The New York State Education Department declared last year that two of the 12 public schools in Ithaca, N.Y., where I live, were not in “good standing.” The announcement came after an analysis of academic achievement, performance in core subjects, English language proficiency and chronic absenteeism.
With low performance across all student groups — fewer than 10 percent were proficient in math, English and language arts; more than 60 percent were chronically absent — Enfield Elementary School needed “comprehensive support and improvement” (CSI). With a disproportionate percentage of Black students with low proficiency scores and chronic absenteeism, Beverly J. Martin Elementary School needed “targeted support and improvement” (TSI).
In May, the NYSED added Boynton and Dewitt Middle Schools to its TSI list, citing low proficiency scores and chronic absenteeism among Black students. NYSED also required Ithaca…
