March 10, 2005
Editorial: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Hamilton County schools and the 40,000 children they serve do not have problems unique to our community. The problems are similar nationwide. But local educators seem to have a unique ability to impress upon others the local dedication in seeking to take sound steps to improve the achievement of our school children — with the result that local schools have gained millions of dollars in special grants.

Now another big opportunity boost is coming for Hamilton County youngsters in our middle schools. It’s a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Education Association Foundation, in concert with the Hamilton County Education Association. The focus will be on 'bridging the achievement gap ' for students in Hamilton County middle schools.

The first beneficiaries will be students at Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet School, Dalewood, East Lake Academy, Howard and Orchard Knob middle schools — but the program will be extended throughout all county middle schools.

Hamilton County already has benefits coming from Carnegie Corp. grants targeting improvements at high schools and Benwood Foundation aid promoting achievement at elementary schools, so the new grant will mean added help for other county schools.

NEA President Reg Weaver, a teacher in Illinois who came to Chattanooga to announce the grant, said when the NEA Foundation grant plans were first announced, many school systems inquired, 'A m I gonna get it?' Hamilton County was chosen, he said, because of the strong and broad community focus here on cooperative efforts, including those of the local Public Education Foundation, to improve local student achievement..

NEA Foundation interim CEO Carol Edwards said Hamilton County is the first local school system to receive such a grant from the foundation, and she emphasized success is dependent upon local support.

The goal is to apply the money not for 'things' but for strategies that will establish better leadership through teaching teams, develop and recruit better teachers, and reduce teacher-student ratios, while emphasizing literacy, math and science. Most important, there will be efforts to involve family and community support for the students.

There will be constant monitoring for accountability, with the goal of having 100 percent of eighth-grade students reading at or above grade level and achieving algebra and science proficiency.

Mr. Weaver said he wants to have every high school graduate ready for college or jobs, 'without need for remediation.'

The new grant is another of several most welcome boosts as local school leaders seek with determination to 'close the student achievement gap ' between where they are today and where they need to be. For all of these helpful steps, we give thanks.