When I heard about the recent ISTEP+ scores, like most Black parents, I was deeply concerned. We make our children go to schools that are failing them on standardized tests. I want my son to pass any math or reading test put in front of him, in part because U.S. educational standards are lower than the rest of the world. My son is not competing against students in his classroom. He’s up against students from around the world. The problem we face is twofold: Indiana has changed the standardized test three times in five years and standardized tests do not really tell us much other than a snap shot of where a student is at particular time. No one has ever asked me for my ISTEP+ scores.
Now, of course since my standard is my son should be able to pass any test — given that I am doing what I am supposed to do at home to make sure his teacher isn’t his only teacher changing the test shouldn’t change his outcomes. Schools also are measured by how well they do on state standardized tests, so they can’t just ignore it. I do, however, think it becomes warranted for schools to not focus as much on what has become a moving target and really focus on what is going to matter in education for the 21st century, which to be honest — Indiana doesn’t seem to have a clue on yet.
One of the main reasons that got me thinking about the ISTEP+ was a comment from the Brownsburg Superintendent. To be fair, it was likely one quote that was pulled out of a lot of other worth while comments made on that celebratory day for Brownsburg schools. I will also note that those students achieved something that can’t be taken away, nor am I seeking to diminish the accomplishments of the students, faculty and staff. But as a Black parent, Superintendent Jim Snapp’s comment made me pause: “We’re really focused on what the state says is important for our kids to learn and our teachers teach that exceedingly well.”
As a Black parent and former student of the Indiana K-12 experience, I know that these schools are not set up for our students. Indiana only recently began mandating “ethnic studies.” For years, Indiana has led in disproportionate discipline for students of color. In addition, the state legislature actually changed the funding formula significantly reducing funding from urban school districts. Despite the zeal of honest reformers, a lot of education reform has been comprardorial; we are known more nationally for reform than actual quality education. As a Black parent, it feels like we are out here on our own with systems stacked against us.
So as Black parents what are we to do? W.E.B. Dubois, Booker T. Washington and Carter G. Woodson and even Anna Julia Cooper, folks I had to read about in college, have wrestled with this issue since we came out of slavery. Taken together and updated for today they offer a way forward I propose below. At a macro level there has to be a continued push to ensure policies like the Every Student Succeeds Act consider racial achievement gaps — if only just to try to keep the system honest. We also have to advocate to restore funding to urban school districts like IPS. Free full-day kindergarten must also be on the agenda. At the micro level as parents we have to take charge of our child’s education. I’m making the decisions about what my son should know with the full recognition that Indiana’s highest ambition for my son might look like a middle wage job — or worse that the state might need him in a prison cell. Neither prospect meets my highest ambitions for my son. The future for our community has to be ownership of business or careers and has to include a deep knowledge of self. This will require rigor in academics and continued advocacy against a system not designed for us in the first place — and maybe our own continued education so we can better teach and advocate for our kids.
Marshawn Wolley is director of Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI. Contact him at marshawnwolley@gmail.com.
