In Sunday's Bee we wrote an editorial about the problems with the Valley's dropout statistics. They're not to be trusted. That's creating a miserable mess for anyone trying to hold schools accountable for their performance. Many of the struggling students are being pushed off into the charter, continuation or alternative schools, which get very poor oversight. We pity the parents of students who are struggling in those alternative schools -- how can you know if your child is the problem or the school is the problem?
Read our editorial and a list of recommendations for improving the schools by clicking here.
It is imperative to stop pushing students through to the next grade year after year only to finally understand that they are several levels below grade level. They must identify these stuggling students and have afterschool tutoring available to them. They need to be taught in English only not in ESL classes cause this is America. Sports has to take a backseat to academics. Some students just cant get it in a public school because they are too distracted by all the social stuff. Some of them do better in home schooling or a charter.