100% Proficiency of all RI fourth graders: What will it
take?
A Statewide Analysis
IV. Strong Community Support Networks
» Teachers Can Not Shoulder the Full Responsibility for Education by Themselves
» Moving Towards Strong Community Support for RI Children
» Forging Stronger Partnerships with Parents
Teachers Can Not Shoulder the Full Responsibility for Education by Themselves
Teaching to the increasingly high standards set not merely by the state, but by global competitiveness, is a complex, demanding task unto itself. Teachers can not possibly make up for the social deficiencies in a child’s life while trying to impart the intricacies of math or social studies. Increasingly agencies outside of the immediate realm of schools, but working closely with them must shoulder the burden of improving the indicators noted in the previous section. Again, the Children’s Cabinet is actively weaving a web of support, but their work is by no means complete nor should the Cabinet be the only external network.
Moving Towards Strong Community Support for RI Children
Child Opportunity Zones (COZ) Family Centers—Community-based, School-linked Support
COZs Family Centers are located at or very near a school where they can provide families with access to coordinated education, health and social services. COZs provide the one-stopping for a wide range of information that supports children and their families. These services include adult concerns such as GED or ESL classes, computer skills training and parenting workshops. COZs also provide access to children’s services, like homework clubs, counseling and immunization clinics. Families with very young children can find lead poisoning prevention education and screening, pre-school programs and home visiting programs. Each COZ is staffed by a Coordinator who builds community partnerships and helps families negotiate a complex system of school, community and state service systems.
Currently, RI has 13 communities participating in the COZ initiative, serving over 30 schools. Providence has 5 COZs and also has a network of 24 Parents Making A Difference Centers, which focus on parent involvement in neighborhood schools and with their own child’s education.
The COZ and other family center initiatives need continued and increased support, both from their host communities and from the more effective integration of the state and local social services systems. These centers provide the infrastructure of support for children and families so that all children come to school ready to learn and so that teachers and school personnel can focus on their primary mission—teaching so that all children experience academic success.
Forging Stronger Partnerships with Parents
One of the most startling findings of the SALT Survey is that RI’s parents appear to be a large untapped resource for supporting improved student achievement. Clearly, as students grow older, they tend to resist having their parents directly involved with their school. But schools need to encourage all parents, including those of teenagers, to be involved with their child’s education, in spite of the child’s qualms. At all levels of RI’s school systems, parents report that they are willing and eager to give more time to helping their children if only they knew what to do.
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