The predecessor to my position as Missouri senator of the 5th District, the late Paula Carter, must be looking with dismay and chagrin at the just-released audit of the 狐狸视频 Public Schools by the Missouri state auditor. The audit exposed disturbing information that the legislation sponsored by Sen. Carter, Senate Bill 319, which was intended to end an educational trend I have adamantly fought and legislated against as well 鈥 鈥渟ocial promotions鈥 鈥 is all but being ignored by the school district. Social promotions, which is the school system passing students on to a higher grade level despite their having reading and academic deficiencies below their grade level, is a cancer that has eaten at the core of public education.
The audit stated that the school 鈥渄istrict policies and procedures regarding the promotion and retention of 鈥榓t risk鈥 students are not fully compliant with state law,鈥 and concluded that the district鈥檚 鈥減assing 鈥榓t risk鈥 elementary students who either fail to attend summer school or fail to progress enough during summer school to escape the 鈥榓t risk鈥 category contradicts the intent of Senate Bill 319.鈥
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The statistics exposed by the audit were shocking and sad. According to the audit, in May 2011, of over 1,800 3rd and 4th graders, 749 students were classified as 鈥渁t risk鈥 of reading failure, with only 372 of those 749 attending summer school. The audit states: 鈥淥f these students that attended summer school, only 91 demonstrated sufficient improvement to escape the 鈥榓t risk鈥 category when given a post assessment.鈥 Reflecting the high level of social promotions, the audit notes that: 鈥淚n total, 747 of the 749 students were allowed to pass to the next grade level, including 375 鈥榓t risk鈥 students that never attended summer school and 281 students that remained classified as 鈥榓t risk鈥 after attending summer school.鈥
In response to the audit鈥檚 findings, the school district acknowledged that it was not in compliance with SB 319, and said its method of trying to comply was that 鈥渢he district informs parents/guardians in writing regarding this requirement and uses that notification in planning for summer school.鈥 Clearly, the district鈥檚 method is not working.
This past legislative session, I worked closely with 狐狸视频 School Superintendent Kelvin Adams to get historic legislation enacted, Senate Bill 125, which transforms the method of teacher accountability. Because I find him to be extremely competent and committed to public education, l look forward to working with him in the upcoming legislative session to focus on ending social promotions.
While there are some who think it is better to pass children on in school rather than have them retained at a grade level, I am convinced that we do a great disservice to our children and to public education when we do not take the time to provide the teaching resources to make sure that every child can read and succeed.
State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, a Democrat, represents the 5th District in 狐狸视频.