DEMOCRATS RESPOND TO LATEST “SHAME & BLAME” SCHOOL GRADES
AUGUSTA–Lawmakers on the state’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee released the following statements in response to Governor LePage’s school grading system.
The grades were publicly released today even though some school received their grades on Tuesday.
“The Governor’s school grading system continues to be an insufficient and arbitrary way to measure school performance,” said Senator Rebecca Millett of Cape Elizabeth, the Senate Chair of the Education Committee. “In the past year, what has the DOE done to help strengthen the schools who were, according to them, performing poorly? What assistance was offered? The administration has pointed fingers without offering solutions and support for our educators. A shame and blame grading system does nothing to actually improve schools.”
As Governor, LePage has often promoted policies that undermine public education and teachers including proposals to significantly cut Head Start, K-12 education, and municipal revenue sharing, which funds local education costs. He’s also supported for-profit schools which divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools. In addition, he has neglected to move forward on critical school construction projects.
Last November, Governor LePage was caught denigrating public schools during a remarks he made at York County Community College: “If you want a good education go to an academy,” LePage said. “If you want a good education, go to private schools. If you can’t afford it, tough luck – you can go to the public school.”
“We should be looking at ways to truly put students first like funding our public schools adequately and giving teachers the tools they need to be successful,” said Senator Chris Johnson of Somerville who also serves on the Education Committee. “If it is important to have a school evaluation system, then it is important to assess how the schools create well-rounded capable learners. Standardized tests in limited subject areas that correlate strongly with economic advantage are not a measure of the quality of teaching or culture of learning in a school.”
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