If Parents would start parenting, and administrators would start doing their jobs, and everyone would just let teachers teach, test scores would rise.

Amazing everyone is Mahwah needs a tutor, now I am glad to see the school will be getting tutors as well to save us parents from paying for them. The curriculums they use are confusing. Everyday Math has been dropped by many area schools, for the fact it just is to confusing to the children. The simply cant do regular problem solving. Drill basic facts into there heads, not the in and outs and back and fourths of this current math program. Go back to what has worked for years, the old method you will see the results you want to see and the children and parents will be happiers as well.

I don't know what to make of everyday math. My daughter struggled with it despite having some excellent teachers in the lower grades through 5th grade. Oddly enough, she always tested advanced proficient, even though it seemed like she didn't get it. This year everything sort of clicked, and she's doing very well. I find that the English/reading/writing has been lacking over the past few years. I work extensively with my daughter on how to write essays, punctuation, etc. It seems like grammar is a lost art in the schools. I think it has more to do with the curriculum than the teachers, based on conversations that I've had with teachers that I know in other districts that deal with similar issues.

I also see a political side of this story due to the ongoing impasse in contract negotiations with the teachers.

Two words: READING PROGRAM??????????

The teachers can have an amazing impact on scores. My kids had a
teacher in the 9th grade last year. I'm pretty sure he was new to the school. He is an incredible teacher and I wish the schools had dozens more like him. He taught them well and prepared them even better for the standard testing. Proficient is a fairly low grade (I think in the 70's). My kids were always proficient in English. One of them was just over the line to advanced proficient but they both got above 96% on the English last year. I never saw this from them before. The best part is that they weren't taught just for the test but they actually learned a lot and now are so much better in English because of this on teacher.

IMHO...Get the govt out of our schools! They've created a monster in which we have teachers teaching for test results instead of teaching for the sake of actual learning. Teachers need to be able to do what they do best and not be forced to follow govt mandates. Our kids would all be better off in the long run.

As a retired teacher from Allendale, I can assure you that the Mahwah teachers have not lowered their high expectations for student success, or their admirable work ethics due to the impasse in contract negotiations~! I know many of the staff members in Mahwah, and I believe that their methodology and teaching practices are worthy of emulation by their peers~!
The problem begins and ends with Governor Christie~! He has blatantly attempted to destroy the process of education in New Jersey~! His attack on public school employees is a disgrace and must be addressed by all taxpayers~! Why is it that we have a silent majority and a vocal minority in our state~? We, the taxpayers, are responsible for the success or failure in our schools~! Speak out, and be heard~! Tell the Governor that our schools cannot function properly without sufficient funding~! Staffing cuts hurt the children, and ultimately, their abilities to perform successfully~!
The Mahwah teaching staff has long held a reputation for being among the best in the state~! That does not change overnight~! I would like to personally thank them for all of their dedication and hard work~!

How about not having so many days off??? All summer, every month is a holiday or single session. Everyone needs to put more time in since it's apparent the time now is not sufficient. !!

This is not a political issue, it's a issue with the k-3 curriculum...If you don't have a READING program in place for every child- every classroom- then when you test kids on reading comprehension and language arts they WILL fail. We shouldn't need extra tutors or coaches. Our teachers are fantastic and fully capable when given the right curriculum.

This article is kind of worthless with knowing BY HOW MUCH they didn't meet their goals by. How much better did the other schools perform on their AYP? Because I don't see the high school mentioned at all. It seems to me the moral of the report is by the time students get to the high school testing they are ready and prepared to take those tests. Am I interpreting that wrong? I am also confused that Dr. Lake not too long ago praised the district for their test scores and now is slamming the district because scores aren't good enough. Which is it? Improving test scores is going to take a team effort from teachers, parents, administrators and students. It doesn't seem Dr. Lake gives that concept credence in her quotes here. Also, any contract negotiation updates from last night?

