News
The Ohio Department of Education wants revisions to Youngstown Board of Education academic plan
The Ohio Department of Education sent a letter to the Youngstown School board saying it must increase minimum academic targets for students and long term academic goals.
The Ohio Department of Education sent a letter to the Youngstown School board saying it must increase minimum academic targets for students and long term academic goals.
An advocate for academic excellence of students tells 21 News that's not surprising.
On Wednesday the board took action to increase academic targets and time frames.
Prior to the state's action some education groups questioned how a school board finds a goal acceptable of 20 percent of students performing at their grade level in three years.
"There are almost 2,000 students in math at the F level in the Youngstown School District," said Jimma McWilson, President of the Community Oversight Education Task Force.
"What is that telling the city, we are going to continue to send uneducated people out into the community that are not qualified, with a poor education, to live in a poor community, possibly get a poor job, and to keep the cycle going," emphasized McWilson,
He asks why Steubenville with a 100% poverty rate can educate students to an A and B level while spending $7,500 per student per year, while Youngstown spends $12,400 per student.
McWilson said, "For $12,000 you can go to YSU."
"People say we can't afford it, we're a poor community. They have $22 million more coming. That money needs to be spend on education of the kids or wrap around services to help students learn," said McWilson.
McWilson emphasized the district has spent three billion dollars over the last 22 years on a school district that fails students.
On Wednesday the board increased proficiency in math and other categories to pre-pandemic levels of 2018 and 2019.
Youngstown School Board President Ronald Shadd tells 21 News proficiency in math is so low the goal was a realistic one set just to help the district gain back local control.
"No one is trying to take the easy way out, either the students achieve, or we revert back to H.B. 70. We want the best for our students," said Shadd.
The board president tells us less money has been spent in the classrooms since a CEO take over mandated by the Ohio legislature.
Shadd said, "The board's vision and goal once we have control is to put more money into classroom instruction, give teachers more support, give students wrap around services they need. We need to make sure we are a student centered district and the dollars are shifted in a way that impacts students learning."
"Giving anyone total control of a community organization is not a good thing. You need oversight, along with checks and balances said," Shadd.
Shadd added, "We have been asking for accountability in finances to ensure there is money to put in the classroom. The last number I had was in 2019-2020 and we had spent over $13 million less in classroom instruction, and that can be verified by the state report card under H.B. 70."
Prior to the state's action some education groups questioned how a school board finds a goal acceptable of 20 percent of students performing at their grade level in three years.
"There are almost 2,000 students in math at the F level in the Youngstown School District," said Jimma McWilson, President of the Community Oversight Education Task Force.
"What is that telling the city, we are going to continue to send uneducated people out into the community that are not qualified, with a poor education, to live in a poor community, possibly get a poor job, and to keep the cycle going," emphasized McWilson,
He asks why Steubenville with a 100% poverty rate can educate students to an A and B level while spending $7,500 per student per year, while Youngstown spends $12,400 per student.
McWilson said, "For $12,000 you can go to YSU."
"People say we can't afford it, we're a poor community. They have $22 million more coming. That money needs to be spend on education of the kids or wrap around services to help students learn," said McWilson.
McWilson emphasized the district has spent three billion dollars over the last 22 years on a school district that fails students.
On Wednesday the board increased proficiency in math and other categories to pre-pandemic levels of 2018 and 2019.
Youngstown School Board President Ronald Shadd tells 21 News proficiency in math is so low the goal was a realistic one set just to help the district gain back local control.
"No one is trying to take the easy way out, either the students achieve, or we revert back to H.B. 70. We want the best for our students," said Shadd.
The board president tells us less money has been spent in the classrooms since a CEO take over mandated by the Ohio legislature.
Shadd said, "The board's vision and goal once we have control is to put more money into classroom instruction, give teachers more support, give students wrap around services they need. We need to make sure we are a student centered district and the dollars are shifted in a way that impacts students learning."
"Giving anyone total control of a community organization is not a good thing. You need oversight, along with checks and balances said," Shadd.
Shadd added, "We have been asking for accountability in finances to ensure there is money to put in the classroom. The last number I had was in 2019-2020 and we had spent over $13 million less in classroom instruction, and that can be verified by the state report card under H.B. 70."
