.Dear Editor,
Public education, can we improve?
The following information is a consolidation of information printed in The West Virginia Daily news and received verbally from Greenbrier West High and Greenbrier East High Schools.
The goal is to discover why West Virginia College SAT scores are the lowest in the nation; and why 68%, plus or minus, of new enrollees at New River campus at Lewisburg are required to take remedial courses; and to discover ways to improve education with the help of parents of high school students, retirees and current students.
The West Virginia Daily News reported on 17 Feb and 25 Feb. 2021, that 42% of Greenbrier East and 44% of Greenbrier West students achieved “Honor Roll” status, which I always thought reflected an “A” average.
However, it now appears that only a “B” average is required to achieve Honor Roll status. Further, this high percentage of Honor Roll students was achieved during the COVID-19 Pandemic, which included significant remote learning, which either reflects the effectiveness of remote education or the reduction of “degree of difficulty” of exams given.
The above is in significant conflict with the guest commentary on effectiveness of West Virginia’s Public Education published by the West Virginia Daily News on 22 Feb. 2021. when compared to 2019 National scores published by the NAEP, National Association of Educational Progress.
1. Fourth-grade: math 49th, reading 48th
2. Eighth-grade: math 48th, reading 48th
3. Graduates going to college: 335 are required to enroll in remedial courses
4. National ACT data: less than half of W.Va. students reach the average bench marks for reading, math and science.
5. SAT scores: West Virginia public school students have the lowest SAT scores in the nation.
The next letter will address charter schools and why they are good for West Virginia.
P.S. For the academics, I have a masters in education administration.
Frank Tuckwiller
Lewisburg
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