Op-Ed: Reports on Hillsborough schools’ reading and math scores ignore two realities

There are three central factors which result in students performing low on statewide testing: lack of “effective teachers”, students not “reading ready”, and chronic absenteeism.

In Hillsborough County Public Schools, we have a fourth barrier; that of the ability to pay competitively in comparison with other large districts our size. We stand alone among the state’s largest districts without any additional money to pay employees a competitive amount. The lack of competitive employee pay influences all three factors above as our HCPS district faces a lack of bus drivers, social workers, nurses, teachers, administrators, and other staff members.

Many employees, including our effective teachers, have left to go to the private sector or to nearby school districts where higher pay ranges from $3,000-$30,000 per year higher. Attaining higher test scores is a direct correlation of an effective teacher in front of students, vs. a long-term substitute, one teaching out of field, and those who teach multiple subjects per school day. HCPS currently has 373 instructional vacancies with most leaving in part for higher salaries and educational freedom.

Recent test scores reported by the Tampa Bay Times reveal low reading and math proficiency, however, fail to mention two realities. One being many of our elementary students come to us not “reading ready” and secondly, there are learning gains made already.

For example, within our 50 Transformation Schools network our high needs schools currently have average learning gains in reading, math, and science up by 35% or more. This growth occurred in the face of 13% of our student population being English language Learners, over 12,000 immigrants, and 2,000 migrants; most of whom have little if any English language competence. On top of language challenges, many students who begin Kindergarten are at Level one or two with little or no phonetic and reading comprehension.

To augment language acquisition together with reading readiness, we did an about face last year with Pre-K and K with phonics and phonemic awareness known as “The Science of Reading”. Also, we initiated IAWA-Intensive Afterschool and Weekend Academy-20 combined elementary and middle schools who meet on Saturdays to remediate learning loss. We are reminded whether it be these 50 Transformation Schools plus other schools with needed reading emphasis; it takes two-three years to gain the highest proficiency scores. Our district will see a rise in state test scores come May and June.

Chronic absenteeism is a nationwide challenge. Ask middle school and high school principals their number one concern and most will reply getting students to show up daily. The lack of bus drivers amplifies student absences and tardiness; especially true in south county; where Amazon pays delivery drivers $2 or more than what Hillsborough offers its bus drivers. On any given day, we are 350 bus drivers short. Moreover, 35% of our student population missed 10% or more school days in the 2022-23 school year. Simply put, students cannot learn nor pass any exam if they are not getting the education provided.

To address chronic absenteeism our central focus is three-fold. We have developed an “Attendance Dashboard” which pinpoints those students missing classes thus enabling teachers and administrators the ability to target the reasons why. Secondly, this coming school year our principals will develop an “Attendance Improvement Plan” based on this attendance dashboard. Principals will then put together a process to address their missing students which will include parental involvement and community assistance.

Last, our Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and the HCPTA are expanding parental involvement within our schools. This outreach will increase awareness of parents to realize the importance of reading – especially to pre-K and kindergarten students, attendance, and personal involvement in their child’s school(s). Thus far we have 193 active school PTAs with the goal of all our 240 plus schools having an “active” PTA.

Low test scores and the reasons why are important parental concerns. Likewise, solutions being implemented to address those questions should be an ongoing conversation among parents, school communities, school leaders, and school board members.

Lynn Gray, B.A., M.S., has spent decades instructing elementary, middle and high school students in public, private, and a homeschooling organization. With eight years of service on the dais, she is the senior member of the Hillsborough County School Board.

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This article appears in Jan 4-10, 2024.