WATERLOO - It's easy to agree with the statement, "The educational system needs improvement."

What's tougher is pointing out why, and coming up with meaningful solutions.

For some at KBBG-FM's educational forum Saturday night, that meant starting early in life.

"We have substantial evidence to prove early childhood programming is the key," said Gloria Kirkland-Holmes, associate professor of early childhood education at the University of Northern Iowa. "If we get to grade three, we're pretty late."

For others, the parents needed to play a bigger role in their children's educational lives.

"It's very crucial that the schools think outside of the box," said Janet McClain, an instructor with the UNI College of Education. "We can't think of the child as independent of that family unit."

Bob Wright, a retired principal of Lincoln Elementary School, said parent involvement plans there helped a great deal.

"But it goes beyond plans," he said. "You got to talk to them at church, talk to them at the grocery store, wherever … We have to somehow educate our parents the same way we educate our children."

Seven panel members, as well as two moderators, were on hand during a community forum on education, broadcast live Saturday on KBBG-FM. KBBG president Lou Porter and Courier editor Nancy Newhoff sponsored and moderated the forum, which lasted one hour.

The main topic was the achievement gap, especially among minority youth, and how to combat it.

"The key is the classroom teacher," said McClain. "We have to prepare teachers so they are high-quality teachers, and they have to be culturally sensitive."

Lyle Schmitt, a member of the Waterloo School Board, said reaching children in middle school is crucial.

"We can't forget middle school," he said. "There's a lot of distraction, (students) want to be more independent."

Several types of solutions to a myriad of problems were produced from the forum, including a bigger focus on out-of-school programs in the churches and in the community.

"Unless we start to look at the education of our children as a ministry, we're going to lose these children," Porter said.

Parent Dale Rawlins, State Rep. Deborah Berry and Hawkeye Community College vice-president of academic affairs Linda Allen were also involved in the forum.

The forum was the fifth in a series of KBBG- and Courier-sponsored forums. The sixth forum will be July 19.

Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.