Closing Opportunity Gaps
I want to be sure that everyone has seen this. It's important.
CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS
An Action Plan for Accelerating Achievement
for African American Males
and Other Students of Color
In this document, the District commits to some very specific benchmarks:
- Every student will achieve proficiency in Reading and Mathematics by end of Grade 2.
- Every student will have a personal learning plan and an advocate/mentor to keep him on track to high school graduation and successful post-secondary transition.
- Every student will meet standards of performance in Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Science at the end of key transition grades.
- Every student will receive fair and equitable treatment regarding discipline and access to rigorous instructional programs.
- Every student will graduate from high school prepared for success in college or career.
Whenever I see commitments of this kind from the School District, I always want to ask "What if it doesn't go like that?"
What if there is a student who has not achieved proficiency in Reading and Mathematics by the end of Grade 2? What then? Will the student be assigned to summer school until proficiency is achieved? Will the student be made to repeat the grade? What? The Action Plan doesn't say. Wasn't 100% passage of state proficiency tests derided as a ridiculous goal when it was part of No Child Left Behind? Why is it not ridiculous in this Action Plan?
This Plan says that EVERY student will have an advocate/mentor. Every Seattle Schools Community Forum: Closing Opportunity Gaps:
