School district should reconsider AR program

For the last couple of years, our children have been participating in a program called "AR."

School districts nationwide know AR stands for Accelerated Reading, and a short definition provided to parents states that the program encourages children to read, particularly challenged readers.

Since no one seems to really know much else about this program, I'd like to share some of the information I have, and ask some questions. Please note: The following facts do not apply to all Simi schools; however, they are true of at least one, and in many cases, many of the Simi schools.

Fact: Children read a book from the AR list, then take a short computer-generated test.

Fact: The principal at each school decides exactly how the program will be implemented.

Fact: As of September 2007, the Simi school district admits that they have kept no data to monitor the success/failure of the program.

Fact: The tests given to the children are secret. The parents may not see the completed tests.

Fact: Some schools use the AR tests as part of the language arts grade; some do not.

Fact: The results of the AR tests are posted in some classrooms.

Fact: Prizes and points are given for reading AR books as incentives for challenged readers.

Fact: The prizes and points are being given to the strong readers, again leaving the challenged readers out in the cold.

The AR point system promotes unhealthy competition, especially for challenged readers.

Here are some questions:

Great books are published every year. How much does it cost to add them to the computer system? Are they being added to the system?

Teachers are required to testpilot textbook series. Why weren't more teachers involved in the decision to purchase AR and how it would be implemented?

How much did AR cost the district? With the upcoming budget cuts, doesn't it seem likely that the schools will be hard-pressed to find the money to add more AR books?

Isn't it demeaning to a child to have their failing AR points on display in the classroom?

Finally, parents who have tried discussing the AR issue with principals and classroom teachers have been met with either defensive resistance (the principals) or cowed ignorance (the teachers). What's going on here? Julie Harris Simi Valley