EDITORIAL: RI Schools' Poor Performances -- Are We Out of Adjectives Yet?

EDITORIAL: RI Schools' Poor Performances -- Are We Out of Adjectives Yet?

The RICAS scores in 2019 were horrifying. They are worse now.

Also released in 2019, the Johns Hopkins report on Providence School called the capital city’s schools among the worst in the nation — yup right there or below the poorest and most dysfunctional areas of the country -- Aroostook County, Maine; southern Appalachia; Detroit; and the South Side of Chicago.

Newly announced candidate for Governor Helena Foulkes tells GoLocal, “These results are deeply troubling. We must do better for our kids, not soon, but now. The impact of the coronavirus on our kids’ education has been devastating, and as a mom, my heart goes out to the countless parents who are worried right now about their kids’ future. That’s why as Governor, I will prioritize an historic investment in education — to improve outcomes for all of Rhode Island’s children.”

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"Deeply troubling" is a fairly obvious description.

Seth Magaziner, the State's General Treasurer says, "RICAS student scores are further proof we have a lot of work to do to improve our educational system.  While the pandemic had an impact on these scores, everyone knows that even before the pandemic, too many students in Rhode Island were being left behind. My education plan specifically focuses on improving K-12 schools by addressing long-standing needs like restructuring the funding formula, supporting multilingual learners and investing in universal pre-K. Let’s get to work improving education for all Rhode Island students."

"We have a lot of work to do"...maybe lacks urgency.

Governor Dan McKee says, "We must take this opportunity to not only improve in the short term, but to look ahead to how we can build a stronger, more resilient education system over the coming decade. We are going to work with families and educators across the state to make sure every child gets the excellent education they deserve.”

Hmm, that might be slightly...milquetoast. Have we not been doing that all along?

No word from Nellie Gorbea -- might have been dropping the kids off at private schools -- or Matt Brown

The reality is the numbers are horrifying. Yes, there was a pandemic. But this is the reality. 

They are a clear measure that Rhode Island's schools are not performing and regardless of what the tests show, this is Rhode Island's number one issue and our biggest failure.

Want a better workforce? Want less crime? Want more innovators? Want more entreprenuers? Try creating an educational system of confident achievers.

Let's make one thing clear, it is not just the urban corridor schools that are underperforming - comparatively, Rhode Island's rural and suburban schools are underperforming similar communities across the line in Massachusetts.

 

These Numbers Aren't New, They Are Just the Worst

Just a reminder of some of the previous milestones --

The Johns Hopkins report found based on direct observations and interviews conducted with teachers, parents -- and elected, education, and union officials -- found:

* The great majority of students are not learning on, or even near, grade level
* With rare exception, teachers are demoralized and unsupported
* Most parents feel shut out of their children’s education 
* Principals find it very difficult to demonstrate leadership
* Many school buildings are deteriorating across the city, and some are even dangerous to students’ and teachers’ well-being

Guess what, when you look at the RICAS scores from Woonsocket to Newport many of our schools have similar results.

In 2018, GoLocal outlined the dismal performance of Providence schools and the lack of equity between school districts: 

Here were seven alarming data points from Providence schools, but sadly seventy or seven hundred statistics could be extrapolated -- each more disappointing than the next:

— Just 3 percent of 8th graders are proficient in math.

— At Mount Pleasant High School, 9th grade English proficiency is just 7 percent and Algebra I proficiency is just 3 percent.

— At Central High School, Algebra I proficiency is 2 percent.

— Hope High School’s proficiencies are 1 percent in Algebra 1, 3 percent in English and 5 percent in geometry.

— And, at the new Evolutions High School —  a “small, tight-knit learning community built upon personalized learning and restorative practices,” realized no student proficient at Algebra I.

To contrast, at Barrington High School, 79 percent are proficient at English, 54 percent in Algebra, and 93 percent at geometry.

This is Rhode Island's collective failure. Parents should be outraged. Students should be marching.

The opportunity is now. Rhode Island's greatest governor will be the man or woman who drives the necessary change to improve Rhode Island's education system.