Education is the ticket to achieving the American Dream for Bhutanese refugees in Akron Part 2

 

Story by Tom Crain

 

David James, Superintendent of Akron Public Schools (APS) says that several of Akron’s schools have been undergoing significant change due to the influx of refugees. “Little did any of us know the U.S. foreign policy decision made nine years ago would bring into our schools a story that is truly inspirational in an American way,” he says. “And now, with so many articles and broadcasts coming out of our refugee schools, much of America is aware.”

North High School (NHS) was waning in attendance for years and was in danger of closing altogether before refugee resettlement kicked in. Now, NHS has become known as Ohio’s most diverse public school.

Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee

The third key transition point Summit Education Initiative (SEI) focuses on is third grade. By third grade, SEI wants kids reading on grade level.

In the past few years, this has coincided with Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee. In Spring of 2012, the Ohio Legislature passed an education policy bill which included the guarantee. The bill requires 3rd graders to meet a minimum score on the state reading test to move on to the 4th grade reading instruction.