Finding an expert on how Ohio schools can improve their proficiency test scores – or someone to criticize how local students are being taught – isn’t too hard these days.

Tuesday, March 14, 2000

Finding an expert on how Ohio schools can improve their proficiency test scores – or someone to criticize how local students are being taught – isn’t too hard these days.

It seems every other story in the newspaper or on television includes a new, dire warning about the future of America’s schools.

So, when good news comes along, that school’s success story should receive the same attention.

Burlington Elementary was honored recently by the state with a $25,000 incentive award after the school was able to increase its proficiency test scores by 148 points.

For those who don’t know, this is no easy task. In Burlington’s case, this job took the hard work of administrators, teachers, students and parents.

Building a successful academic program is not something that is done overnight and neither is improving one. This achievement is every bit as impressive.

Burlington’s "family" obviously took their concerns about proficiency test scores and turned them into a plan of action. Rather than sit around and moan about how unfair the test is or pointing fingers of blame, the parents, administrators and teachers decided to put their children’s needs first and to get to work.

They supported each other and asked their children and students to do their very best – and those youngsters responded.

There should be a great deal of pride at Burlington. The school has made a start toward a future bright with promise.