Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Superintendent Vargas: No One Should Be Blamed

Getty Images

Superintendent Bolgen Vargas is speaking out on the recently released state test results.

Among the Big 5 Districts in New York, Rochester ranked at the bottom of the list. Just 5% of students in grades 3-8 passed state tests administered this spring in both English Language Arts and math.

Superintendent Vargas told reporters Wednesday afternoon that while the results are predictable, they’re also “painfully unacceptable.”

This is the first year state tests were based on the Common Core Learning Standards. The Common Core, which has been adopted by 45 states including New York, is described as a more rigorous curriculum intended to better prepare students for college and career.

State Education Commissioner, John King, said the results don’t reflect a decrease in performance for schools or students. He said they’re a more accurate tool for addressing the demands of the 21st Century. Commissioner King also said teachers shouldn’t be attacked based on the outcomes.

And according to Superintendent Vargas,  no one should be blamed. But he said that change is required in the District to obtain better results and to prepare students for a challenging workforce.

"We're going to have to organize our district differently,” said Vargas. “I have to begin that. It needs to start with time. Also, we have a new master schedule. We are giving 90 minutes of instruction to our kids in math and English. Why? Because those are gateways for academic learning,” Vargas said.

Vargas pointed to instructional time as one of the major factors contributing to the low results. He said Rochester city schools offer the least amount of classroom instruction time in the area.

"If you’re out at 1:15 in the afternoon in the City, you see children walking around Midtown instead of being in school doing homework. And those children, they need it the most because when they go home it doesn't mean that always there are parents there helping them with their homework,” said Vargas. “Not because they don't want to, but because they also face other challenges," Vargas said.

This fall 20 schools in the District will have more instructional time than surrounding areas to help with this effort.

In addition, the Superintendent said turning the results around also means getting more help from the community. He’s asking area residents to do three things.

"Make sure you help us make sure kids come to school regularly, that's important right? Support us to make sure we have well-behaved you know in our behavioral effort with our children,” said Vargas. “And then whatever you can do to help kids with reading or homework or something specific like that would be terrific," Vargas said.

Superintendent Vargas said next year the entire community will begin seeing progress with state test results if everyone plays a role in supporting educational efforts for Rochester’s kids.