Last weekend, the New York Times ran a long article titled “Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning?” We are running as a slate of three candidates for the ICSD Board of Education because we have not. Academic instruction which prepares students to become informed and engaged members of society remains the core mission of the American K-12 public education system. By any objective measure, the ICSD has been an academic laggard over the past decade, yet the district administration has failed to acknowledge, let alone address, the issue. With a few notable exceptions, much of the current Board of Education has remained silent as well.

The two charts show the district’s performance on standardized tests relative to state averages. We acknowledge that standardized tests are not the only yardstick by which to measure achievement, but when the patterns are so consistent across schools, subjects and demographic groups, they paint a clear picture of a district that is falling behind. A decade ago, ICSD elementary schoolers were in the 87th percentile in math. Last year, for the first time ever, they slipped below the state average.

As was recently reported in the Ithaca Times (“Fifth Ithaca School Cited by Education Department for Academic Underperformance”, May 12), New York state has taken notice. The entire district has been labeled CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement), the only district in the state to receive such a designation while having less than half its student population classified as Economically Disadvantaged (ED). This suggests that ours is not a problem of resources, but priorities. Directing curricular resources towards narrowing the achievement gap between ED and non-ED students – a gap that widens every year – is critical.

We recognize the complexity of the issues, and don’t claim to have all the answers. But shining a light on the problems and demanding accountability is a clear first step. Let’s tackle chronic absenteeism by studying districts that have successfully addressed the problem, such as Canandaigua and White Plains. Let’s create a culture of improvement through active instructional coaching and support. Let’s get cellphones out of classrooms so students can focus.

Academic achievement is not a political position. It should not be a divisive value, especially in a community such as Ithaca that devotes so much to lifting up and empowering the marginalized. For over a century, there has been no surer path to advancement in our country than a high-quality public education. Our commitment as candidates is to make sure that every student in the ICSD gets one.

- Scott Jahnke, David McMurry, Jacob Shiffrin