#EducationReboot

This is a great question! You see, the No Child Left Act Behind act (NCLB) required states to adopt the same standards but, Race To The Top (RTTT) program does not. However, No Child Left Behind is not the policy that is active right now, it is Race To The Top that is currently active. No Child Left Behind was used as a foundation for Race To The Top. To answer your question, there has been a link between state tests causing exclusion in classrooms. In some public schools, the classes are divided into honor classes, Advanced Placement (AP), which are called “high level” classes or non-honors classes, which are “low level” classes. The students in “high level” classes are taught to think “outside of the box”. What I mean by this is that they are taught to participate in intellectual discussion. The way honors classes are being taught makes those students more college and career ready.  Students that are in honor classes or AP classes are more prepared for college because the workload in those classes are somewhat similar to college level. The books and assignments that are assigned are either close to or on college level.

 In comparison, students that are in “low level” classes which are most likely to be low socioeconomic students go at a slower pace and are more about test preparation. Since, these classes move at a slower pace less content gets covered. Therefore, students are not passing state tests because they were inadequately prepared. According to, “Academic Tracking, High-Stakes Tests, and Preparing Students for College: How Inequality Persists Within School” the author said, “…. the pressure to perform well on exams distracts teachers and students from focusing on activities that will foster academic preparation and college enrollment…” This means that students and teachers in “low level” classes are so focused on passing state tests that they do not prepare students for college. Preparing for college is helping students with the transition into college life. That means providing students with the tools to make the transition easier. Those tools can be the assignments, the books that are assigned to be read, discussions students participate in, things that can be used in college and in the future. Unlike “high level” classes, students in “low level” classes are not receiving assignments that make them think “outside of the box” and they are given workload similar to college. One of the goals of education reform policies is to prepare students for their future.  But, students in “low level” classes are not passing exams and are not being prepared for college. The students are so focused on preparing for what will be on state tests that they do not learn how to participate in a discussion or how to compose a professional email. How do we expect students to grow and be ready for the real world if they do not have the tools to grow?

 I know from experience about state tests causing exclusion and the result of it. I was an honor and AP student in high school and some of my friends were not. I read assigned books that prepare me for college because they had complex ideas and vocabulary that I see in writing pieces that I have read in college. The workload I had from my classes were similar to my college work load. That has helped me with my transition into college, I knew what it was like being up at 1 AM in the morning completing an assignment. The amount of workload in high school was not the same amount but I was used to it. I remember talking to my friends that weren’t in “high level” classes and they will always have less homework to do. They always were behind me on the learning content. When I talked to them now, they are having a hard time adjusting to the college workload.  I had a difficult time adjusting as well but once I got familiar to the workload it felt similar to high school. Now, everyone is different and this may not apply to you but, I do know that someone can relate to this topic.

 I raise this concern because the result of exclusion is the issue. The reason exclusion exists in public schools is because of state tests. Everyone should be allowed to have the same opportunities for a scholarship or any other educational opportunity. The classes that a student is enrolled in should have nothing to do with what is being taught or how content is being taught? Why should classes differ? If there is no need to separate students then, it shouldn’t happen. There are the same standards that are applied in a school for all students but, it is the way those standards are taught is the issue. State tests cause exclusion and exclusion results in affecting how low-income students  are performing on state tests. When these students do not pass, they do not graduate and move on. When the students do pass, they leave high school without the right tools for the real world. Education Reboot suggests that students be taught the same way. A way that promotes educational growth so every student has the same educational opportunities. Overall, preparing students to be college and career ready.

Transcript: 

Welcome listeners! This is the Education Reboot Podcast where we discuss education reform and how to make educational opportunities equal for all students in the United States. In this episode of our podcast, we will be addressing the naysayers of our mission. Before I start, I will love to say that everyone’s opinions are valid and that we want the best for our students in the United States. We do not wish to dismantle education reform policies but to revise them to make them better for the students, especially for the low-income students. Let’s get into our podcast:

         Today, I will be reading a letter from Susan Sclafani, she is the author of the Journal Article “No Child Left Behind” The letter reads:

Dear Education Reboot,

I love the mission of wanting to fix the education system within the United States. I hear your concern for the lack of resources students have to pass these exams but, the education reform policies take care of that by giving funds to public schools in the states. These funds can be used to increase salaries, hire more qualified teachers, have after school programs, or other resources that are needed. The funding is an award for public schools to improve their education system. The funding helps motivate school leaders to continue to do their best. I think No Child Left Behind is a great way of pushing our students and building up the economy.

Thank You,

Susan Sclafani

Thank You, Susan Sclafani for your letter and we hear your opinion. We here at Education Reboot do not disagree with your entire opinion, just part of it. We do acknowledge the fact that No Child Left Behind and Race To The Top both give funds to public schools. Therefore, these funds can be applied to help schools close the achievement gap between low socioeconomic and high socioeconomic students. We are appreciative of the government for giving funds to public schools in the United States. However, there are barriers low-income students face that prevent them from passing these state tests.        

