| Schools around the nation are looking for ways to | | | | passed the maximum class size requirement, and |
| improve student performance in light of stricter state | | | | schools are required to comply, it's not easy to do. |
| and national standards. The Tampa Schools in Florida | | | | Many of the Tampa Schools needed to add portables, |
| have been forced to make changes. But maybe that's | | | | hire extra teachers, or create team teaching groups to |
| not such a bad thing. One of the changes that Tampa | | | | get sizes down. But this is all done with the kids in mind. |
| Schools will see in fall of 2007 is a change in the start | | | | And even teachers who gripe about being set out in a |
| of the school year. While most of the country doesn't | | | | portable trailer don't usually argue the merits of smaller |
| go back to school until after Labor Day, Tampa | | | | class sizes on student achievement. Here's the real |
| Schools (like all Florida Schools) are used to starting | | | | problem. Whether in the Tampa Schools or anywhere |
| school in early August. Being the tourist state that it is, | | | | else, the kids who are struggling are the lower income |
| Florida Schools have tried to arrange a schedule | | | | students, and they are often minorities. That's why the |
| different from the flock of tourist crowds. But the | | | | achievement gap in the Tampa Schools has gotten |
| schedule had some problems. Families in the Tampa | | | | such attention. But of course it makes sense that less |
| Schools complained that the early August start date | | | | educated parents with less money/time, are going to |
| wasn't reasonable. Ever been in Tampa in August? | | | | have children who struggle. So every time I hear |
| Not the best time for sitting in a crowded classroom | | | | someone quote a study on the correlation between |
| and trying to concentrate on schoolwork. Turns out | | | | poverty and low achievement, well- I thought that was |
| that even families in the sunny Tampa Schools use | | | | a no-brainer to begin with! I'm not saying that the |
| summer vacation as a prime travel time. And just think | | | | Tampa Schools are doing anything wrong by |
| about how many Tampa Schools' residents are | | | | implementing their current initiatives. On the contrary, |
| northern transplants! Early August is a prime time for | | | | they need to. But the most critical need of the Tampa |
| family vacations, and get-aways to the cooler northern | | | | Schools is to find a way to reach out to struggling |
| weather. So this year Tampa Schools will be going | | | | parents. Because struggling parents are going to have |
| back to school at the end of August. But a different | | | | struggling children. And a large percentage of them |
| starting date won't get the children in Tampa Schools | | | | would love to do better, but don't know where to |
| where they need to be when the No Child Left Behind | | | | begin. So maybe the key to improving education in the |
| Mandate rolls around. Tampa Schools Need to Focus | | | | Tampa Schools lies in educating the parents of the |
| on Families Reforms in the Tampa Schools address | | | | Tampa Schools. |
| issues like class size (a state mandate), drop-out rates, | | | | Tampa Schools Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for |
| and preparation for life after high school. These are | | | | Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. |
| definitely critical issues. While the state of Florida | | | | public and private K-12 schools. |