OGT News: Cleveland schools prepping students for OGT
An article in the Plain Dealer on February 20 noted that school officials are trying a new tactic to up Ohio Graduation Test scores in the Cleveland City School District and position the district for a ballot initiative in the near future.
The new tactic is home visits to the 4,000 high school sophomores in the district who will be taking the OGT starting March 12. On February 27 and March 3, teachers, administrators and a fleet of volunteers will drop off OGT practice questions and test-taking tips at 10th graders' homes and, hopefully, get a few minutes of "face time" with parents about the importance of passing the OGT this year.
They are stressing the fact that beginning this spring, Ohio seniors cannot receive diplomas unless they pass all five parts of the OGT - reading, writing, science, math and social studies. This year's sophomores will get a few additional shots at the OGT if they fail to pass the test on first attempt, but the first try is key.
A 24-hour district hotline is also available to parents and students who have questions about the upcoming test.
Cleveland schools have consistently lagged on all levels of testing and have struggled to meet the state's academic benchmarks and standards. District officials have also hinted that a tax levy may be in the immediate future.
Reaction to the planned home visits has been interesting. A visit to the reader blog linked to the story found mostly applause for the personal effort, but fumed at its necessity.
"So, it's come to this," one blogger said. "Since parents won't go to schools, the schools must come to the parents."
Additional bloggers scolded district parents for being "too busy" to take an interest in their kids' educations and found it "frustrating" that parents don't seem to care.
"It's everyone's fault," another noted.
The new tactic is home visits to the 4,000 high school sophomores in the district who will be taking the OGT starting March 12. On February 27 and March 3, teachers, administrators and a fleet of volunteers will drop off OGT practice questions and test-taking tips at 10th graders' homes and, hopefully, get a few minutes of "face time" with parents about the importance of passing the OGT this year.
They are stressing the fact that beginning this spring, Ohio seniors cannot receive diplomas unless they pass all five parts of the OGT - reading, writing, science, math and social studies. This year's sophomores will get a few additional shots at the OGT if they fail to pass the test on first attempt, but the first try is key.
A 24-hour district hotline is also available to parents and students who have questions about the upcoming test.
Cleveland schools have consistently lagged on all levels of testing and have struggled to meet the state's academic benchmarks and standards. District officials have also hinted that a tax levy may be in the immediate future.
Reaction to the planned home visits has been interesting. A visit to the reader blog linked to the story found mostly applause for the personal effort, but fumed at its necessity.
"So, it's come to this," one blogger said. "Since parents won't go to schools, the schools must come to the parents."
Additional bloggers scolded district parents for being "too busy" to take an interest in their kids' educations and found it "frustrating" that parents don't seem to care.
"It's everyone's fault," another noted.
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