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Clark schools may join initiative

Program would benefit advanced middle school students

November 24, 2009|By Bob Flynn

Middle school students in Clark County may soon be able to take classes similar to the advance placement classes that have been offered at the high school level for many years.

Clark County Schools have applied to be part of the third cohort of schools in AdvanceKentucky, a collaboration between the National Math and Science Initiative and the Kentucky Department of Education to provide pre-advance placement classes to middle school students.

The goal of the initiative is to expand access to, participation in and success of underrepresented students in advanced placement classes in math, science and English, which Clark County Superintendent Elaine Farris said is very important.

"This would have open enrollment, or what I like to say, 'Whosoever, let them come,' which would make more rigorous content available to all students," said Farris. "Oftentimes some of the policies we have are barriers, so certain kids don't feel comfortable, or they are not motivated or encouraged to take AP classes. This removes barriers for those students."

AdvanceKentucky was initiated for the first time in the 2008-09 school year in 12 high schools across the state and proved so successful — students at the participating schools performed at 13 times the national passing rate on AP tests — that it was expanded to 15 more school for the current academic year, and 12-14 more for next year.

Assistant Superintendent Pat Rosenthal said having more rigorous content in middle school will help students once the get to high school.

"What I'm so excited about with this is that they set a curriculum that is followed all the way up to the high school, so all students have the chance to be in AP classes because the rigor starts before they ever get to high school," she said. "Then they are already in that feeling that 'I can take that content and I can make it in those classes and feel comfortable taking those classes.' It puts the greatest curriculum in the hands of all students instead of just those who want to take the rigor."

Although the district hasn't been accepted yet, Farris said she felt good about the prospects after an on-site visit by representatives of AdvanceKentucky earlier.

"I really came away from the visit feeling good about our chances because we already had some of the things in place that they were looking for," Farris said. "The high school already offers many math and science AP classes, and we have a high number of students who take and pass the AP exam, which they were looking for."

The program would be implemented in the fall of 2010 for the schools which are selected.

Although the district probably won't know if it has been selected until after the first of the year, Farris said it would be a great opportunity for the district and worth the wait.

"I think this will propel us to have the opportunity to increase the rigor and expectations of our kids and the exciting part is that we would start at the middle school level," Farris said.

Contact Bob Flynn at bflynn@winchestersun.com.

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