The Denial of School Transfers in Berkeley County
The Berkeley County School District is considering delaying the transfer of students from "failing schools" to better performing schools. Why? Because according to the school officials, "they are fearful of a mass exodus of students and the disruption of the system". Under the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Law, a parent has the right to transfer their child to a better performing school, if their child's school fails to meet "adequate yearly progress". How dare the Berkeley County School District, have the audacity to deny poor and minority children the right to excercise their "choice options" under the guidelines of a federal law? Once again, this is another example in South Carolina of parents being denied the right to excercise "educational freedom".
How can the state of South Carolina create a system whereas students who are trapped in failing schools, and being denied access to better performing schools achieve their true potential? The answer is simple: Offer tutition assistance to foster greater student participation; by providing financial assistance to families and students for private and parochial K-12 schools and public and private postsecondary institutions, our state can make additional options available to students. These schools and institutions can be an important source of alternative high-quality providers for students in failing schools as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. If the state of South Carolina used tuition assistance, it would encourage more students to participate in educational options, and ultimately reduce the dropout rate and improve graduation rates.
The Berkeley County School District officials should consider, or better yet, provide high-quality choice options for the students who attend schools identified as "in need of improvement" instead of "delaying transfers". I detest playing the "race card", but I wonder how many of those schools in Berkeley County that are "failing" have high percentages of minority students?
Do the school officials in Berkeley County School District realize that the No Child Left Behind Act, codified the need for high-quality options that require school districts to make options available to students who attend schools identified as "in need of improvement"? This should be the task of the district to provide those options, and increase the supply of higher-performing schools from which families can choose.
Dr. Taliaferro
Note: Black Perspectives will have guest writers during the week of September 24-October 1st.
How can the state of South Carolina create a system whereas students who are trapped in failing schools, and being denied access to better performing schools achieve their true potential? The answer is simple: Offer tutition assistance to foster greater student participation; by providing financial assistance to families and students for private and parochial K-12 schools and public and private postsecondary institutions, our state can make additional options available to students. These schools and institutions can be an important source of alternative high-quality providers for students in failing schools as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. If the state of South Carolina used tuition assistance, it would encourage more students to participate in educational options, and ultimately reduce the dropout rate and improve graduation rates.
The Berkeley County School District officials should consider, or better yet, provide high-quality choice options for the students who attend schools identified as "in need of improvement" instead of "delaying transfers". I detest playing the "race card", but I wonder how many of those schools in Berkeley County that are "failing" have high percentages of minority students?
Do the school officials in Berkeley County School District realize that the No Child Left Behind Act, codified the need for high-quality options that require school districts to make options available to students who attend schools identified as "in need of improvement"? This should be the task of the district to provide those options, and increase the supply of higher-performing schools from which families can choose.
Dr. Taliaferro
Note: Black Perspectives will have guest writers during the week of September 24-October 1st.
posted by Dr. Taliaferro at 6:06 AM
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