Bay Area school’s ‘Woke Kindergarten’ led to lower test scores

A Controversial Experiment: Woke Kindergarten’s Impact on a Bay Area Elementary School

A Bay Area elementary⁤ school, Glassbrook Elementary ⁢School in Hayward, ⁤took a bold step by introducing a program called “Woke Kindergarten” in⁤ an⁢ attempt to ​improve student achievement.⁢ However, ‌this ⁤decision seems to⁢ have backfired,⁢ as the school’s performance has ‌further declined.

Woke Kindergarten, a company hired by the school for $250,000, aimed ⁤to train teachers on topics like white supremacy and oppression. The school used federal funds, specifically allocated to ⁤enhance test scores in underperforming schools, to pay for this program.

The curriculum provided⁤ by Woke Kindergarten includes a “woke word of the day,” introducing⁤ children to a language of resistance and liberation. The goal is to empower students to critique the⁤ system effectively. The company’s‌ website states its commitment to ⁤abolitionist early education and pro-black ​and queer and trans liberation.

Despite the school’s good ‌intentions, the results ​have been disappointing. Glassbrook⁢ Elementary’s English‌ and math scores have both ⁢dropped by ⁤four percentage points each. Shockingly, less than 4% of students were proficient in math, and less than 12% ⁢were proficient in​ English as‍ of last spring.

Glassbrook Elementary serves ⁤a predominantly low-income student population, ⁤with a majority of students having ‌English as a second⁢ language. Over ⁤80% of ⁤the students are Hispanic. The school⁤ has been on a state watch list for improvement ⁤since 2020 and has now ⁣been categorized as the lowest-performing level.

Some teachers at Glassbrook have expressed ‌concerns about Woke Kindergarten, claiming that⁣ it focuses too heavily on progressive activism. One ⁣teacher, who identifies as a “gay moderate,” previously sued the school district for allegedly suppressing⁤ discussions ⁤about his husband and LGBT ‍history. He ​was temporarily banned from the training sessions after questioning the meaning ⁢of “disrupt whiteness” in‍ a third-grade‌ classroom.⁣ The teacher also raised concerns about‌ lessons on the website⁤ that discussed a world without police, money, or landlords.

Another teacher stated that dissenting voices were not welcomed during the training sessions. This teacher ​emphasized the need for reading‍ interventionists to⁢ improve⁤ the school’s low reading scores.

Hayward Superintendent ‍Jason‌ Reimann defended the decision to hire Woke Kindergarten, stating ⁣that ⁢it was primarily aimed at ‌boosting attendance and​ creating‍ a safe environment for⁣ students. ​He expressed support for abolishing ⁣systems of oppression but acknowledged that the cost of​ the program was higher than‍ anticipated.

While Glassbrook Elementary and the school district saw an improvement in attendance, other Bay Area schools have taken ​a‍ different approach. For example, one​ San Francisco elementary ⁣school implemented ‌a ‌math intervention program that ⁤significantly⁣ increased the math proficiency rate from 15% to‍ 50%.

What is the justification for allocating $250,000 of federal funds ⁢specifically earmarked for improving test scores towards the Woke Kindergarten program, and how does this decision⁣ impact other educational resources

Elementary School’s​ test scores have shown a decline since the implementation of the Woke Kindergarten​ program. This ​raises questions about the effectiveness of such an ‌approach and its impact on ‍student achievement.

While the idea behind Woke ⁤Kindergarten is to create a more inclusive educational​ environment, critics​ argue that focusing on topics like ⁢white supremacy and oppression at such a‍ young age ⁤may not be developmentally appropriate for kindergarten students. They suggest that children at this age should be introduced to basic academic skills and social-emotional development, rather than burdening​ them with complex societal issues.

Moreover, some parents have expressed concerns about the curriculum’s emphasis‍ on activism rather than traditional academic subjects. ‌They worry ⁢that valuable learning time is being diverted towards discussions of social justice, negatively impacting students’ overall educational experience. These concerns are further heightened by the declining test ⁤scores, indicating a potential disconnect between the program’s goals and the ‍students’ actual academic progress.

Another aspect that raises eyebrows is the cost of ⁣the⁢ program. The school has reportedly spent $250,000 on the Woke Kindergarten initiative, a significant amount of money that could ‍have been allocated to⁤ other educational resources⁤ with proven effectiveness. The use of federal funds specifically earmarked for improving ‌test scores in underperforming schools to pay for this program also ‌raises questions about sound ⁤financial ⁣decision-making.

It‌ is important to ‌note ⁣that the intention behind the Woke ​Kindergarten program, to promote⁤ inclusivity and empower students, is commendable. However, the negative ‍impact on academic performance suggests that the approach‍ may ​need to be reevaluated.⁣ Perhaps a more ‍balanced approach that ⁣incorporates both‌ academic skills and ​social justice⁢ education is needed to ensure that students’ needs are fully met.

In conclusion, the implementation of the Woke Kindergarten program ‌at Glassbrook⁤ Elementary School has ⁢proved to be controversial. While the school’s intentions to improve student achievement and create a more inclusive environment are praiseworthy, the decline in test scores raises concerns about the effectiveness of this approach. It is crucial for educators and policymakers⁢ to critically ​assess the impact of such experimental programs⁤ and ensure ‍that the best interests‍ of ​the students⁤ are at ‍the ‌forefront of any educational initiative.