When Mosi Zuberi learned that his 18-year-old son, Kaja, might not graduate from McClymonds High School in Oakland, he anguished over his parenting missteps, wondering where he had gone wrong. Yet, after seeing data from the California School Dashboard and learning that close to one-fifth of McClymonds’ students were not graduating, he mentally shifted some accountability to the school, seeing a systemic failure to meet the needs of all students.
Situations like Zuberi are bringing attention to public school officials when it comes to the lack of communication surrounding their children’s academic performance while enrolled in a public school setting.
Key Takeaways:
- Parents can better advocate for their children, possibly preventing school failure, when there is transparency of school data.
- Such data becomes even more relevant when students are attending traditionally low-performing institutions.
- Relevant data that could arm advocating parents includes, graduation rates, attendance records, disciplinary measures normally enacted, etc.
“after seeing data from the California School Dashboard and learning that close to one-fifth of McClymonds students were not graduating, he mentally shifted some accountability to the school, seeing a systemic failure to meet the needs of all students.”
