A whopping 76 percent of South Carolina public schools (831 out of 1,037) failed to make adequate yearly progress during the 2010-11 academic year, according to data released this week by the Center on Education Policy.
The Palmetto State ranks 46th nationally among the 50 states – and is one of only five states in which more than three-quarters of public schools failed to make the grade.
Across the country, 48 percent of public schools – or 43,738 out of 90,695 – failed to make adequate yearly progress, an academic benchmark that was included in the federal government’s 2001 “No Child Left Behind” legislation.
This abysmal data is consistent with South Carolina’s plummeting SAT scores, atrocious graduation rate and stagnating NAEP scores.
It also explains why a recent list of the nation’s 100 worst public schools included thirty-seven schools located within our state’s borders.
Most depressing from a taxpayer perspective, the data comes as S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and Republican lawmakers appropriated yet another record-setting amount of funding for “public education.”
During the 2010-11 school year, taxpayers spent a record $11,140 per child – not counting income from local bond revenue, investments, and transfers between funds and government agencies (which would have added another $1,500 to the total). This year, that figure has risen to $11,754 – again, not counting bonds, investments and transfers.
Also, this mountain of new money comes on top of back-to-back years of record funding increases (here and here). And not only that, school districts are ripping off even more money from local businesses thanks to an ill-advised 2006 “tax swap …” even as they’ve squirreled away $763.7 million into their “reserve” accounts.
What has all that money produced? Abject failure …
According to the latest “Diplomas Count” report – released in June by Education Week – only 58.6 percent of South Carolina high school students graduate on time. That’s the second-lowest rate in the entire nation (trailing only New Mexico) and is well below the national average of 71.7 percent.
Meanwhile, according to the College Board – which administers the SAT – public school students in the Palmetto state scored a composite 1,427 (out of 2,400) on this year’s test – a 12-point decline from last year’s results. Nationwide, public school scores dropped by 10 points – meaning the Palmetto state is once again falling further behind the rest of America (which itself is falling further behind the rest of the world).
Also, according to the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – a.k.a. “The Nation’s Report Card” – South Carolina student performance on math and reading exams was statistically no different this year than it was in 2009. However, fourth graders in the Palmetto State saw their reading scores decline. As a result, a whopping 39 percent of fourth-graders in South Carolina now score below basic proficiency in reading.
Despite these depressing numbers, S.C. lawmakers refused to even consider a universal parental choice bill that would have provided options for all students while subjecting our dumbed down public schools to some real accountability for a change – the accountability of the marketplace.
(To read more about this legislation, click here).
Every year the data on South Carolina’s public schools gets worse … and yet every year the only answer offered by our “Republican-controlled” S.C. General Assembly is to pump more tax dollars into this failed “one size fits all model.”
It is well past time that we give the children of this state some real “hope” and “change” – by giving parents real choices. Our state simply cannot continue down its current path and expect to be competitive in a 21st century economy …
(To read more about the 2010-11 AYP data, click on either of the links below …)
CENTER ON EDUCATION POLICY PRESS RELEASE
CENTER ON EDUCATION POLICY REPORT
By Anonymous December 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I may be wrong about this, but from what I recall, individual states are allowed to set their own benchmarks for AYP. The federal government then enforces sanctions.
Because South Carolina employed very high standards, the state’s AYP is not as high as it could be. Other states are now beginning to set tough standards because the goal of NCLB is 100 percent performance by 2014 in all student groups. States are able to set their own yearly achievement goals, and many set low goals for the first ten years (meaning they must now have high goals until 2014).
It’s reall the NAEP scores that matter.
By Art G. December 15, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Several different issues here.
States set the test, the standards and the time frame for rising standards….
SC had a bad test (PACT) content wise and recently lowered it to one of the weakest tests in the nation (PASS).
SC has a standard system that grades in broad groups, not narrow categories, ensuring more kids meet minimum thresholds.
SC also, and this was the work of SCASA, SCSBA, EOC, and the Legislature, gamed the system with a phase in that worsened the problem… That is what “Anonymous” seems to be thinking of, but misses the larger point of the content of what is being test and how rigorously the test is being graded.
By Skidmarks December 15, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Bottom line: We have lots of dumb kids.
