12% last year for math in elementary and middle schools. School officials say there are other ways to determine how schools are performing such as state ABC tests scores where Wake County students fared better.

In the end, it is all in the numbers and it is up to parents to figure out the math.

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My local schools haven't passed standards yet. We put our kids in a local private school but it requires a great sacrifice of our family's resources. I don't begrudge the public schools my share of the tax money. Education can only help a society. I am worried about the wise use of those dollars.

Most teachers, students, administrators, and parents are trying their best to make it better.

I want to know why aren't they succeeding.

There are some very smart kids out there. Is there some kind of cultural difference between the children and what is being taught? I remember that there were some problems with cultural bias on the SAT's years back. Kids were asked questions that assumed a common cultural background. Without that background, how can a child have a chance at succeeding?

Something has been missed and it needs to be found. Every year we delay is another year of graduates we lose.

ncngwife
August 28, 2008 4:54 p.m.

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There is no other public service where, if people don't use it, they get a refund. Don't use public parks, read FDA-mandated food labels or drink EPA-protected water? Too bad; no refund.

And, how dare you try to take other people's share of those who have no children in school but still pay taxes. It's not your bleepin' money!

And since 85% of private schools are religious (mostly Catholic), giving private schools public $ is unconstitutional...and "tyrannical" as Jefferson said in 1779.

Try this voucher junk, try taking public $ from OUR public schools, and you'll have a HUGE litigational fight on your hands.

hereandnow99
August 28, 2008 2:44 p.m.

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My two girls who are in middle school now, were in an elementary school that did not make AYP and were given the opportunity to transfer to another school supposedly of which made the grade. Both my girls are straight A students and never got a non-passing grade in a school that did not make AYP. We did not transfer them because they were doing fine. We did their homework with them everynight, went to all the PTA meetings and parent teacher confrences and also any school board meeting that affected them. Another words, we were totally involved with their education. This is not an option, we as parents have a duty to make sure our children make the grade. Mine did, even though the school didn't. My only complaint is that since they were doing so well they were not challenged enough since all the effort was on making others who were not making the grade - pass. I don't agree with the "no child left behind" program. Each child should be graded on their own acheivements.

Chitown
August 28, 2008 1:25 p.m.

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I meant drink!!:)

jgirl5830
August 28, 2008 1:10 p.m.

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How do they automatically know that it's the schools fault or the teachers fault for an under achieving school? How about some accountability from the parents and the students. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him dring as the saying goes, I hope our next president puts an end to this no child left behind garbage because its not solving anything.

jgirl5830
August 28, 2008 1:01 p.m.

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I don't blame them.

Every state should have voucher system. It would help to ensure all students are afforded an equal education while sending clear messages to schools that don't measure up.

God bless.

Rev. RB

Rev. RB - aka SpiritWarriorWoman
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
August 28, 2008 12:23 p.m.

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If the parents could figure out the math, then their children would be doing better. ;-) Education starts at home. When parents "don't have the time" or the desire to spend hours with their child at night with their homework, then they cannot rightfully blame the schools (public or otherwise) for their child's poor performance.

Children are savvy. They see that their parents don't care about their grades enough to get involve and take real action, other than complain about it being someone else's problem, so the child just slacks off. Why do people have kids if they are just going to ignore the most important part of their development?...learning.

hereandnow99
August 28, 2008 10:27 a.m.

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