Pressing the issue of grade-level proficiency in reading and math, over 80 Tarrant County organizations have launched the "Go Beyond Grades" campaign. Their objective is to educate parents on their children's true academic standing and to foster stronger collaboration between families and schools.
In the heart of this movement, Texas STAAR Test results reveal a concerning disparity: a mere 52% of K-12 students in public schools are on par in reading, and even less - 43% - make the grade in math. On the flip side, worrisome optimism persists among parents, as research from Learning Heroes points out that 96% of Tarrant County K-12 parents mistakenly believe their kids are on track in reading, and 92% in math, as they are likely misled by report card grades.
Addressing the critical gap between parental perception and student performance, United Way of Tarrant County's President and CEO, Leah M. King, stresses the necessity of parent advocacy, "Many parents do not know that they need to advocate for their children because they believe their child’s report card tells the complete story of their child’s academic performance," according to the City of Arlington, Texas. Emphasizing parental action, the "Go Beyond Grades" initiative aids in supplying valuable tools and resources to delve deeper into children's education.
With summer approaching, co-founder of Learning Heroes, Cindi Williams, calls attention to the potential of the upcoming months for academic improvement, "Parents are problem solvers, but we can't expect them to solve a problem they don't know exists. Now is the time to partner with our teachers to find out how we can use the summer months to address missed instruction," as the campaign promotes a combination of digital ads, billboards, and a free online resource in both English and Spanish, per the City of Arlington, Texas.
The #GoBeyondGrades campaign, financially backed by key supports such as the Sid W. Richardson Foundation and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, collaborates with Parent Pass™ to distribute helpful tools through a custom app. Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington rallies with the initiative, claiming, "Together, we can reach every parent in Tarrant County and encourage them to partner with their child’s teacher to help our students succeed in reading and math," he said, as per the City of Arlington, Texas.
The campaign is a testament to the power of community unity in tackling educational challenges. It not only seeks to close the perception gap among parents but also aspires to construct robust bridges between homes and classrooms for the betterment of Tarrant County's children's future.
