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Articles About CMS |
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Headline News How can you enrich the classroom? The Charlotte Observer Nov. 17 2008 At suburban Lake Wylie Elementary, music teacher Patti Anderson gets an allowance from the PTA to buy extras for her kids. There's no such money at Westerly Hills, a high-poverty school where she spends half her teaching time. But a host of benefactors – many of whom have never set foot in the west Charlotte school – have bought her kids instruments, sheet music and classroom posters. The kids at Westerly Hills – along with dozens of other schools in the Charlotte region – are reaping the rewards of a Bronx schoolteacher's brainstorm that has pumped more than $25 million into classrooms across the country. More>> Learning goes on in struggling schools The Charlotte Observer Nov. 14, 2008 When you walk into Wilhelmenia Wilcox's fifth grade class at Devonshire Elementary, you can tell a lot of learning is going on. The students clamor to answer questions and read from their work. The room is plastered with maps and pictures and inspirational sayings. Books and classwork line shelves. And in several corners you'll find cardboard replicas Ms. Wilcox built of inventions from African Americans. She uses them as teaching tools in her class. More>> Will fewer magnets help other schools? Nov. 14, 2008 Randolph Middle School will lose the Paideia and open magnet program next year, but will still have its International Baccalaureate program. As Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools dismantles magnet programs affecting thousands of students, the pressure is on to upgrade struggling neighborhood schools where some of those students will return. The school board's vote Wednesday night to close, move or modify magnets at schools across the county will change the campus or curriculum for about 2,800 children – 90 percent of them minority. More>> Board trims, revises CMS magnets The changes will cost about 2,800 students their current school assignments. Almost 90 percent of those students are minorities. Eric Frazier The Charlotte Observer Nov. 13, 2008 The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board made sweeping changes in its magnet schools Wednesday, ending months of debate over programs that were once the hallmark of local school desegregation efforts. The board largely followed recommendations that Superintendent Peter Gorman offered last month for eliminating unpopular or ineffective magnet programs and modifying others. More>> Reading scores reminder of need to help poor students The Charlotte Observer Nov. 9, 2008 We must commit resources to help all students meet goals. The drop in N.C. reading scores this year was hardly a surprise. State and local education officials had warned that scores would be lower after a new reading test was introduced last year. That new reading test was necessary. The old one was largely a scam, falsely labeling too many children with weak reading skills as making the grade. But the fallout from addressing that problem stings nonetheless. Just 57 percent of the students in grades 3-8 passed the state's reading tests this year; 86 percent did last year using the old tests. All student groups showed lower passing rates: 69 percent of whites passed, 68 percent of Asians, 39 percent of Hispanics and 36 percent of blacks. The disparity between the performance of low-income students and non-poor students was huge: 39 percent versus 71 percent passing. More>>
State reading test is dash of cold water Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Nov. 7, 2008 A new set of N.C. school ratings paints Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as a study in contrasts, with some of its suburban schools rating among the state's best while more than half of students at 42 high-poverty urban schools are failing. The 2008 ABC ratings, approved Thursday by the N.C. Board of Education, look worse than usual because of a new reading test introduced last year. Officials acknowledged that the old exam, used to rate schools for years, falsely labeled too many children with weak reading skills as making the grade. More>> New N.C. ABC ratings reveal stark contrast in Charlotte schools Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Nov. 6, 2008 A new set of N.C. school ratings paints Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as a study in contrasts, with some of its suburban schools rating among the state's best while more than 40 high-poverty urban schools have fewer than half their students on grade level. The 2008 ABC ratings, being approved by the N.C. Board of Education this morning, look worse than usual because of a new reading test introduced last year, designed to more accurately reflect student success. Officials acknowledged that the old exam, used to rate schools for years, falsely labeled too many children with weak reading skills as being on grade level. More>> Gorman: Tougher reading test will make scores dive Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Oct. 30 2008 Expect reading scores to plunge, especially for minority and low-income students, when the state unveils new tougher-to-pass test scores next week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Superintendent Peter Gorman said Wednesday. “We are going to see a precipitous drop in CMS and the state,” he said. “I think you're also going to see the achievement gap widen in reading.” More>> Economic, racial gaps concern Gorman Eric Frazier The Charlotte Observer Oct. 17, 2008 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are making great strides academically, but still have work to do in eliminating racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps, Superintendent Peter Gorman said Thursday. In his second annual state of the schools report, Gorman told a packed audience of students, parents and school personnel that last school year, 77 percent of CMS schools met or exceeded academic improvement standards set by the state. In the 2005-06 school year, he said, 54 percent did. He also said CMS students' proficiency rates improved last school year on 12 of 14 state end-of-course and end-of-grade tests. “Overall, this is a very positive trend,” he said. “I'm very pleased with that, but not satisfied. We have more work to do.” More>> Wanted: School volunteers Jerri Fatticci, Citizens School NC Susan