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By SHARON KILPATRICK
Rappahannock Nfw« Staff Writer
Superintendent David Gangel brought the School Board preliminary results from the committee studying the problem of failure and retention.
At Tuesday night’s meeting he said the initial data seemed to show that the main problem was in kindergarten, where the largest number of failures occur.
However, further study shows that only 5 percent of dropouts failed kindergarten. On the other hand, 58 percent of dropouts failed first or second grade, and 85 percent of dropouts failed twice.
Dr. Gangel said the committee next set as its goals the reduction in the number of children retained in first and second grade and the reduction of the number retained twice.
The group next listed reasons for failure and determined that the most important are the fact that some children fail to learn to read, are developmentally delayed or lack printed material in their homes.
The committee now wants to explore some solutions including smaller class size, summer school, a transitional primary class between kindergarten and first grade, collaboration with outside agencies in a pre-school program, parent education, more discretion for teachers to refer students to the remedial labs before they fail the year, and a report card for the lower grades with more emphasis on individual progress and less emphasis on grades.
Dr. Gangel said the work of this committee is in part the result of training the school system is receiving as part of the Xerox Quality Grant.
He said he was also expecting the “Reading Recovery” remedial reading program for kindergardners and first graders to help with the problem with failure. This past year, eight students received help through this program, and next year 16 will. He said another teacher will be taking training in “Reading Recovery” next year.
In other action the School Board:
• Reelected Beverly Massie as chairman and Paul Nichols as vicechairman.
• Appointed Cynthia Brandt and Christine Carlson to teaching positions at Rappahannock Elementary.
• Appointed the following coaches
96.2%