Let's Get Real!

Because of new legislation, a new class of schools was inadvertently created: Distinguished, Low-Achieving Schools.  "How could a school be both distinguished and low-achieving at the same time?" you ask.  Such is the case with at least one local school under legislation supported by Brian Nestande, Riverside's Assemblyman.  The Press Enterprise reported that Nestande supported the creation of a list of the 1000 lowest performing schools. "This seemed like a reasonable approach to motivate them to improve their schools." he was quoted as saying.

Creating a list of the 1000 most low achieving schools was intended to "motivate"  low achieving schools to improve, however the legislation highlights the problematic nature of the State's current attempts to quantify the success (or failure) of schools.

Emerson is not on either list.  I do need to disclose, however, that a few years ago Emerson met the qualifications for California Distinguished School, but was not subsequently named as such. The 1000 lowest-achieving schools list identifies Real Elementary School in Perris is an example of one school that was named both as a California Distinguished School as well as a Low-Achieving by the State of California. 

While every school must take full responsibility to ensure that every child reaches his/her potential, at the same time, it's not a bad idea to point out that the system has flaws.  At a recent Riverside Board of Education meeting, President Lew Vanderzyl joked that it won't be long until all California Schools are in Program Improvement. 

As you probably recall, Emerson has experienced general academic growth for the past 3 years, but at the same time has landed the embarrassing label as a "Program Improvement" school.  We are carefully identifying reasons for not meeting our goals (i.e. not focusing on the rigor of the State Standards), designing programs (i.e. HEARTS, READ 180, and iScholars) and plans to improve (by carefully analyzing common assessments-quizzes, for example), using instructional strategies that improve learning, and intensely focusing on the rigor of the State Standards.  While we are taking the challenge very seriously to improve learning with every subgroup, I can't help but point out the problematic nature of the system.

The Emerson community is working strategically and diligently to meet the academic needs of each student and every sub-group, but at the same time we're experiencing the pain of our Program Improvement title. While we are not on the lowest 1000 list, I can't help but want to stand up for those who are, to say that punishing these schools with another sanction is not the right answer.  The two RUSD elementary schools who are on the 1000 most troubled schools list have been brilliantly implementing numerous school improvement strategies.  Assemblyman Nestande, haven't we had enough mud-slinging? Do you need to support another list intended to berate elementary schools by supporting this kind of legislation?

Emerson's achievement plight is not as extreme as Real's.  The State of California has a schizophrenic set of programs that reward achieving schools and call out low-achieving schools.  Real, we feel your pain.