If the children are not given reading comprehension in the early years of school K-3, they are at great disadvantage. If your child only brings home vocabulary and a limited amount of reading comprehension BEWARE!!! The reading program in Mahwah leaves much to be desired. The children in K-3 should be bringing home reading worksheets with questions about the text on a daily basis, ruberics, and writing assignments. If you suspect that your child has reading difficulties, take them out of district to be tested. Mae Balaban in Teaneck is a wonderful center. If you identify specific learning weaknesses the school must address the issues. The school must be accountable but parents must also be an active participant in their child's education. I am so glad to see this article, the school needs to put a better reading program in place for our children. Don't wait for the teachers to tell you your child is at a disadvantage, they are afraid of administration!!!!

The district is going to hire tutors etc. Who is going to end of paying for this???? It will be the tax payers - the parents.

I hear, and tend to believe, that the problem is not in the schools but more of parents being absent parents. Not all of them but a majority, sadly enough. If your child is struggling with reading or math, do YOU spend the extra time per night going the extra mile for YOUR childs or do your whine that it must be the teachers fault? When is it the parents fault? When I struggled in school, my mother met with the teacher face to face and did not email back and forth and hope for a solution. I salute those parents who take the responsibility to parent your child as opposed to just hoping they get what they need and if they dont, you'll still take your spring break a week early..the same week that could focus on NJASK. But take the easy way out, blame everyone else except that one person who you see in the mirror!

I had one child graduate from Mahwah High and another from Ramapo Ridge last year; they both recieved an excellent education. Many teachers in the mahwah schools impressed us as exceptional, and none ever seemed complacent, or bitter.

Being involved from home is critical to our childrens success. A simple mantra of "school first" (which i said/say to my children every morning) was a great aid in keeping all of our attitudes focussed on what was most important at school: their education. i personally was disappointed when a reasonable school budget was voted down in the recent past at the urgings of our then new governor. And the subsequent continued demonization of our teachers and their so-called-high-paying-much-time-off-easy-jobs is the most unfortunate untruth of this economic downturn, and the stubbon attitudes that plagues us all.

Most often the problem is how simple we believe the answers are... Perhaps we should start by asking better questions of the people devoted to raising our children's minds and character... An informed, productive discussion will quickly evolve from there.

EDM when taught correctly is an amazing mathematics program. It spirals skills previously taught into the daily math boxes and through the games. I taught this program for 13 years and found it to be successful. As for the literacy component, I believe a balanced approach is best. First problem is that at a very young age, kindergarten, children need exposure to a full day program. There isn't enough time in the short session to really address the needs these children have. Parents need to to provide follow-through and let's face it, they don't! I, as an special educator, do and understand the importance of consistency. Phonics, shared reading, differentiated groups and a share out are the key components. To do this effectively you need at least two hours!!!! How is this done along with writing, mathematics and social studies and science in less than three hours? Not possible!!! What's really needed is a full day kindergarten, when you start with your younger kids, set the bar, and then continue the results will be higher than state standards!

Wow. A retired teacher from allendale knows so much about the methodology of his friends in Mahwah yet the superintendent says she needs to hire a curriculum coorindator because too many Mahwah schools are doing different things! Really - what does she do? And why does it take a 80000 year coordinator to fix things there? Education system hasn't changed since Tenure laws passes in the 1920s - still inefficient and filled with too many selfish sanctimonious boobs.

FYI my son was tutored by the school last year at GW for the 3rd grade state testing. He struggled with reading and writing and was also taken out of class for the smaller based class with Ms. Simmon all year (which he needed). Upon moving to JK his extra help was taken away because guess what? He passed the state test as proficient. The school looked good because he was preped to pass the state test but he also still had his learning disability in reading and writing which JK wouldn't help him with due to the fact he scored proficient. Of course it took 4mths at JK for me to fight to get him his extra help back. I will NOT tutor my daughter for the 3rd grade test it will make the school look proficient!!! It just gears her towards passing a specific test that makes her look proficient!

June...that's why all the tutors were hired! Old trick...at whose cost?

Something is not right here. Just look at how much money we spend per student and you will see that our neighbors are doing a lot better with same amount of money. Throwing more money at the problem has been done for decades and has been failing over and over again.
There are a lot of good and dedicated teachers in Mahwah.
Problem is getting rid of those who are worry more about contract than teaching.
They are paid very well and have benefits that most of us can't even dream about.
All we want is fairness.
Don't blame it on the Fat Guy from Trenton.