When Adequate Yearly Progress figures were released by the Alabama Department of Education earlier in the week, the Selma City School  system showed improvement from years past.

Selma High School was the only school in the system that did not reach its AYP goals.

Ten of 11 schools reached their goals and 77 percent of students are reading at, or above their grade level. Seventy one percent of students understand math at, or above their level.

Unfortunately, other factors caused the district to miss its AYP  goals as a whole.

Selma City Schools Superintendent Don Jefferson described trying to meet AYP goals as “shooting at a moving target.” He is absolutely right. There is only one way raise your odds of hitting a moving target. The shooter has to put as many shots in the air as possible.

It will take more than a single source of motivation to push students to study hard, over achieve and meet their AYP goals.

Just as people do not shoot clay targets with a single-shot rifle, we cannot ask a single teacher, principal or school  to completely change the culture of education in Selma.

It takes motivation from all avenues.

Education begins at home. If family members second-guess educators, or do not  show an interest in their child’s education, what motivation does that student have to put in extra time with their studies?

Schools and educations have students for a fraction of their lives and operate on a tight schedule. It’s up to our parents and guardians to do the rest. Selma students have shown they have the ability to compete academically with any system in the state. It’s up to the parents and community to keep pushing them forward.