Tougher state testing standards are a reason more students are being retained
in middle school, Johnston County Schools' superintendent says.
In part,
that has resulted in about 50 students who are 16 years old or older in the
county's 10 middle schools.
And it's a concern for both parents and
school leaders who say more needs to be done to help these students be promoted
to high school.
Right now, there's no state age limit for grades, and
school officials say they struggle with how to respond.
"What we've got
to do is provide additional resources, if you will, and additional strategies to
address the needs of the students," Superintendent Dr. Anthony Parker
said.
Pushing failing students forward or holding them back can increase
their chances of dropping out, education advocates say.
"We want to be
proactive in our efforts to make sure that parents do (get involved) and the
school system, as well, provide the resources so that children are not
retained," said education advocate Calla Wright. "Because it does, indeed, have
a negative impact."
Parker agrees. He says keeping students up to date
with schoolwork is a big part of the solution.
"The key for us is looking
at how we add time to the school year and how we add time to the school day to
help these students," he said.
Johnston County is adding evening and
summer programs for struggling students and might add more resources this
spring.
Other school systems are facing the same challenge.
For
example, Wake County Public Schools, which has 56 students who are 16 or older,
is in its second year of a pilot program to address the issue.
The
program, called Boosters, helps older eighth-graders get caught up so that when
they get into ninth grade, they are at the same level academically.
At
the school level, principals have flexibility in how they offer assistance to
students.
Parents are also concerned about how older students might
influence other students. A Duke University study shows there are more behavior
problems among average-aged students when they're in class with the older
ones.
"Why are they not being educated in a high-school setting?" one
parent asked. ""Our concern is what type of influence will the older children
have on the age-appropriate middle schoolers?"
She did not want to be
identified for fear her child could suffer backlash at a middle school where
older students attend.
"The school system is doing a disservice to the
kids who are being held back, as well as the age appropriate kids," she
said.
Reporter: Kelcey
Carlson
Photographer: Terry
Cantrell
Web Editor: Kelly
Gardner
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