With all the buzz surrounding the idea of ‘education reform”, with all the Race to the Top Funds dispersed, and a few days or a week into the new school year, one Chicago school is stepping back to punt in the search for a fresh start for their students and their district.
The 117 year-old Marshall High School has been disappointing in its academic performance and still shows a 50% drop out rate. Following the direction of US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the school has taken drastic measures in the hopes of changing its academic trajectory.
After recent changes, including an almost entirely new teaching staff, a new curriculum and $2 million of federal funding, Marshall which is located in the violence-ridden west side of Chicago, looks to the new year as a new beginning.
As noted in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, "Mainly, this is a year to lay a foundation for the long-term reforms that will get all students college-ready," said Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, a nonpartisan group of state school chiefs.
Marshall High is looking to revamp its failed past attempts at education reform, following the path of the goals set by recent movements. They join hundreds of school districts and local teacher unions that are working to renegotiate contracts that link teacher evaluations to student achievement. Lesson plans will be rewritten to comply with new standards in the hopes of enhancing their local education systems.
Chicago schools will be Teach America’s Children’s initial focus, with the goal of providing the support parents and students need to work with their local school to obtain the best education results. It is time for every member of the community to come forward to help schools like Marshall High renew their potential from the inside out.
Posted By: Paul Adams
Friday, September 17th 2010 at 1:28PM
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