CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students and staff have new academic goals to reach over the next few years.
The CMS Board of Education voted to approve four goals and guardrails that will be tracked from 2024 to 2029. The goals focus on student literacy from kindergarten through eighth grade, math scores for high schoolers, and post-secondary school readiness. That last one is about making sure students are enrolled, enlisted, or employed.
"The goals are really focused on the highest level of achievement," Superintendent Crystal Hill said.
But there's been much more debate over the last month over whether the goals are actually achievable. The first goal, for example, is for students from kindergarten through second grade to score at or above grade level in early literacy, had to be knocked down from 97% by 2029 to 91%.
Hill said the district adjusted its goals after reviewing feedback from parents.
Prior to the meeting, Hill spoke exclusively to WCNC Charlotte's Shamarria Morrison about the new plan.
"We've put in a very aggressive monitoring cadence, not just what you see at the board meetings at the dais but what actually happens in this very room every single week," Hill said referring to the existing conference room at the CMS headquarters.
Hill said her team is both truthful and transparent with the data.
“On a regular basis, we're implementing some things, we're reviewing to see the effectiveness, and then we're making changes as needed," Hill said.
CMS At-Large Board Member Jennifer De La Jara was the only no vote on the goals and guardrails.
“The only goal I’m not comfortable with is goal 2," De La Jara said.
Goal 2 increases the percentage of third through eighth-grade students scoring at college and career levels in reading to 50%
For weeks the board has debated whether to make goals higher and what student demographics — if any — they should focus on.
“I had advocated previously that we put that up to 65%, and that’s because our current goal is at 50% for just Black and Hispanic students," De La Jara said.
The goals will be monitored every few months to see if they are being met.
RELATED: CMS lowers some academic goals as it heads to vote on upcoming goals and guardrails for 2024
The board also voted on guardrails on equity over equality, student safety, student well-being and staff retention.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Shamarria Morrison at smorrison@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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