New test scores released this week by the Sunflower County Consolidated School District show marked improvement in the number of students entering Lockard’s kindergarten class who are at grade level and reading proficient.
According to Delta Health Alliance Vice President and Coordinator of Indianola Promise Community Josh Davis, 51 percent of the students tested were at grade level, doubling the number from four years ago when the program started.
“As the school district has done for the last four years, they tested the incoming kindergartners using a literacy test approved for all public schools in the state,” Davis said. “For the Lockard students, 51% were already at grade level earlier this month. This is twice what it was when we first began the promise community work and represents a significant accomplishment of the early childhood education community in Indianola.”
SCCSD Superintendent Miskia Davis said the program helps to form a foundation for students for years to come.
“The SCCSD is eletated at the progress shown by our early learners,” Davis said. “We recognize that the more prepared students are when they enter school, the greater their success during their educational journey. We value our partnership with IPC and are immensely grateful for their continued efforts in assisting the district in preparing, remediating, enriching and educating our children.”
The community partners involved in the kindergarten readiness project include the Sunflower County Consolidated School District, Head Start Association, Indianola Promise Community, Children’s Defense Fund, Save the Children, Sunflower County United for Children, the city of Indianola and its Excel by 5 program, and participating child care centers in Indianola.
“These new test results are the product of a number of community partners working together over the past couple of years to develop uniform curricula among the child care and Head Start centers, to agree on standard benchmarks for children entering kindergarten, and to ensure children who need help get that help,” Davis said. “The remarkable improvement over the last few years demonstrates what can happen when people work together and focus on our children.”
Betty Petty, chairperson at Sunflower County United for Children said the testing not only reveals improvement with many students, but it also allows the district to identify early students who are not at grade level.
“We are delighted with these results and offer our congratulations to our partners, the parents, and most of all to the children who have been working so hard,” Petty said. “In addition, these test results will let us zero in on the students who need help and work with them in the coming months. For example, last year, more than 83% of the students were scoring proficient on the tests at the end of kindergarten. With these new numbers, we know we’ll do much better than that when the final test is given in May.” It goes to show and tell when “relationships” are formed there is nothing that can stop us from achieving our goals. Because the true “focus” is the children. When we are united the bond is Greater.
