State Assessments = No Fun

My sister said something on her blog that her latest post was her 200th-as is this for me! This does not speak very well of my posting because I've had my blog longer than she's had hers, but, oh well, we do what we can.

Kids at both my schools are taking the state reading assessments next week. This is never a fun time because the pressure on administration, teachers and students is enormous. There is a lot of preparation that goes into this event, and I am always amazed at the amount of work this takes. There's a lot riding on the kids' performance, and at one of my schools, it is critical that scores increase big time this year in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.

I tried to explain to someone why that school has had failing scores the last two years and it's a complicated matter. Here's a synopsis: Mobility is high-every week we add and dismiss several students. However, we have in the last two months, added more than we have dismissed and we have at least four classrooms bursting at the seams-28 kids is way too many for one teacher. I was in one classroom where there were not enough student desks and 3 kids were kneeling at chairs or sitting on the floor to work. This school is high in poverty-more than 90% of the kids qualify for free or reduced lunches. There are significant issues of gang culture, parents of all ethnicities who are not involved in their child's education, and homes which lack structure, routine, and basic necessities such as beds to sleep in. We have several children for whom we have no working phone numbers for parents or relatives, no way to reach them in case of an emergency. Currently, there are several families considered homeless, who are bunking with relatives. In spite of all that, we have dedicated teachers who come to work every day and prepare kids for high-stakes testing-and whose jobs are dependent on these kids' performances.

Sometimes I just get weary thinking about all the needs. It appears to be a gloomy picture, but in spite of everything, some good things are happening. We have good teachers and staff, we have good community support with some dedicated volunteers, and, this school is in the first phase of construction for the bond issue we just passed. We are getting new classrooms and offices - not quickly mind you, but they'll be finished in a year or two. Hopefully, we'll be able to hire teachers to staff them.

There are difficulties at the other school I serve as well - not so much poverty issues but staff issues. It never helps you to win popularity contests when you have to take a stand, does it! Spring break can't come along fast enough for me this year. No train trips like I took last year-my finances won't allow that. Maybe the weather will be warmer and I'll be able to get some outside work done. That's something to look forward to.