Patterson, Knight Foundation Oct. 10, 2008 The Charlotte Observer For years, policy makers have debated who holds the prime responsibility for education: parents or teachers? Clearly, a child benefits from both good parents and good teachers. The reality, however, is that at times even the best parents and teachers aren't enough. Many students are struggling despite our best efforts and the number of students dropping out of Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools keeps growing. We believe citizen volunteers are the critical third leg to the education reform stool – complementing parents and teachers in helping all kids succeed. Research shows that the engagement of trained and supported adults volunteering as tutors, mentors and teachers works. More>> Diversity in Schools Fading Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Oct. 7, 2008 More than half of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 154 schools now have minority enrollment of 75 percent or higher, and about two-thirds of the district's black and Hispanic students attend those schools. A similar proportion of the district's shrinking white population can be found in a smaller number of majority-white schools, located mostly in the southern and northern suburbs. More>>
Parents show up to save magnets Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Oct. 15, 2008 Dozens of parents turned out Tuesday in hopes of persuading the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board to preserve the magnet schools they've chosen for their children. The board is entering the final stretch of a magnet review that has already lasted seven months. Many parents have been frustrated by the twists and conflicts that have ensued. More>>
Latest magnet plan placates some Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Oct. 3, 2008 Superintendent Peter Gorman rolled out plans for two new magnet programs Thursday and placated some parents who feared the loss of their children's schools. But he faced another barrage of school board questions on whether plans to cut magnets are fair to minorities. More>> Parent University Family Fun Day! CMS Website October 2008 CMS parents, families, students, staff, and community members and partners are encouraged to save the date and attend the Parent University Family Fun Day Oct. 18, 2008. The event will be held at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, 820 Hawfield Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The community is invited to experience, encounter and explore outdoor activities that include whitewater rafting and rock climbing. Music, information and food will be available. Admission and parking are free to the public. Pets are also welcome! Click here to view the Family Fun Day event flier. Please print the flier for family, friends and neighbors. Parent University is a community collaborative led by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to help parents become full partners in their children’s education. The public should check the CMS Web site, call 980-343-0318, or e-mail info@cmsparentuniversity.org for additional and updated information about the event.
Gorman lays out plans for changes to magnet schools Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Oct. 2, 2008 Superintendent Peter Gorman this morning recommended specific changes to the magnet program of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools that would combine several programs, create new ones and preserve the "traditional" curriculums at Myers Park and Elizabeth elementaries. More>> CMS review of magnets leaves uncertainty Ann Doss Helms The Charlo tte Observer Sept. 24, 2008 The future of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's popular “traditional” schools appears to be in question now, the latest twist in a long magnet study that is leaving parents, faculty and even district leaders perplexed by conflicting views and changing plans. More>> Gorman gets bonus, pay raise, extension Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Sept. 24, 2008 Superintendent Peter Gorman on Tuesday got an $18,200 bonus, a $7,150 raise, a one-year contract extension and authority to assign security staff to himself and his family. More>> Board approves 2008-2009 operating budget CMS website Sept. 9, 2008 The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted 6-3 to approve the district’s $1.19 billion operating budget for the 2008-2009 school year. The operating budget reflects $20.5 million in reductions made after the Board of County Commissioners appropriated only $10 million of the $28.4 million CMS had requested. To accommodate the decrease in funding, CMS trimmed a number of areas. Allocation formulas for assistant principals, media specialists and media assistants were the largest cuts resulting in $5.1 million in reductions. Other cuts include $2.9 million from central-office departments, $2.5 million from maintenance operations, and $1.1 million from the High School Challenge funding. The district also reduced its budget for salary and benefit increases after the state increases were lower than expected. More>> CMS decides to forgo lunches audit Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer Sept 11, 2008 On Monday, it seemed like a simple proposition: Settle questions about how many Carlotte-Mecklenburg Schools families cheat on free-lunch applications by auditing a random sample. But with federal and state officials threatening to take away $34 million in federal lunch subsidies if the district pursues that path, local leaders say they're stymied. Meanwhile, the uncertainly continues to fuel rhetoric about cover-ups and witch hunts. It's exactly the kind of argument based on "gut feeling and emotion and political ideaology" that school board member Trent Merchant says he was trying to head off with the proposed audit. More>> Here's where parents can find answers Sue Gorman Special to The Observer The Charlotte Observer September 3 , 2008 As the wife of the superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the mother of a CMS fifth-grader, I have the opportunity to hear a lot of questions from concerned parents who want to be sure they're doing everything they can to help their children learn and grow. CMS launches Parent University More>> Principals' high marks spell empowerment Ann Doss Helms The Charlotte Observer August 17, 2008 In Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, this could be The Year of the Principal. A district known for issuing county-wide orders is giving scool leaders new power. Students, parents and teachers are about to see how that plays out, in settings that range from schools in trouble to academic showcases. More> Preliminary AYP Scores In North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) July 24,2008 On Monday, NCDPI made the Preliminary 2007-08 AYP results page live (www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/abcayp/ayp). On the left-hand side of the page, click on AYP Results. Some of the Districts have not yet posted their scores on their websites and therefore there may not be a link to that District's scores. The results are only for 3-8 grades mathematics and 10th grade reading/language arts and mathematics. Reading results for elementary and middle schools will be released in November. 7
