Pop Quiz
Q: How can YOU help to improve local public schools?
A: Participate in Education Study Circles!
Memphis and Shelby County Schools’ officials recently announced that new common standards have been introduced to determine the proficiency level of Tennessee students. District leaders are also engaging in community outreach activities, including parent forums and media appearances to prepare residents for the impact that these standards will have on performance reports for children in our community.
In the busy lives that we all lead, it’s understandable if you are not particularly concerned with the district’s results or initiatives to increase student achievement. I know, I know. It’s not that you don’t care but you are tired of hearing about the poor statistics that plague our city. And at this point, you are only interested in learning about solutions that will help to address the challenges in our community. Even still, the task to make certain that all students excel academically seems hopeless.
Well bear with me if you will for a quick round of Q&A as it relates to public education in Memphis. Later, we will review an opportunity for YOU to take personal action by joining a collaborative community effort to help ensure that all children succeed.
Hint: You do not have to be a parent or teacher to participate.
OK, let’s get started.
Q: What is the percentage of MCS graduates that are prepared to attend college according to ACT readiness results?
A: 5%
While this statistic alone is daunting, there are other challenges that we face as a community. Local perception of public schools is poor, funding disputes loom, and low performance reports overshadow the positive things that are happening in our public school district.
But there is good news to share: MCS is on the brink of transformation and we can play an active role in the process. Local and national leaders are now standing together to ensure that high quality education is available and accessible for all students. The challenges that we’re confronting in our community are great, but with increased support from our residents we can improve our schools and ultimately build a stronger Memphis.
Q: Why should we care? What is our obligation to other people’s children?
A: These are questions that Stand for Children and Common Ground are working to address in a series of conversations focused on public education that are being held this fall. Dialogue-to-action Education Study Circles are taking place city-wide to help participants understand why we as individuals and as a community have a responsibility to support public education. A number of topics are being explored, including the state of MCS, new achievement standards for students, benefits of investing in education and opportunities to engage in reform initiatives that are sweeping the nation. With improvement efforts like the Teacher Effectiveness Initiative (TEI) underway on the local front and Race to the Top funding secured, now more than ever community support is needed to make the vision for public education in Memphis a reality. Even if you do not have school-age children or any children at all, the opportunity to take part in this discussion is absolutely unique.
Q: What happens to public education without community support? What happens to communities without quality public schools?
A: Research shows that the impact on cities with low performing school districts is devastating. Investment in public education is a shared community commitment that residents must value to help ensure a positive future for our students, our citizens and our nation.
Education Study Circles provide an opportunity for Mid-South residents to work together proactively to improve our local public education system. Participants engage in small group, peer-led discussions over a five-week period that will spark ideas for positive change. The process is designed for the dialogue to lead to action. Study Circles members spend time learning about education challenges while also identifying ways that they can work individually and collectively to provide solutions. In the final week, all participants join each other in attending an Education Action Forum. There, participants adopt a collective vision that puts education first and also commit to support public education by pledging to remain engaged and involved in efforts to improve our schools. Additionally, participants solidify action plans to bolster overall community involvement and support for public education reform. Each group is encouraged to think broadly and establish specific and measurable action steps that are all aimed at increasing student achievement.
Q: Why should we participate in Education Study Circles?
A: Memphis is currently recognized as Ground Zero for urban education reform. If we succeed as a community in enhancing our public education system it will lead to greater success in increasing our college attainment rates, ensuring our students are prepared to enter the workforce and ready to compete in a global economy. The impact that positive changes and improvements in our public schools will have on the progress of our city is evident.
Low graduation and high drop-out rates among a school population can directly contribute to increases in juvenile delinquency, crime and also advance the cycles of poverty that exist in various communities.
The college readiness statistic noted above should be nothing short of alarming for anyone interested in the future of Memphis and Shelby County. Residents must take ownership now in the change happening in our public school districts and advocate for long-term improvements that will be sustained. Participation in Education Study Circles can provide the foundation for residents concerned about the future of our community to stand on and work to address challenges that affect the lives of children.
There is still time to register for the Education Study Circles session that begins on Thursday, October 21. Sign up today and invite your friends to join you in taking action to help improve our public schools!
Complete registration details may be found at www.educationstudycircles.org.
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To learn more about the work of Stand for Children, visit www.stand.org. For more information on Common Ground, go to www.commongroundmemphis.org
