Sunday, December 12, 1999
Parents to get report cards for schools
Data include scores, safety
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Parents of public school students in Kentucky will start receiving the first comprehensive “school report cards” in the mail this week.
Required by state law, the report cards paint a picture of a school with test scores and data on school safety, parental involvement, teacher qualifications and awards.
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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
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Kentucky parents will start receiving report cards from their child's school this week.
The Enquirer wants to hear from parents. Are the school report cards informative? Is the information useful? Easy to understand? How will you use the report cards to become more involved at your child's school?
Contact education reporter Andrea Tortora with your comments at atortora@enquirer.com.
Required by state law, the report cards will include test scores and data on teacher quality, school safety, extracurricular activities, awards and information on what schools are doing to improve.
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What's unique about the report cards is that they contain information never before sent to all parents.
“We're hoping it will empower parents,” said Campbell County Schools spokesman Chris Gramke. “This will be a measuring stick for schools.”
Each school in the state filled out the same form, with about 85 percent of the information already compiled by the Education Department, said Robyn Oatley, the department's director of community relations. Information in the report cards is for the 1998-99 school year.
Schools have until Jan. 15 to get the report cards to parents, but many districts will meet the original Dec. 15 deadline. Fort Thomas Schools already have their report cards posted on the district Web site.
Several districts, including Campbell County, Fort Thomas and Kenton County will mail them out this week.
“We hope these will start powerful conversations about how parents can better help the schools,” Ms. Oatley said.
The report cards are a tool to hold schools accountable, said Bryan Blavatt, Boone County Schools superintendent.
Starting in 2002, the report cards will carry trend data so that parents will know how their child's school compares to its set goals.
This year, the report cards will enable parents to see how schools compare to the state average. That will be helpful information for parents already well-versed in their school's performance record, said John Williamson, Fort Thomas Schools director of curriculum and instruction.
“Our parents are already fairly well-informed, but this will let others in the community see what we are doing,” said Larry Stinson, Fort Thomas superintendent.
Some school districts plan to send the report cards to real estate agencies, for distribution to new residents. And all districts will publish the district report cards in their local newspapers in February.
“We think it's a good idea to show that schools are proactive about improving and that Kentucky is serious about education,” Mr. Gramke said. “And we want the community to know the schools are serious about education.”
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