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 Getting Ready for Life
by Tom Campbell
December 17, 2009
News stories about public education are too often negative, but there are some very positive things going on in North Carolina Schools, as we learned in an interview with June Atkinson, Superintendent of Public Instruction.
While much coverage is given on the dropout rate Atkinson says we should focus more on improving the graduation rate. She told us about innovative programs being implemented now in Gaston, Union and Guilford Counties that redesign high schools to coordinate class work around career clusters in such fields as allied health, business technology, computer information systems, pre-engineering, horticulture and life sciences and even auto technology. Not only are the students getting the math, English and other core courses needed for graduation, they are also learning how these subjects apply to the various clusters. This is not our father’s vocational education program, instead an innovative way to prepare students for work, community college or university. Graduation rates prove this approach is working. Between 90 and 98 percent of the students who enroll in these programs graduate. This approach might not be THE way for every student but Atkinson says it is an important part of the answer for many.
In Onslow County a new program designed to help students struggling in math is yielding impressive results. Students are issued smart phones with specially installed videos demonstrating tutorials and concrete examples how math is used in real world settings. The tutorials help in learning how to solve algebra problems and the phones help students learn from other students. Students talking with other students about algebra? We are told this is happening and algebra scores for these at-risk students in just one year are 15 points higher than before starting the program.
There are other initiatives, like a program called “Gear Up” being implemented for at-risk students in several counties. New software helps other students in learning to write more effectively and helps teachers to better monitor writing. And programs are being tested to help students learn to read and understand technical and scientific information in addition to traditional literature.
Atkinson told us the State Board of Education is working on new accountability standards for public schools. Instead of pegging performance just to drop out rates, end of course tests or SAT/ACT scores, these new measures determine whether a student is college and career ready. The hope is for the Board to review and approve this new accountability program this summer.
June Atkinson is an enthusiastic supporter of public education but also a realist, willing to admit mistakes and failings. Her eyes light up when she talks about a culture of learning that invokes students to develop dreams about what they might become. She will know public schools are achieving their goals when our community colleges and universities no longer report spending so much time teaching remediation courses to our high school graduates.
It is exciting and encouraging knowing there are new reforms and innovations on the way in public education. The big challenge is to get these best practices into every school so that every student is ready for life. |
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