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Summit
VI: “Many Voices, Smart Choices,” 2003 |
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In 2003, with 100 hosts,
the more than 750 participants were the first to hear
the results of Voices & Choices, a yearlong
community-led initiative to engage our community in
shaping a shared agenda for constant improvement and
for setting goals beyond 2003. More than 1,850 citizens
from across Wake County offered priorities, changes
and goals for the future of Wake's public schools through
Voices & Choices. Click
here to download the post-Summit newsletter. |
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Eight central themes emerged from
their survey responses, which were analyzed using
text-mining software from SAS. The eight themes (with
the number of votes they received during the small
group discussions at the Summit) are: |
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| 1. Teachers |
16,250 Summit votes |
| Keeping and recruiting highly qualified
teachers to ensure academic achievement for all
types of students; higher teacher pay; improved
working conditions; more professional development;
reduced paperwork; increased respect for the profession. |
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| 2. Student Achievement |
11,370 Summit votes |
| A need for all students to reach
their highest potential; closing the achievement
gap; challenging high-performing students who
are already above grade level. |
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| 3. Involvement |
7,740 Summit votes |
| Greater involvement by parents and
the community, creating shared accountability
and improved communication. |
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| 4. Size |
6,750 Summit votes |
| Smaller class size,
and in some cases smaller school size, to achieve
school improvement goals and also allow teachers
to provide more individualized instruction, improve
teacher effectiveness and satisfaction, reduce
discipline issues, and improve communication and
school climate. |
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| 5. Assignment |
4,140 Summit votes |
| Some participants called for neighborhood
schools and a new choice plan, while others expressed
the desire to maintain the current diversity policy
and magnet program. |
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| 6. Testing |
3,650 Summit votes |
| Concern that the current emphasis
on standardized test scores, while important for
raising scores, is too strong; desire for more
balance between testing and teaching. |
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| 7. Curriculum |
3,520 Summit votes |
| Diverse, equitable curriculum offerings
across all schools, with the necessary facilities,
funding and teacher resources. |
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| 8. Change |
2,470 Summit votes |
| Concern about the system’s
ability to manage the change needed to meet the
needs of a diverse, growing community; constant
growth, changing demographics, influx of English-as-a-second-language
students, and continual need to update facilities
are challenges facing the school system. |
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| * 9. Funding |
1,180 Summit votes |
| Funding was not one
of the eight major themes from Voices &
Choices, although it was mentioned in relation
to many of the themes. However, funding received
the most write-in votes at the Summit. |
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