By Tunes'n'news December 15, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Choice? Only 5-10% of parents tops would care or take steps to move their kids. It is no cure-all. Frankly, richer types would be more likely to use it than the poorer, whether urban or rural. And the richer ones are doing generally fine education wise anyway in this state. Parents are more invovled, kids graduate, etc. The problems with education results are vast and systemic to the state, and extend well beyond the public education system. I’m not oposed to some choice, but it won’t begin to solve deep problems.
By johnb December 15, 2011 at 2:32 pm
I need to look at this in a new light.
So many dumb kids make my kids look smarter.
By Shadow December 15, 2011 at 2:44 pm
They have been this way for years. The only people that are really shocked are those who know very little about anything or a politician trying to gain votes.
By Stephan December 15, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Why the outrage. Not to worry – Nikki’s spin machine will wash it all away.
By BigT December 15, 2011 at 3:05 pm
If you were able to remove ALL democrat-voting school districts from the statistics, South Carolina would rank near the top of the Nation…
But when you have districts where teen-mothers are the norm for generations, and free lunch is a “right” and a source of pride – not a temporary remedy- the kids are doomed to cylical poverty…and they perpetuate it by voting democrat…
Classic Catch 22:
Until the democrat party wants to educate its voters, it is not likley to change.
But if you educate them, they will not vote for the failure that democrats bring anymore.
That said: I’ve told you more about the Reality of Education in SC than FITS could if he wrote a book…
As long as Dumbasses (like FITS) are the doctors, the disease will rule…
By toyota kawaski December 15, 2011 at 4:18 pm
BRAVO! BRAVO! well said T
By Skidmarks December 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Well, Buttface, only 30% of voters in SC are registered Democrats.
By Common Sense December 15, 2011 at 6:30 pm
skidmarks: facts, truth and common sense have absolutely no bearing in Ts mind, its strictly “us” vs. “them” Big T mindset is strictly: “i dont remember a single bad thing a Repub has done but i think it was a democrat who killed Jesus” that simple minded mentality..the blinders are so closed its sad. even more sad is this sad little man has been this full of hate for 14 years on websites posting crazy “I hate half of America” crap..14 sad lonely years, no pay, no respect…roflma..
By hhuuhh?? December 15, 2011 at 3:05 pm
If you read anything from out of state, it’s obvious education is a national problem.
To play up the AYP is to be completely disingenuous. It was known from the beginning of NCLB that the goal of perfection was unattainable and scores would be worse closer to the deadline.
Where’s your ad for the SC Virtual School? Is it part of the company that NYT and WaPo ran stories on this week? The one where the CEO makes $5 M enrolling kids who drop out almost as fast as they drop in…all of it from taxpayer money funneled through the Charter scam. NYT had a picture of the guy with his kid. A reader said the kid attends the same school in Washington with the Obama girls. Dad’s not good enough?
By eggaday December 15, 2011 at 3:36 pm
why didn’t howie rich write this?
By FunkyChicken December 15, 2011 at 4:10 pm
He did write this. Willie does not have original thoughts.
By toyota kawaski December 15, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Yeasir Mr.Rich may i have another! Yesir’s Mr rich i love the new hair after all it was mine now its ours.
By BigT December 15, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Bad lifestyles and immoral choices lead to failure. And that applies to a child’s education, too…
On this site I’ve seen FITS, a married man w/ children bragging, publically about a long-ago sexual “conquest”…
Like it or not, a lot of these children suffer, and struggle in school, because of irresponsible and immature parents…
Liberals HATE Natural laws (like the one that allows for creation between opposite sexes, only)…
Natural law also mandates that children will suffer at the hands of selfish and unaccontable parents… And as long as those poor parents can blame the MAN and money….and the parents are not called out, why would you expect it to get better???
By Common Sense December 15, 2011 at 6:32 pm
some day if you ever have sex T..you can brag about too and be like your buddy Fits..some day..some…..day….
By guero December 15, 2011 at 6:39 pm
little bitty tea bagger is a cross dressing dyke.
Billy Folks should wipe his chin after servicing Uncle Howie.
By BigT December 15, 2011 at 7:35 pm
I just hope you 2 don’t have children…
If you do, I think you contribute a lot to understanding the education and character problem we have in SC…
With adults like these (I’m being loose w/ the word) any wonder some of our children perform in school as they do???
By Heather December 16, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Um…. I went to that list of the 100 worst schools…. and there are 73 SC schools on there. Is someone dyslexic, or just educated in SC?!