Author : Robert Wimberly
School Choice. Politicians are up in arms over the issue. Right here in Chicago parents are facing school closures at an alarming rate. The Chicago Board of Education led by Board President Michael Scott and CEO Arne Duncan are trying to convince the public that school closures will "close poorly run, low-achieving schools and give parents and children their choice of a better school to attend," but have left out some important things you should know.ONE:Only 10 to 20 percent of the more than 1 million poor children eligible for tutoring have signed up — We CAN DO BETTER. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings wants to show she can adapt to a new solution — waiving rules to get more kids in tutoring — and yet be tough on states that do not comply by threatening to pull their money.TWO:The law REQUIRES schools that get federal poverty aid and fall short of their yearly progress goals for two straight years must offer transfers to students. After three failing years, schools must offer low-income parents a choice of tutors.THREE:The new No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy will let 23 districts offer tutoring FIRST because parents prefer tutoring to moving children to a new school. Six times as many students took part in tutoring compared with school choice in 2003-04.Typically, school districts cannot provide tutoring when they fail to meet yearly progress goals. Districts say that penalty reduces help for kids. But Spellings agreed last year to let Boston and Chicago provide tutoring even though they had fallen short of academic standards. However, Scott said after a presentation to the City Council Education Committee, Chicago Public School (CPS) will continue to close schools that need dramatic change. [However,] closing schools is just one part of the strategy. We are not opposed to any solution that's reasonable."Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart noted that 39 of 50 alderman endorsed a resolution by Alderman Michael Chandler calling for a moratorium on closings until the progress of students affected is evaluated. "Until we see some success in this, we should stop closing schools," Stewart told committee members. This frees the way for tutoring, yet why the low turnout?The moratorium on school closings can be REALITY if more use is made of Supplemental Education Services (Tutoring). No more will families be thrown into disarray by either moving or making transportation arrangements to attend new schools. Children will be able to continue the bonds to their neighborhoods without the threat of starting all over.Your school has the capacity to offer you FREE tutoring services ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.• Find out from your child's teacher what specific problems they are having whether it is in reading or mathematics.• Then, ask about the SES (Supplemental Educational Services) provider for your school. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.• Probably most important is your relationships with other parents. You must act and share what you've found with them.Let's stop breaking up communities by closing schools and get the word out. Learn how to take advantage of the opportunities our children have a RIGHT to receive.Mr. Wimberly is an educator in a large urban district: a teacher, coach, and administrator for fifteen years and is a Nationally recognized Literacy Trainer for school districts in New York, Virginia, Utah, Florida, and Illinois for Pearson Education. He is a member of ASCD (Association of Curriculum Developers) and IRA (International Reading Association).
Keyword : Top, Secrets, School, Choice
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