Week 4: News Article - Jennifer

News article: Transfer Process Plays out More Slowly in Second Year

http://stltodaynie.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

This article describes the transfer process that families from both Normandy and Riverview Gardens school districts are still enduring since the Supreme Court ruling the previous summer.  In Normandy, parents scrambled to submit applications to apply for a transfer this past Monday to ascertain their children at least had a chance to attend an accredited school next year.  The deadline for students attending River Gardens was this past Friday.  Evidently, parents had more notice this time around to apply for transfer, and schools will be finalizing the transfer process over the next several months compared to only seven weeks last summer.  The discouraging piece of this story is that some families will not know for certain if their child will be able to go to the school of their choosing, as schools accepting transfers will not release the final numbers of open slots until June of 2014.  While the article indicates that River Gardens is trying to provide educational standards that are up to par, there is no mention of similar efforts from the Normandy school district.  Chris Nicastro, the Missouri Education Commissioner, plans to present information to remedy the ailments of troubled schools at the Board of Education meeting later this month.  The article concludes with anecdotes from two mothers dealing with rejections from up to three schools, missed application deadlines, and resulting financial struggles to afford school costs.

Since beginning the social work program in the fall, I am learning that I have been oblivious to the social welfare of St. Louis area citizens.  I moved here in November of 2012, and my head has apparently been in the sand ever since!  I had no idea that St. Louis was so segregated, and that families had to worry about safety, welfare, and their children’s education and future.  My nonchalance has become even more obvious since I started this class, as I have realized I know NOTHING about the educational system in St. Louis.  Let me just add that I am a little embarrassed of my lack of awareness.  However, I think this process is all a part of the program — discovering what and who we need to advocate for.

Back to the point, I think it would be helpful to shed some light on the original Missouri Supreme Court ruling.  If I understand correctly, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected arguments from accredited St. Louis schools in June of 2013 who were trying to fight the influx of students from failing schools.  Under the statute, students would be able to transfer at no cost to their families; instead, the unaccredited schools would foot the bills.  This statute stems from the case Turner vs. Clayton, who at the time, were attending unaccredited schools and were looking for additional resources to finance the tuition costs.  While St. Louis Public schools have provisional accreditation, Normandy, River Gardens, and Kansas City schools are still unaccredited.  

To me, this seems like one HUGE mess.  I wonder where these students are transferring.  What are their options?  Could this result in increased dropout rates?  How are students transitioning to their new schools?  What new obstacles do families of transfer students face?  Most importantly, how do these students feel?  I think it would be quite informative to hear their story.

Sources:

Bock, J. (2014, February 4).  Transfer process plays out more slowly in 2nd year.  St. Louis Post Dispatch, pp. A1, A4.  Retrieved from http://stltodaynie.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Crouch, E. (2013, June 12).  Student transfer ruling is reversed by Missouri Supreme Court.  St. Louis Post Dispatch.  Retrieved from http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/student-transfer-ruling-is-reversed-by-missouri-supreme-court/article_f397d1ee-5bb4-598a-aeee-5f0511bf3abb.html