York Prep Weighs in on New Academic Achievement Standards in Virginia

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 04, 2012

An article in the Huffington Post reports the state of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Education have agreed to modify the state's standards for testing. The agreement comes after Virginia came under fire for a number of unfair academic achievement standards. The announcement warranted comment from the co-founders of York Prep, a preparatory school for New York City students in grades six through 12.

In the piece, the Huffington Post asserts the U.S. Department of Education presently allows schools to set academic standards according to the baselines set for differing groups of students. This means students who have the most progress to make can have a higher achievement standard than those students who are already achieving at high levels. In effect, the differing standards help to lessen the chasm between low-performing and high-performing students.

On the other hand, Virginia's standards were in direct opposition with the federal requirement. Underperforming students in Virginia's schools were held to standards less than those of their higher-performing peers. It is believed this contradiction hindered the improvement of students already performing at lesser levels.

Headmaster Ronald Stewart and College Counselor Jayme Stewart, co-founders of York Prep, offer, "In this, the solution ventures into the Administration's acceptance that different standards apply to different groups. That leads to generational stagnation and not to improvement. It leads to the hopelessness that is seen in too many schools. The key is real accountability for improvement. Not adjustable standards but demands that all students achieve a certain degree of proficiency."

What is more, the article goes on to state the new standards necessitate schools offer help to those students who need it the most. A letter from the U.S. Department of Education to the Virginia Superintendent of Schools, Patricia Wright, also summarized the standards under No Child Left Behind were also flexible.

"No Child Left Behind had excellent goals," said Ronald and Jayme Stewart. "The way it worked out was not the best, but the idea was right. All groups of students are entitled and deserve to be taught to a common standard. And where this is not happening, extra resources should be provided. At the moment, because of the way schools are funded, it is actually the reverse. Low income areas have less per student educational funding than high income areas. It has nothing to do with race and everything to do with poverty."

ABOUT:

York Prep is a private school dedicated to providing children in grades six through 12 educations that enhance their academic skills and prepare them for college. The school currently enrolls 350 students and offers a variety of courses geared towards the strengths of each student. This unique view on curriculum creates a strong learning environment to help students meet their full potential. Ronald and Jayme Stewart, the Headmaster and College Counselor, respectively, founded the school.

To learn more about York Prep, visit www.yorkprep.org.