The number of California students who cannot read is shocking. Results from the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress show that only 32% of fourth-graders are reading proficiently. These results put California below the national average and behind 25 other states. While the ranking is cause for concern, the difference in absolute...
These Valley Elementaries Are Among California's Best
Nineteen elementary schools from Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties are being honored as 2020 California Distinguished Schools for their outstanding education programs and practices by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Listen to this article: The schools were selected because they are closing achievement gaps among disadvantaged...
Clovis Unified Turns to i-Ready to Boost Elementary Math Education
A couple years ago Erin Parker and other Clovis Unified School District educators were looking for ways to boost English and math scores for students from disadvantaged communities. Their research turned up a lot of possibilities, but the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment stood out, the Fancher Creek Elementary principal recalled. "We...
Student Performance Lags on Nation’s Report Card
ATLANTA — America's eighth graders are falling behind in math and reading, while fourth graders are doing slightly better in reading, according to the latest results from the Nation's Report Card. But there were some exceptions to the findings, which also showed declines among fourth graders in math. Mississippi and the...
County Tops State Average in English, Math — if Fresno Unified Isn't Counted
Nearly three-fourths of Fresno County students scored above the state average on both English language arts and mathematics standardized tests last year. In fact, the same contingent of Fresno County students tested above the state average in English language arts for the past three years. Listen to this article: But...
Job One for Fresno Unified Bureaucracy? Self-Preservation.
The notion that Fresno Unified School District's mission is to educate and equip children to succeed as adults was shredded Thursday at Starr Elementary School. Rather than let Trustee Terry Slatic observe a meeting about how the district intends to improve classrooms for special education students, the district staff told...
Brooks Challenges Atkins for Area 4 Central Unified Seat
After unseating incumbent George Wilson Jr. in 2014, Richard Atkins will face off with Shawn Brooks for the Area 4 seat on the Central Unified School Board in the November election. Atkins ran as part of the "Four Horsemen" slate, which swept incumbents out of the Area 1, 2, 4, and...