Jun152009
CT school district moving away from middle school tracking
Filed under Nashua by michael brindley at 5:12 pm
Over the past year there has been much debate in Nashua about whether separating students by ability in the middle schools, a process referred to as leveling or tracking, is appropriate.
It seems Nashua isn’t the only district having this conversation.
According to an article in today’s New York Times, the Stamford, Conn. school district, a district similar in size and demographics to Nashua, has decided to deviate from its tracking system next year, keeping its top honors level, but having the majority of students in mixed-ability classes.
In the past, students in Stamford took a test when they entered middle school, the results of which were used to determine their academic placement for the next three years, a system that, as described in the article, appears to be much more rigid than the one used in Nashua.
According to the article, Joshua P. Starr, the Stamford superintendent, said the tracking system has failed to prepare children in the lower levels for high school and college. “There are certainly people who want to maintain the status quo because some people have benefited from the status quo,” he said. “I know that we cannot afford that anymore. It’s not fair to too many kids.”
Accoriding to the article, more than 300 Stamford parents have signed a petition opposing the shift. Some say they are now considering moving or switching their children to private schools. “I think this is a terrible system for our community,” said parent Nicole Zussman.
Nashua is one of the few districts - if not the only - in New Hampshire to level students in middle school in all four core subjects. Students are broken out into three levels: honors, extension and foundation. But enrollment data shows that, for the most part, students are segregated by race and socioeconomic status among the levels, with poor students and Hispanic students barely represented in the top levels.
Critics, including incoming superintendent Mark Conrad, argue the middle school is too early to level students and by having mixed-ability classes, all students will have an equal opportunity to perform at the highest level. Supporters of the system say that by leveling students, teachers are more able to focus their instruction to the needs of individual students, as opposed to having to teach to the middle.
Although there seems to be a clear division of opinion on the issue among staff in Nashua, it doesn’t appear that any changes are being planned, at least for next year.
Add New Comment
Viewing 2 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment
Trackbacks