As we near the end of a school year, I, like many others in Northwest Arkansas, wait for report cards. If you're like me, waiting is accompanied with a slight bit of anxiety because of the high expectations we place on our children. Too often this self-induced anxiety colors our interpretation to the point where we may lose a bit of perspective. And when we lose perspective, our perception can become a reality. The real picture requires more information than what is found in a single letter grade.
Report cards are important. But they are only one piece of information necessary to evaluate the performance of a child, or a school. In my own experience, I remember the righteous indignation boiling to the surface when I received a "C" on a report card. I sat in silence, but in my head, I mounted a vigorous argument as to the unfairness of the assessment. Only when I put the grade in context was I able to use the information to make improvements.
School districts across the state received their report cards this week. And our first response could be to lose perspective. But the reality is that these school report cards are a valuable piece of information. The school report cards reflect the reality of a transition that occurred in the past year. Last year was the first year a new, more rigorous online assessment was given to students. For many students accustomed to paper and pencil, this new format added a level of complexity to the process. We understood that, and prepared students accordingly. But we also have to balance preparation efforts with opportunities for experimenting, experiencing and exploring. Do we really want preparing for a test to be the only activity to engage students?
One letter grade does not tell the story of a student, school or district. The letter grade given schools in the Arkansas School Report Card was envisioned by legislators as a simple way to report the performance of a local school. But one letter grade does not tell the complete story. When we're assessing student learning, we never rely on a single assessment and the resulting grade as the only metric to evaluate learning. Many other nationally normed assessments, such as ACT, AP exams and Northwest Educational Association Measure of Academic Progress, are used to inform instructional delivery. A quality instructional program isn't supported only with these measures, but through the use of ongoing, authentic, timely evaluations by professional educators in the classroom to monitor student growth.
The Arkansas School Report Card provides valuable academic data about the performance of the diverse student populations in Northwest Arkansas. Each school's report reflects how well students in special education, English Language learners, and in the free and reduced-price lunch program are progressing. Information on graduation for all student populations is included. All this information is valuable when determining how best to meet the needs of students in our schools. This report card identifies areas where we need to improve.
What isn't reported is the dedication of professional teachers, instructional specialists, coaches and parents committed to supporting all students as they grow into citizens prepared for the real challenges of life in a complex world. The report card doesn't factor in the impact of student community service, or projects that find solutions to real problems in our community.
Bentonville and our partner districts throughout Northwest Arkansas strive for excellence. We want our students to succeed. We understand that success comes not from a single achievement, but as the result of a mindset focused on growth. The accountability systems that are in place support our growth as educators by providing insights into areas where we need to make improvements in delivery to best meet the needs of our students. As the superintendent of Bentonville Schools, I want to make sure that accountability is a vital part of our instructional delivery. Let's focus on the main reason for assessments, to make certain that the most precious community members -- our children -- receive the support they need to be successful in the long-term.
Let's not let one grade change the perception of our schools. The reality is we have exceptional learning environments across Northwest Arkansas and that every district is committed to excellence. A letter grade on a report card is not the end of the process, but a continuation of a process focused on students and providing them with the education they deserve. Let's not focus on a single mark on a report card and lose perspective, because it's so important to remember that a child is more than a test score, and a school is greater than the sum of its parts.
Commentary on 04/16/2016