         The state can have a say about what happens inside of schools but, how do they make sure students are learning as well during the outside of school hours. I know that the government gives funds to public schools but, how are those funds allocated? If given funds, these schools need a lot more to completely turn around their school system. Most of these schools are starting from the bottom, it’s going to take a while for massive changes to be seen. Back to the question about students receiving help during out of school hours. I raise this concern because at times students do not have the resources or support at home to be successful in school. Sometimes, high school students have jobs or have to look after their younger siblings or siblings. Also, straight from the authors of “Academic Achievement and Extracurricular School Activities of At-Risk High School Students”, Ryan Marchetti, Randal H. Wilson, and Mardis Dunham said that low-income students are not passing state tests and standardized testing because of the lack of support that is available. This is a result of low-income students that do not have support with their education from their parents because they are at work. That is why it is important for schools to have educational programs.

          I know that these education reform policies provide ways for educational programs to be in schools but some students cannot attend because like most high school students they have a job or a student has to take care of their family. Or, prior obligations to prevent them from attending educational programs. How do we make sure that students have the right tools to pass state tests? We can do that through having it to be required for public schools to have educational programs that can accommodate students to receive the support to pass state tests. These educational programs can be Saturday schools, summer school, or before-school programs. The authors of “Academic Achievement and Extracurricular School Activities of At-Risk High School Students' ' conducted an experiment to observe the effect extracurricular activities have on low-income students. Their findings were that students that came from a low socioeconomic household who meet reading and math benchmarks were likely to be involved in extracurricular activities such as educational programs. This goes to show educational programs are needed to make sure the goals that were set by the United States government to be accomplished 

         From my experience, I know that when I went to educational programs that were provided by my high school, I saw a change in my state test results. I completed my homework and received help on my homework as well. I used to hate my classes because I did not know how to do the homework so, when I went to my school’s educational programs, I received the help to understand my classes better. Therefore, I passed my state tests and I enjoyed my high school experience overall. I know other students in my school have had the same outcome as well. It goes to show that Educational Programs are very helpful. 

         Let’s go back to the funding of educational programs. How are schools getting the money? How long do students have to wait to see resources in their school? Like I said before, most schools need a lot to be done to even come close reaching their goals. We here at Education Reboot push for students, starting now to receive the help they need. I know that the No Child Left Behind act gave funding to schools that adopted their standards. But that is in the past. In the present, Race To The Top program only gives funding to schools that are finalists. I think that is a bit unfair, in my opinion. Every school that has low achievement data should receive funding. How does it all really work? Do all schools get the same amount of money? Does the runner up get half the amount the finalist did? What is it? There are so many questions and few answers. Like I said before, here at Education Reboot we want to see more effort from the government to ensure that all students in the UNITED STATES of America receive equal. Equal. educational opportunities. We love the education reform policies. It is true that there needs to be reformation within the education system but, there needs to be revising of these policies to make it more effective for the students & for the United States.

1) Build our community. We want to have anyone that is concern about low-income high school students involve in our mission. Help us spread our message to those that can make changes official. Remember, there is strength in numbers!

2) To build our community we need A.P. No, not Advanced Placement! It’s awareness & publicity. A.P means to bring awareness to our mission and to get attention. We need people to know about Education Reboot and how Education Reboot came about. We need people to know about our mission. When people are aware they are informed. When we have publicity we have the lights on us. When the lights are us we can more eyes to help our mission. 

3) Here at Education Reboot we want to hear your stories. How has state tests negatively affected you? How has state test benefited you? What are your opinions? We want to hear the good and bad. So, we can come together and help everyone. 

Hello, I am a 9th grade high school student in Detroit, Mi. I live with my mom, dad and three younger siblings. This is my day as an high school student living in Detroit, MI. I wake up and help my siblings get ready to go to school everyday because my mom is at work and my dad is sleeping. My dad works night shifts so he is always asleep by the time we get ready for school. Therefore, I prepare breakfast for my siblings and make sure they are all set to get on the bus. Then, I start my walk to school. I go to school and head to Algebra, my homeroom. I try to get there as fast as possible so I can get a calculator. Calculators are first come first serve basis. If there is not enough calculators people must pair up in groups to share a calculator. We have 30 students in our class and 18 calculators. So that means the first 10 have their own calculators and that leaves 8 is left. That is a group of two of four students sharing a calculator. That causes massive problems for the students' education.

These exams that the U.S government mandated us to do is taking a toll on the students and schools. The goal of state tests is to improve students in their academics. I get it. It's an important goal to have. I am all for preparing the students to be the future of America but that only happens when the right tools are available. The limited quantity of calculators in my high school does not help achieve that goal. In class, some students are in groups therefore, they still do not know how to operate a calculator. Sometimes in class, students rely on others to help get them the answer and they have no knowledge on how to independently operate a calculator. We have to pass these test by ourselves, there is no help from our teachers and peers. So, when it is test taking time these students have no clue how to use the calculator to perform well on the test. How do we fix this?

I did my own research on calculators on the local library computers and I realized calculators are expensive. I thought to myself maybe I can use the same ones we use in class but for myself. No way! My parents can not afford something like that. I am not the only person in need in my household so, the chance of obtaining a calculator is looking very slim. The students in my city do not have the luxury of buying fancy calculators for ourselves. Life as it is is hard to get by. I will just have to continue to wake up early to rush to homeroom and get a calculator.