Baltimore City Drafts Plan To Boost Test Scores, Curb Dropout Rate

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City school leaders roll out their plan to boost test scores, add more science and technology classes and curb the dropout rate. But the plan needs backing from the parents and students.

Gigi Barnett explains the district is hosting several community meetings to hear all of their voices.

Baltimore City school leaders say they have a plan to improve what happens here.

They recently rolled out a strategic plan that focuses on boosting the number of students who get into college to make community service more appealing to students.

But now, Baltimore City School CEO Gregory Thornton says he wants feedback on the blueprint.

"One of the things you have to do is to be brutally honest with yourself and take a look at your changing acceleration," said Thornton. "Have we been moving fast enough? That holds us accountable for where we're hoping to be."

His office is hosting seven roundtable discussions over the coming weeks. Everyone is invited.

"Everybody -- from folks inside of the school district, to parents, to the community -- have voices that we haven't paid enough attention to in the past," said Thornton.

Even if you have a concern that's not in the plan, Thornton says he wants to hear it.

"I would like to see every school have a full time, certified school librarian," said Hannah Pickworth, a retired school teacher. "The research shows the correlation between good school libraries and high test scores."

"You have to be able to discipline the children, and that means expulsion -- which they don't have," said one Baltimore resident.

School leaders say that once a community speaks up, concerns won't fall on deaf ears.

"We'll disseminate the information and begin to look at ways in which we can integrate and look at the strategies to begin to hold ourselves accountable," said Thornton.

The school district has hosted events before looking for parents and students to weigh in on issues, but never to this extent.

The first meeting is October 15. The last community meeting is Wednesday, November 4.

For a complete list of all seven roundtable discussions, CLICK HERE.