Classes aren’t even in session yet but the report cards have been passed out, not for students but for the schools themselves. And with the school year starting next week that means lots of hard work — for administrators, teachers, students and ultimately the entire community — in the coming days and months.

The Michigan Department of Education’s annual accountability scorecards highlight whether or not our public schools are making the grade, so to speak. The results vary from district to district across southwest Michigan but the take away for all should be that there is significant room for improvement.

Although the state’s achievement measurements offer a roadmap as to how to do this, you can certainly make a strong argument that some of the state’s measuring metrics are flawed and don’t accurately represent the quality of education being provided to our students.

Quantifying learning is far more difficult than calculating few numbers on a chart and the statistics don’t necessarily mean our schools aren’t doing a good job. Most of our area’s educators work tirelessly on providing the best education possible.

Still, making strides in this area is something that must be a focal point as it is the way the state gauges success.

Of course the report cards illuminate areas on which educators should focus, but an overlooked component is that these offer the same guidance for parents and the community as a whole.

The idea that education takes place inside the four walls of a building solely from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is narrow minded and a short-sighted approach. Public schools are asked to do a lot but they cannot do it on their own.

School success starts at home with engaged parents, grandparents and caregivers creating an environment that fosters learning. Unfortunately that isn’t always the case. That’s where teachers, neighbors, tutors, volunteers and concerned citizens can make a difference by simply helping teach a child the fundamentals of life and the basic building blocks of education: reading, writing and arithmetic.

Educational opportunities exist in every interaction with a child.

Some may view these report cards as a setback or negative mark on public education here. Having met many of the dedicated educators in our schools, I think it will be viewed as a challenge and one that I have confidence will be met head on.

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.