JON GLOVER
Contributing Columnist
Consider the language from the 2021-2022 Pupil Progression Plan on “Consent,” compliments of the members of the Caddo Parish School Board -- interesting language: “The law goes on to require the state Department of Education to establish, subject to the approval of BESE, the level of achievement on the fourth and eighth grade LEAP test – in mathematics, English language arts, science and social studies -- needed for students to advance to grades five and nine.”
Consequently, on page 7 of the 2021-2022 Pupil Progression Plan for Caddo Parish, the following language nullifies that noted above: “To promote from one grade to the next, students should pass one course from each of the following two categories: Category 1 – Reading, language arts, math; Category 2 – science and social studies.
Now stay with me.
For a successful promotion for fourth and eighth grade, at what juncture does what is recorded on page 7 apply?
There has always been talk about bridging the educational gap, but based on the aforementioned, such doesn’t meet that criteria.
What we all see is that boys and girls are not succeeding, not with No Child Left Behind or the newer Every Student Succeed Act.
Dumbing down education helps no one; it only facilitates a continuance of academically disadvantaging.
Who knew? Every individual, from the Louisiana Department of Education, to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, to members of the Caddo Parish School Board and the superintendent all knew that the plan that is currently in place does not adequately meet the academic needs of students.
The more you know equips one with knowledge. What you may not know is all else contained in the 2021-2022 Pupil Progression Plan. It’s time to access the plan via Caddo’s webpage -- www.caddoschools.org. Once accessed, choose the tab “leadership” and from there choose the tab “board doc.” Once in board doc, choose “Proposed Agenda for the Caddo Parish School Board meeting for Oct. 19, 2021”; agenda item 8.03, the 2021-2022 Pupil Progression Plan, is attached.
If the members of the Caddo Parish School Board hold the power to change things, then why haven’t things changed after all this time? Where is the equity of resources?
There is much work to be done, despite COVID, and if such isn’t addressed in a timely manner, boys and girls will continue to fall behind. When I hear that statement “It’s all about the children,” the 2021-2022 Pupil Progression Plan doesn’t dictate such. Why not?