A Literal Decline in Dekalb

I just read an article on the recently released Georgia Milestone test scores. The results revealed that DeKalb County schools showed improvement in math scores across the board, while unfortunately, reading scores saw significant declines versus the previous year. Being the analyst at heart, the question is, what could be the root cause of this alarming trend? 

Many point to cell phones and social media as major distractions that are commanding the attention of students and impacting performance. Although the argument is valid, in my opinion, it is incomplete. Given the scores from the previous years, this is more of a trend than it is a surprising result. The data confirms what’s happening, but data should also drive solutions. Based on the article, it was more about celebrating the improved math scores than addressing the cause for concern. I get it, I guess. Accentuate the positive. 

Still the fact remains that it may be time for individual schools to set their own strategies for improvement and not rely on any district-wide initiative to begin strategizing more aggressively to address this problem. One thought is maybe schools should consider integrating targeted tutoring within the school day itself. For example, allowing a student to attend a tutoring session 1-2 times a week. I understand that this would mean they would miss a lesson or two for another class, but it could provide the critical reinforcement needed in areas where they’re struggling. This would require a shift in how the schools typically operate, but clearly, the traditional model isn’t working if scores continue to decline or show no significant improvement. 

The real issue may not be the curriculum at all. Declining test scores may reflect a deeper societal issue. It is not uncommon to encounter adults who are reluctant to engage with text beyond a few short sentences, so perhaps these student results are just a mirror of a much broader reality. Ultimately, if literacy rates continue to decline amongst our students, the costs will be measured not only in test scores but in missed opportunities. Addressing this problem requires creativity, urgency, and the willingness of educators and parents to rethink their long-standing educational models. 

AP

Data source: Decaturish.com