For many parents, each school year brings a period of stress and anxiety, especially for those in disadvantaged areas. That's because they don't know how to help their children, and they lack confidence in the schools to provide quality education.

The consistently low test scores and high number of students in special education classes gives them good reason to be concerned. They know that many of these students will become dependents of society rather than contributors.

Those familiar with the education system know that these problems rest primarily with educators, parents and students. To solve these problems, we must put students' needs ahead of everyone else's. The question is: Will our educators concede?

Take, for example, the high turnover of teachers in disadvantaged-area schools. The situation is a result of the schools being used as a resource for experienced teachers by other schools. Educators admit privately that this problem continues to have a serious adverse effect on student learning.

Also heard are complaints of youngsters being taught by probationary and substitute teachers throughout most of their elementary years. Solutions could include rotation of teachers or allowing probationers to earn their tenure elsewhere before being assigned to needy areas. If no agreeable solution can be found, then a solution should be legislated, and if needed, involve our judicial system to rule on discrimination.

Another is ending the heterogeneous strategy (mixing students of different learning levels) to make it fair for teachers in the elementary school grades. If lessons are to allow every student to reach their full potential, then it's imperative to return to the homogenous method. Additional assistance for students is to assign them a partner or two to study and do their homework with.

The problem parents face is that of not understanding their role in education. A long-term solution would be to offer all high school students classes in parenting, to include ways of using a child's senses to stimulate intellectual growth beginning at infancy.

Schools should look into adopting core curriculum applications and lesson outlines from schools and teachers proven to be effective so that students moving to another school will continue to be current in their lessons.

Youngsters entering kindergarten and first grade lacking the skills of the average child is another problem. A solution would be to provide parents of preschoolers a list of all the skills a child should have upon entering school. The completed list should be turned in upon registering their child for school.

Students losing interest in learning should be taken seriously. Methods to motivate them should include quotes by familiar names conspicuously posted so they can be seen and read. Parents also should be informed of ways to motivate their children.

The lack of success in learning in any school, no matter where, should be a concern for every taxpayer, because the cost for its consequences will continue to rise if nothing is done.

Bill Prescott, a Nanakuli resident, is a member of The Advertiser's Community Editorial Board. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.