Admission Requirements: • Students with an interest in admission to the Honors Academy must apply for entry. • Students will submit two teacher recommendations in the areas of ELA and Mathematics. • Students must complete a performance task in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. • Students will be required to sign a letter of commitment to the requirements and expectations of the Honors Academy. • Parents/guardians will be required to sign a letter of commitment to the requirements and expectations of the Honors Academy.Some folks have expressed concern that the performance task is more like the admission tests used by Charter School of Wilmington. However, it's more akin to how Red Clay manages its two magnet programs. Conrad requires admissions testing and Cab requires a portfolio or performance depending on the program within the school to which students apply. What these two schools in Red Clay represent is diversity of education as well as a deep desire to provide programming for students who are gifted and talented or have already chosen their future field of post K-12 education. The cost of operating each of these programs individually in feeder schools would exorbitantly make these programs unattainable and non-sustainable. By creating magnet campuses for these special interests Red Clay has 1) provided choice to parents and students and 2) stemmed losses to those dastardly charter schools. (Remember, this blog is charter neutral and pro-public education options, although the jury is definitely out on vouchers.)
The reality is that CSD has taken the first publicly visible step to make good on their Referendum promises:
District officials have said the money generated from the tax increase will go toward reducing class sizes, improving school climate, restoring school budgets, designing new programs, paying for increased operating expenses and eliminating the structural deficit. http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_2baa759e-da17-5787-a0a8-e5b137bd9b3a.htmlThat's a step toward rebuilding public confidence in the district. It's also a carrot that appeals to me as a parent. I have a twice-gifted son. He requires a 504 but is gifted and talented. I have deep concerns about sending him to our feeder middle school next year - because I think he'll get lost in the crowd and overly frustrated with the size and complexity of our middle schools. It's a fear that extends to each CSD middle school for me and several charter schools as well. Now, I have a choice and it comes with a bus - which breaks down a major barrier to choice for my family. Furthermore, I can definitely say that CSD might be the right fit for him pending the performance task. But, that task doesn't scare me. He'll either do well or not. That's the thing about my family - from charters to new programs in existing districts - we are not adverse to participating in the educational experiment. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, not so much. We have a fallback plan. We take each year, year-by-year. What is more appealing to me about this new program is that my son might be in the first cohort of a school that will only serve grade six next year and then will grow year-by-year. And it's financial impact is also palatable at only $45,000 plus three academic excellence units. It's a good use of the my rising school taxes. Especially since I'm digging in couch cushions for the coinage to come up with difference between what my escrow collected and the bill actually is.
There are, however, other fears. I've read comments where members of the public are fearful that this program will put the district in the position of institutionalizing segregation. CSD has been mired in segregation from its onset. Despite this confirmation, the district and board (mine included) has been in a near constant state of inertia. Yes, it's fended off insane reform practices during the last six years. Yet, we've not reached down into our core and listened to every constituent base - parents and voters - who want new appealing programs for their students. And on the few occasions when we have tried something new our own inertia has become a self-filling prophecy of failure.
Case in point - CSD established the first public Montessori program in the state. And then through failure to advertise and communicate with the public, the program implodes in the suburbs. Attrition due to inaction is inertia.
So, now, CSD starts again - putting an honors middle school program in a separate building on the Christiana Campus where adults have already begun proselytizing bullying, inappropriateness of proximity to older students, and swell well of other fears. But, I've seen this campus concept work across western New York, where several rural counties bus all their students to one main campus that spans Preschool through 12th grade. And I've yet to hear a horror stories stem from one of those model examples. Here's an example in action -http://www.publicschoolreview.com/new-york/ellicottville-central/3610530-school-district
We need to move away from our negative crystal ball. Remember the Referendum Return Gathering Theme "Let it Go?" CSD has already taken down the most challenging barrier to this new program by committing to provide transportation - something that is totally missing when a student choices to a different school within the district. This will open doors for higher achieving minority students who can't access transportation to other in-district schools. This becomes a hook to keep gifted elementary students engaged - a trajectory to high school and college. And with any luck, it will attract high achieving students from other districts. Most importantly, it will help keep our brightest students in our district.
Let's talk about what happens to the children left behind after this honors academy is established - which could be my son. CSD is going to have to make some very tough decisions in the next couple of years. While we have two elementary schools in the suburbs at capacity, we have multiple schools in both the city and suburbs where attendance has waned. If, and it's a big if, WEIC ever goes through, CSD will have to close schools - and those affected communities will not take closure lightly. Like every other soon-to-be middle school parent, I have to find the courage to entrust my son to a district middle school where, I pray, he'll find his fit. What I haven't heard, but I am sure there are whispers, is that when a teacher can dial down his or her instruction to a smaller disparity without the worry of differentiating for their gifted students, their real craft will begin to be more meaningful for all. I love my teachers. I want them to be able to extoll their experience and infuse a love of learning into every student. We are not under-resourcing the "children left behind." We are creating a climate where teachers are more responsible for a smaller subset of children within a certain disparity. We are also creating opportunities for individual schools to become centers of excellence within the district. Let them differentiate their programs that allow them reach deeper into special education and English language learners.
What has always amazed me about this district is that we seem to have elementary education under control. We seem to have mastered the majority of it. I'm not saying there are not pockets of disparity. However, by far and away, our elementary schools out shine our middle and high. The question is why? Why do our students matriculate into schools where their outcomes become questionable? I honestly believe it's school size and school hook. Too few adults (the unit generating funding formula is a joke and not CSD's fault) with campuses that are environmentally overwhelming for too many children who are used to the POD education model and who relied on their teachers who check in with them everyday. It's the transition for some, but for others it is the stimulus of the campus itself.
