How does the Superintendent account for the decrease in SOL scores across all academic areas? There was a new math SOL for all grade levels but this does not account for the drop in science, social studies, reading, and writing scores that occurred across the district.

I submit that even with changes in the Math assessment, we would be hard pressed to explain the precipitous drop in the scores relative to surrounding districts and the state. Being a “math guy”, this indicates to me that, last year, many of our students were not grasping the “concepts” but rather were memorizing things to pass a test. I also think that some of us are coming close to what hillbillies (yes, I are one) would term “talking out of both sides of our mouth”. It wasn’t too long ago that we dismissed SOLs as measuring rock bottom minimum capabilities. And now as more rigor has been added, we’re complaining! Personally, the most disturbing aspect of this all is the acceptable target. There seems to be a consensus that if ACPS were to move closer to regional or state AVERAGES, this would be satisfactory. If we were to somehow magically hit regional or state averages tomorrow, that would mean that approximately twenty percent of our students would still not be meeting minimum achievement/grade-level standards. The majority of these children would be low-income, minority, English language learners and special needs students. If these types of results were happening to the majority, there would be an unyielding demand for immediate change. Unfortunately, the absence of this demand is not attributable to either Sherman or the majority. I say to Alexandria's minorities (which are ACPS majorities), "The children need us, it is time to step up!"

This is complete insanity. Do you not realize that the drop in scores is directly attributable to the self-promoting, unctuous eunuch, Mort Sherman? At my daughter's school, none of the children in the 'mainstream' classroom could demonstrate mastery of the four basic mathematical functions. Only 4% passed the math SOL. Reading became an exercise in boredom and robotic instruction with the introduction of Success for All...a program introduced by the corporation's former CFO and current assistant ACPS Superintendent, Gwen Carol Holmes. But let's keep hiring image consultants and local whacko journalists like Carla Branch to give us the straight story. After twelve years of having had children in the system, I never thought I'd see ACPS sink so low. Where is the outrage?

The only answers anyone will ever get from Mort Sherman are his own self-promoting PR sound bites. Don't bother asking him anything. Use your time to elect school board members who will fire him.