Parents, teachers and staff of the three Edison partnership schools in Baltimore say the schools ARE working, and they will continue to work together to bring test scores back up again.

Parents told members of the Maryland Department of Education this week that not only do they believe in Edison Schools, they depend on them.

"As a parent of a student who attends one of the Edison Schools, I measure success not by one test score but by how much progress my child makes," said Parris Morris, the mother of a student at Gilmor. "When a student is excited to go to school, when they go from reading below grade level at the beginning of the year to reading books to their friends at the end of the year, that's the true measure of success."

Dr. Zelda Holcomb, general manager of Edison Schools in Baltimore, says that while Edison is disappointed by the decline in student state test scores last year, it is important to recognize and emphasize the positive impact they have made at the three Baltimore schools since taking over in 1999.

"Despite the fact that last year's test results are a concern, we must not forget about the previous five years of growth and achievement that took two of the three Edison schools off of the state re-con list," said Paul Miller, a teacher at Furman Templeton Elementary.

"We spend long and dedicated hours in the classroom because we truly care about our students," said Kevin Medley, staff member at Gilmor Elementary. "The children at our schools get more than just an education; they get love, nourishment and self-confidence. No test score can reflect that."

Holcomb says Edison will not take lightly the decline in test scores. She said Edison already has begun assessing why last year was unlike the positive years that preceded it and are committed to take any steps necessary to ensure that the students at Furman Templeton, Gilmor and Montebello continue to get the best education possible.

In the meantime, parents and teachers will continue to spread their Edison success stories. They hope that anyone who doubts their accomplishments will visit the schools to experience first hand the positive impact Edison has made in their schools, families and communities.

"We are not a perfect school, but a good school getting better every day," said Shanna Warburton, a teacher at Furman Templeton. "I teach my students that life is not always easy and you learn from your mistakes. That is exactly what we plan to do."

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