MEETING STANDARDS AND SOCIAL PROMOTION

By John De Beck

I want to focus on raising student achievement by making sure achievement and student promotion match up.

The most recent CST data for nearly every grade in San Diego City Schools shows that on average 8% are FAR BELOW BASIC on the Language and Mathematics Sections of the test. The most recent San Diego City Schools data on promotion for nearly every grade shows about 1% of the children are retained in grade. The data proves that the grade level standard for promotion is below...FAR BELOW BASIC.

I think these data are proof that something needs to be done. I agree that retention is not the solution, but differentiated instruction meeting students deficiencies is. That differentiated instruction is difficult to design and evaluate, so the school district continues to placate the parents, and move students along in a pattern of failure. Even the unproven action of putting students in Summer School shows no value, and when I proposed an evaluation, none was forthcoming. I care about student achievement, and continue to insist on INDEPENDENT program evaluation. Don't keep doing what fails! It is costly and unproductive.