Diyonne McGraw

Education Our academic environment must position itself to provide engaging curriculums that address reading and behavioral issues. We are either an ‘A’ District for all students, or we are not really an ‘A’ district at all. Education We talk about our school district being an ‘A’ District, but this isn’t a whole truth. Alachua County Public School District is not an ‘A’ district for all students. We have pockets of success. However, we have blankets of students who are failing academically and socially. Our lack of exposure for all students has created an achievement gap, one that continues to be the largest in the State. Only 25% of African American children are proficient in reading. This is astounding, as the predictive analytic used in determining the number of prisons needed in our state is third-grade reading levels. So, we are either educating kids for a future of prosperity or preparing them to occupy prisons. Improving the reading skills and comprehension and ensuring all children are phonetically solid is a priority. Reading must be a priority for Head-start, VPK, and first through third grade. Education Our teachers need additional financial support to ensure that they have the resources needed to do their best work in the classroom, and for themselves when the day is done. The least we can do is give our students the consistency of permanent teachers, not temporary workers. Education We need transparency and financial accountability at all levels. Schools that are academically and structurally failing, particularly in specific geographic areas of the county, must be prioritized based on how much they need to get back to a level of excellence across the entire district. To ensure we are meeting the community’s expectations, we need community budget meetings. Education If we want to save our children and our community, we must ensure that vocational preparation becomes a valued, highly respected option embedded in the K-12 experience. Education T is time to return to basics and provide students with various ways to secure a great future, take care of themselves and their families, and develop pride associated with a viable earning potential. Because of the limited programs offered in our district, coupled with the problems caused by program access, many kids struggle to connect what happens in school daily to future success. Providing our youth with alternatives to avoid idleness and encouraging self-sufficiency through employment will substantially aid in the prevention of crime and subsequent convictions of our youth.