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Mayor Johnson Wants Sacramento Schools Graded

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Mayor Kevin Johnson soon wants moms and dads to be able to choose a Sacramento school based on its letter grade because right now Johnson says parents have no thorough way to compare their child's school to others.

"It creates accountability for schools," Johnson said.

The mayor says he's still working on how to come up with the grades, but he does want to follow Florida's and Colorado's models.

In Colorado schools get graded on academic achievement, growth and academic growth gaps as well as whether students are ready for college and a career. Florida looks at students test scores, graduation rates and whether they take accelerated classes.

"And achievement scores have actually gone up and parents are very thankful," Johnson said.

Parents may be thrilled, but not all teachers are.

Paula Turner, a middle school history and language arts teacher, hopes parents can look beyond the grades.

"I don't really see it being effective overall," she said. "As an entire school being graded I have a problem with it because I know within my classroom I'm doing the best I can and I'm showing growth with my students."

And she's not alone. The Sacramento City Unified School superintendent says it's a "wrong solution," that schools don't need more labels — they need solutions.

The mayor has already admitted the solution would be up to the parents. They can walk away from a failing school or ask for change.

"I don't have jurisdiction to create consequences or accountability or provide additional support," the mayor said.

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