The honors program is a gigantic shove in the right direction by creating a competitive learning system. Not Race to the Flop competitive. CSD for once has decided to deliver what I hope is a the first of a variety of educational options that will appeal to all parents. My vote is for the CSD board to keep going. Don't stop with One magnet program. And, for Christ's sake, please don't let a lack of advertising kill it. It's up to you to breathe life into it. Let's start with a mailer to every parent of 4th and 5th graders, today, so that we know we can CHOICE to it!
Choice Program Option: CHS 2017-18 – SECOND READ
1. Superintendent’s Recommendation: It is recommended that the Christina Board of Education approve the expansion of the Christiana High School Honors/Dual Enrollment Academy from a 9-12 model to a 6- 12 model as a Second Read. Activation for the expansion will occur August 2017 with Christiana High School initiating the addition of a 6th grade student cohort and proposing that by August of 2019 the Christiana High School Honors/Dual Enrollment Academy will service students 6th through 12th grade.
2. Brief Description of Program: • The Honors/Dual Enrollment Academy provides a framework for students to pursue rigorous course offerings, allowing students to have advanced standing when applying for selective college admissions and scholarships • The academy provides a rigorous academic program in 6th, 7th and 8th grade that prepares students to take Advanced Placement and college-level courses. • Students are housed in the same area of the building for core academic classes • Students will be challenged to pursue excellence in academics and leadership in a smaller learning community • Have a unique block schedule that allows for a broader sequence of courses
Admission Requirements: • Students with an interest in admission to the Honors Academy must apply for entry. • Students will submit two teacher recommendations in the areas of ELA and Mathematics. • Students must complete a performance task in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. • Students will be required to sign a letter of commitment to the requirements and expectations of the Honors Academy. • Parents/guardians will be required to sign a letter of commitment to the requirements and expectations of the Honors Academy.
3. Fiscal Impact: $45,000.00 (Title I & II) and $5,000.00 (State/Unrestricted Local)
4. Program Director/Manager: Noreen LaSorsa, Assistant SuperintendentCurriculum, Instruction and Assessment
5. Board Meeting Date: November 9, 2016
4 comments:
that example in action is 91% white. So, you're confirming this concept is likely to turn out elitist and biased? Total minority 8% compared to 54% for state. That link IS really helpful! Thanks again!
In another thread (since taken down?) you expressed surprise that so many parents were outraged (at this week's PAC meeting, and on social media) about how the district introduced this new academy. Two points that may shed light on that: first, last month the board asked the district to demonstrate community support for this academy via at least 200 signatures. The petition forms were made available at both special meetings and school PTAs. However, in several cases (as became clear during PAC) parents were misinformed about what they were supporting. For example, many sigs. came from Downes parents & teachers who were erroneously told that this was in relation to the Chinese immersion program moving to middle school (that will happen, at Shue--not at CHS). There may well be over 200 district families in favor of the academy, but many of the petitioners do not support it and have since asked that their signatures be removed. Obviously no one appreciates being deceived into signing something that they don't actually support. Second concern, at least among current CSD MS parents (including me) is that there appears to have been (almost?) no discussion of this proposal with current CSD MS staff. It is not clear how this program will differ from existing Cambridge programs (new last fall at all CSD middle schools), other than by being housed in a separate building and having a complex application process (no formal app. for MS Cambridge)--and already getting more publicity than they have. No one who represented the district during PAC seemed to know what the demand is currently for our Cambridge programs; presumably MS principals could discuss that, if asked. My sense is that demand is pretty soft, so a competing option in the district (in addition to the existing non-district competition) is likely to make Cambridge unsustainable in at least some of our MS. If true, that will remove most of the already small number of middle class families (with more volunteer and financial resources than many of our families can contribute) from the general middle schools. That doesn't mean that the academy is a bad idea, but I think the district should go into this with its eyes open as to likely impact on existing programs. That has not been assessed or discussed with relevant district staff in any substantive way--at least not from what parents could determine during the Q & A at PAC, or from the info circulating within current MS networks. Hope this clarifies some sources of opposition/frustration.
Eve, I have not removed any threads. I have temporarily removed the petition. I'd love the opportunity to compare my version to yours. As the rumors swirl... The odd thing - I was never contacted by a signer to ask to have it removed, nor was it ever noted by the anonymous poster(s)that the 28 page petition was fraudulent. The U.S. Supreme court has opined that it supports publicizing petitions as an acceptable method for ferreting out fraud and error and that such a document only becomes legitimate when its signatories are publicly known.
My prediction is that this Academy will die before it ever gets off the ground. Christina can chalk up another failure. Montessori, immersion, honors. The reality is that CSD has lost a generation that it won't get back. And because its own board and administration actually works against creating public trust and building educational options, we will eventually be forced to swallow Board Member Young's nuclear option (as he has opined recently elsewhere online) that CSD's schools should be closed and feeders re-aligned to co-mingle students and funding together in the same building. I was genuinely hopeful that CSD was finally being responsive to an idea that was divined from its referendum and finally moving forward with a promised new program. I can only imagine that Bob A is counting the seconds until he can walk away from Drew and never look back. It's a sorry caste of characters.
My view is that CSD needs to downsize to reflect current demand for its schools (that might mean losing one E, M & H school? Not sure) and consolidate from there, fortifying its current strengths before branching out. CSD has MS programs that are good but need more support (like more teacher training in the Cambridge curriculum). The district office seems totally uninterested in that. Why move on to something new before you've made existing programs work? If they intend to shut down Cambridge, that's one thing--but they say explicitly that this is not the goal. In that case there needs to be more thoughtful systemic planning. Each new option is not just an add-on, in a choice landscape. It shifts student flows, sometimes in unpredictable ways--but the likely impact should at least be considered. Let's get what we're actually doing, right now, right.
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