Looking ahead to a successful school year
August 4, 2016 by Las Vegas Black Image Magazine
Filed under Community
BY DR. MIKE BARTON
Students in the Clark County School District are poised for an incredible year of learning.
The 2016-17 school year is expected to be an excellent one for students in the Clark County School District. We all know that closing student achievement gaps quickly will positively impact Southern Nevada, our city, and future opportunities for students’ success.
The Victory School initiative began with great success nearly one year ago. The components inherent in the Victory School legislation have helped pave a path to success in participating schools. Monthly assessment benchmarks have increased for most Victory Schools, and school leaders, alongside teachers and staff, have exhibited a sense of urgency to rapidly change school results.
Great work is occurring in the CCSD Victory Schools. Additionally, the Read by Grade Three initiative focuses on one of the most important skills a student learns at home and in school: learning to read proficiently. Students who read below grade level at the third grade point of their educational career are more likely to drop out of school, demonstrate higher absenteeism, and misbehave in school at higher rates.
Work coordinated between the Nevada Department of Education and the Clark County School District ensures that all kindergarten through third grade students have a literacy plan, a heightened plan to communicate with parents in the event that a child is not at the reading level they need to be, and multiple interventions at schools to assist with improving reading skills.
Parents are encouraged to discuss all matters with teachers or principals. The District is here to serve you. A partnership between parents/guardians and school personnel is vital for the future of success of students. We are committed to that partnership.
Dr. Mike Barton is Chief Student Achievement Officer for the Clark County School District.