Lancaster unveils education improvement study results

by Jackie Nunnery

LANCASTER—Acting superintendent Jessica Davis on Monday, May 9, presented the results of an education improvement study to the Lancaster school board. Conducted over the past three years due to pandemic related delays, Davis said the report represents “a lot of time, effort and passion.”

According the report, the study was conducted because “even with the significant and measurable progress to date, academic gaps remain for subgroups. National research shows that the LCPS is not unique and that across the nation other school districts have similar significant achievement gaps in reading and math amongst their black and economically disadvantaged students.”

The work was first lead by a steering committee, all participating as community members, and composed of Fred Moore, retired business executive; Julien Patterson, local business owner; Bill Lee, county supervisor; Joan Gravatt, school board chairman; Anne Muse, retired Department of Defense schools headquarters leader; Jessica Davis, director of instruction; and Dan Russell, superintendent.

A later working team, all participating as community members, was charged with developing the detailed….