There's no arguing that the University of Chicago's Consortium work regarding the 5Essentials bears heeding. There's also little doubt that the schools that can meet three, four, or five of the Essentials will likely have more students success than those who can meet two or fewer of those standards.
The work of the Consortium raises concerns about the ability of schools, and their respective staffs, to make gains in these areas.
Just yesterday I was in one school where the principal was dealing with some of his students who are homeless. There are MANY schools where the homeless population is pronounced and the need to attend to these children will take considerable resources and energy to address. Quite simply, dealing with the homeless population is a greater and more urgent priority than working on the 5Essentials.
Where schools are finding that there are significant budget cuts and key personnel in the classroom being let go, there is an urgent need to address these shortages. Until these issues are dealt with, the various commitments that the 5 Essentials demand will have to be directed towards the manner in which the respective schools will have to deal with these draconian cuts.
My point simply is this...For some schools there are clearly more pressing issues and concerns than the 5 Essentials.
Dick
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