Cleveland schools:  Where credit is due

Vouchers have dominated recent headlines when it comes to Cleveland schools. But there is another story worth reporting--one that should give heart to anyone who thinks urban public schools are worth saving.

Last fall, Cleveland fourth graders posted dramatic improvements on reading proficiency tests. The percentage of students passing state proficiency exams grew from 25 percent in 1998 to 40 percent. Few, if any, other urban districts can boast reading gains of this magnitude. And the results show "what financial stability, experienced teachers and cooperative efforts with parents can do for student achievement," says Richard DeColibus, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union.

The union recognizes that much remains to be done--in two years, all fourth-grade students throughout the state will be required to pass the exams for promotion. Nevertheless, the heartening improvement in student test scores to date also is cause for celebration, believes CTU, which held a series of events throughout the community celebrating the success. Not only did these events offer educators and students some well-deserved recognition, they also helped build the bond between parents and school staff that can help make future gains possible, says Michael Charney, CFT issues director.

Among the reasons he cites for the improvement are implementation of academic improvement plans at elementary schools across the city and a 10 percent increase in state funding that has allowed each school to hire a new reading specialist and paraprofessional.

Light under a bushel

CFT makes no apologies for generating attention about reading gains in public schools. That type of encouraging news is often lost in the district, which continues to be embroiled in controversy surrounding its state-imposed voucher program.

Prospects for vouchers were dealt another setback when a federal judge ruled late last year that the program amounted to government support of religion. District court judge Solomon Oliver Jr. issued a 63-page decision warning that the five-year-old program, which offers state-funded vouchers of up to $2,500 that families may use to pay private school tuition, had "the effect of advancing religion through government-sponsored religious indoctrination."

The decision stressed that religious schools constitute more than 80 percent of schools participating in the Cleveland voucher program, and more than 95 percent of voucher students attend religious schools.

The AFT and its affiliates joined a coalition of parents, education and civic groups that challenged the voucher program in court on First Amendment grounds. "This is an opportunity to refocus effort and attention on all 80,000 Cleveland public school students and to expand programs there that are showing great promise," said AFT president Sandra Feldman following the decision.

American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO - 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 20001