Academic Changes Sweep CV District

Even while Central Valley School District is building its two new high schools, the landscape of education in the district is shifting in other dramatic ways.

Central Valley is working - by committee, as usual - to get ready for the new mountains and valleys.

The first new landmark, of course, is moving the ninth-graders up to the high schools, and the sixth-graders up to the middle schools. That happens in September 2002.

The second landmark - call it the WASL Mountain Range - is the rigorous Washington Assessment of Student Learning that students must pass at grades 4, 7 and 10.

Other brand new “mountains” imposed by the state Board of Education:

All high school students must earn one credit in art. All students must complete a senior project before they graduate. Also, students can no longer count on “seat time” to earn credits for graduation; they now must demonstrate that they know the course material.

The district’s academic committee and a committee formed last year on middle schools are proposing a series of academic principles for decisions as to how the district and individual schools will navigate this new landscape.

The committee proposals will be explained to the school board in late December or early January. After that, presentations will be made to the public at various school meetings. Once the public has had its chance to respond, the school board will rule on the proposed changes.

One proposed principle is that all Central Valley schools will offer a core program, an assisted program and an extended program. The assisted program means remedial work for students who are not progressing toward the WASL as they should. The extended program is for gifted students.

The remedial work could come in several forms, including an extended school day, Saturday school or summer school.

Many of the proposed changes are directed at middle school students, with accountability at the top of the list.

“In middle school we do not have the teeth to help (failing) students realize there is a problem,” said Jay Walter, head of the academic committee.

It’s not clear just how sharp those teeth will be, but the district clearly wants to ensure that all middle school students are learning before they move on the next grade.

Other proposed changes:

Sixth-graders may be taught by teams of teachers, using blocks of time to integrate English and social studies, math and science.

Gifted sixth-graders may not attend the ABLE Learner program, but instead have other forms of accelerated education. Some proposals would include both middle schools and high schools. For instance, all teachers, including those who now handle high-end students, may find themselves also teaching in the assisted program.

Assisted classes may be smaller than regular core classes, and some extended classes may be combined or offered only periodically.

Extracurricular programs may include offerings in athletic and academic areas.

Central Valley’s extracurricular committee will start its series of meeting on Nov. 27.