When quantitative data gives you a heads up that something is amiss, qualitative data can jump in to help solve the mystery. Two great sources of qualitative data could help us in providing an equitable education to our students. They are our students well as our new teachers.
One piece of data that the SCSD battles with is student attendance. It is NOT what it should be. Since the rate of school attendance has such a direct effect on educational success, a very relevant question would be "Why aren't you coming to school?" In conversations with students, three major themes tend rise to the top: 1) physical safety, 2) safe and efficient transportation and 3) the discouragement they feel when classwork is too hard.
Students who don't feel safe in the school they attend are less likely to attend school. Our students feel anxious when they observe violence in school or someone becomes a target on social media. Even if they don't show it, they know in the back of their mind, they could become a target at any time. Many students question why this is allowed to continue and students with normal hesitancy and those with anxiety disorders reduce attendance to avoid the stress.
Our students are also dissatisfied with our transportation system. This is Syracuse. Cold, wet and dark for most mornings that our students are coming to school. What high schooler wants to walk over half a mile, along busy streets, at times not cleared, and, at times, in not the safest areas. Waiting at some of those bus stops is not a treat either. Anxiety anyone? Some parents don't feel comfortable sending the kids in those conditions. And if the parent can't drive them to school? What then?
Another issue is students lacking the basic skills that allows them to participate in grade level classes. As a result, they are uncomfortable and avoid classes. How are our interventions programs functioning? Are they effective? Was eliminating our Title I program, which provided reading and math remediation, the best choice?
New teacher turnover is another important information source. Why is our new teacher turnover rate as high as it is? What insight can those teachers give us that will help us retain them, which in turn will help us keep kids in the classroom. Student attendance and teacher turnover have more in common than you think. The SCSD must be able to compete with other districts for teachers.
One piece of data that the SCSD battles with is student attendance. It is NOT what it should be. Since the rate of school attendance has such a direct effect on educational success, a very relevant question would be "Why aren't you coming to school?" In conversations with students, three major themes tend rise to the top: 1) physical safety, 2) safe and efficient transportation and 3) the discouragement they feel when classwork is too hard.
Students who don't feel safe in the school they attend are less likely to attend school. Our students feel anxious when they observe violence in school or someone becomes a target on social media. Even if they don't show it, they know in the back of their mind, they could become a target at any time. Many students question why this is allowed to continue and students with normal hesitancy and those with anxiety disorders reduce attendance to avoid the stress.
Our students are also dissatisfied with our transportation system. This is Syracuse. Cold, wet and dark for most mornings that our students are coming to school. What high schooler wants to walk over half a mile, along busy streets, at times not cleared, and, at times, in not the safest areas. Waiting at some of those bus stops is not a treat either. Anxiety anyone? Some parents don't feel comfortable sending the kids in those conditions. And if the parent can't drive them to school? What then?
Another issue is students lacking the basic skills that allows them to participate in grade level classes. As a result, they are uncomfortable and avoid classes. How are our interventions programs functioning? Are they effective? Was eliminating our Title I program, which provided reading and math remediation, the best choice?
New teacher turnover is another important information source. Why is our new teacher turnover rate as high as it is? What insight can those teachers give us that will help us retain them, which in turn will help us keep kids in the classroom. Student attendance and teacher turnover have more in common than you think. The SCSD must be able to compete with other districts for teachers.