In the "Benwood Schools" the percentage of third graders judged by the state to be proficient or advanced in reading jumped from 53% in 2003 to 80% in 2007.
The gap between Benwood schools and the district average has narrowed significantly. Both Benwood and the district have seen a strong general increase in scores over the last 4 years, although both flattened out slightly in 2006.
All Benwood Schools posted dramatic gains in all subjects, according to the state's “value-added assessment” system. Five schools received "A"s in all four subjects in 2006. Teacher retention has improved. The number of open positions filled by Benwood schools dropped from a high of 68 in 2003 to 28 in 2006.
Teacher experience and education level are now very similar to the district average.
Student attendance ranged from 93.2% to 95.3% at Benwood schools in 2006, while the district average was 94.7%.Parent and teacher surveys show high rates of satisfaction, with 96.1% of teachers agreeing that “My school offers a high quality educational program,” among other questions. Of parents, 95.5% agree that “my child’s teacher is teaching my child to become a good reader.”In 2006, the Benwood Initiative was featured on the PBS NewsHour by education reporter John Merrow. Merrow was so impressed by his interview with eight Benwood teachers that he posted a podcast of that interview on his own website, Learning Matters.The Benwood Initiative has also been highlighted and praised by Education Week, Reader's Digest, Tennessee House of Representatives, National Education Writers Association, Education Trust, Catalyst Chicago, former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, and the Washington Post.
For more information on the Benwood Initiative, contact:
Clara Sale-Davis
Director, Benwood Initiative
423.668.2427
csale-davis@pefchattanooga.org back to top