struggling schools gain 30 top teachers Ann Doss Helms Charlotte Observer August
5, 2008 Thirty
top teachers have heeded Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' call to transfer into
seven struggling schools. “We had more applicants than positions,” Gorman said, noting that previous tries had seen bonuses go unclaimed. More>> Parent takes on poverty in schools Ann Doss Helms Charlotte Observer August 3, 2008 Hoping to move beyond divisive debate over student assignment, the Swann Fellowship is trying to launch a community discussion on how to teach kids in high-poverty schools. More>> Guilford County Schools Hire Mo Green Second in command at CMS will be superintendent of a 71,000-student district, the third largest in the state Ann Doss Helms Charlotte Observer July 25, 2008 Maurice “Mo” Green, second-in-command at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, was tapped Thursday night to lead Guilford County Schools, the state's third-largest district Green, who entered school administration just two years ago, overcame doubts that his background as a lawyer might leave him ill-prepared for making sure more than 71,000 kids get a good education. Guilford's school board voted 7-4 to hire him, after he and another finalist spent Wednesday meeting the public, officials and educators. More>> NC General Assembly Sets Budget The NC General Assembly completed its budget and will send it to Governor Easley this week. The teacher salary increase will be 3 percent with an additional bump to the The complete budget is available on the General Assembly's Web site, at 2008 CMS Scores In CMS Scores: Good, Bad, Confusing Ann Doss Helms Charlotte-Mecklenburg 10th-graders, like peers across North Carolina, saw big gains in writing proficiency, even as hundreds of high-schoolers failed English, math and science tests they'll need for a diploma. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools released results of state math, writing and high school End of Course exams this morning. The data brought a mix of cheer, frustration and confusion for people who care about schools. Scores for Individual Schools: Teachers Give CMS Low Marks Ann Doss Helms During the school year, Jamie Dyer drives 30 minutes from her Charlotte home to her teaching job in Cabarrus County. She has no interest in working closer to home. More>> Suburbs Have More of the Top Teachers - Will Some Move? Ann Doss Helms Though some of Mecklenburg County's most effective teachers work in struggling schools, kids in the high-flying south suburbs are more likely to have teachers who can help them get better at reading and math, a new list shows. More >> Ease
Rules for Becoming Lateral Entry Teacher
"In my time as a student in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, I've had the opportunity to interact with a handful of exceptional educators, teachers who had profound knowledge of their subject and who loved sharing that knowledge with their students. One such physics teacher is leaving Myers Park High School this year, and with him leaves a graduate degree in the field and years of work experience at NASA. The strict requirements for lateral entry caused CMS to lose his talent. "Let teachers demonstrate their skill as educators not by a certificate they frame but rather by the knowledge and passion they impart to their students. Teachers should undoubtedly be held accountable for maintaining professional standards, but those who have shown their ability to inspire students by raising test scores and gleaning positive feedback shouldn't be forced to jump through hoops," states the community columnist Elena Botella, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Myers Park High School. Click here to read the entire editorial written by Elena Botella. Bold
Move To Assist Challenging Schools CMS
Celebrates the EMMYs Budget
Setting Process Heats Up Key
Dates for Setting County
For the entire budget being proposed by CMS, go to the CMS website and click on Budget found under QUICK LINKS. There you will find the complete proposed budget as well as the Executive Summary.
Proposed Sweeping Changes to Magnet Programs
Upcoming Magnet School Plan Meeting
To view a list of upcoming regional meetings during the summer on magnets, visit CMS website and click on Magnet Program Review under Bulletin Board on the left-hand side of the page. Does Bright Beginnings really work for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Students? "Bright Beginnings, the innovative pre-kindergarten program of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, debuted a decade ago with the hope of transforming the lives of at-risk kids -- and the pledge of keeping close tabs on their performance to help them succeed. That promise to families and taxpayers has not been kept," according to a report by Ann Doss Helms in The Charlotte Observer. Click here for the complete story. How Do
Our CMS Schools Stack Up Based Upon an Insiders View? 94% of those teachers completing the survey in elementary schools agree they feel safe at school, while 87% of middle school teachers and 89% of high school teachers indicated they feel safe. For elementary schools, 73% rate their school's effectiveness as good or excellent, compared to 61% in middle school and 65% in high school. 71% of the elementary teachers, 62% of middle school teachers and 70% of high school teachers submitting the survey rated his or her job satisfaction as good or excellent. For the complete Charlotte Observer story, click here. |
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