What is the plan for differing academic levels in the fall?

[Anonymous]

As we all know, unfortunately, there are many kids who have fallen behind in classes, but I assume very few children will be held back due to this year's circumstances. So what happens when kids hopefully go back in the fall and there is a HUGE academic gap between kids in the very same grade/class? How are teachers going to address it, while also ensuring that kids who did progress this year aren't held back? It just sounds like it's all going to be such a mess.

[Anonymous]

There were already huge academic gaps! And they will deal with it in the same ineffective way they always do.

I do think charter schools will be slightly more willing to redshirt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were already huge academic gaps! And they will deal with it in the same ineffective way they always do.

I do think charter schools will be slightly more willing to redshirt.

There were definitely academic gaps, but not to this degree. This is going to be much bigger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were already huge academic gaps! And they will deal with it in the same ineffective way they always do.

I do think charter schools will be slightly more willing to redshirt.

There were definitely academic gaps, but not to this degree. This is going to be much bigger.

+1

There are kids who haven’t logged in to class in a year. Or come to class infrequently. There will be sizeable gaps. And the behavior issues will be more pronounced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were already huge academic gaps! And they will deal with it in the same ineffective way they always do.

I do think charter schools will be slightly more willing to redshirt.

There were definitely academic gaps, but not to this degree. This is going to be much bigger.

+1

There are kids who haven’t logged in to class in a year. Or come to class infrequently. There will be sizeable gaps. And the behavior issues will be more pronounced.

Obviously. And they will deal with it by ability grouping, remediation with specialists, IEPs and 504s, and social workers like they already do. And hopefully by offering a lot of summer school and after school extra help if there is funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were already huge academic gaps! And they will deal with it in the same ineffective way they always do.

I do think charter schools will be slightly more willing to redshirt.

There were definitely academic gaps, but not to this degree. This is going to be much bigger.

It will be fine, self-contained teachers have been doing this. Teaching 3 grade levels and then teaching children who are 1-3 years behind...making 6 different levels. Many gen ed teachers in title 1 schools do this too, you can teach 4th grade and have students on a K level.

Differentiating is a skill any good teacher has.

[Anonymous]

There is no plan. It’s going to be a sh*tshow and anyone telling you otherwise is in denial.

Gap was already there but will be immensely larger. Principals and teachers will be pressured from DCPS to help get these kids up and all the time and resources will be focused on them especially if you are at a title 1 school.

[Anonymous]

Every school is planning a 4 week (5 full days a week) summer program. Now who will run these classes! Anyone’s guess. I assume most teachers won’t want to work the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every school is planning a 4 week (5 full days a week) summer program. Now who will run these classes! Anyone’s guess. I assume most teachers won’t want to work the summer.

DCPS has been offering voluntary summer school for years and many teachers do want to work the summer. They have financial goals just like anyone else. I did it myself before I had kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no plan. It’s going to be a sh*tshow and anyone telling you otherwise is in denial.

Gap was already there but will be immensely larger. Principals and teachers will be pressured from DCPS to help get these kids up and all the time and resources will be focused on them especially if you are at a title 1 school.

+1. The kids who were bored in the past but who continued to make progress this year will be super bored. And, of course, DCPS won’t be worried about them.

[Anonymous]

At best, they will teach to middle. More likely they will teach to the bottom 25%. Resources will be spent on those farthest from opportunity and the rest can mark time until 2022-23 SY.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, right now there is NO plan. Some schools aren't even willing to acknowledge there will be a problem yet.

[Anonymous]

Its society's problem. Fail them, pass them, their education never mattered. No one cared before the pandemic, no one cared during the pandemic, no one will care after the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

I wish DCPS gave parents a choice in what grade to enroll their child. one child did Ok with distance learning - one child bombed. (Mostly Cs - some Ds but all with a lot of parental support). I would like my child to have the opportunity to repeat these classes - as many of these are the base for upper level classes. If you have a gap in level 1 high school language- chances of turning it around for level 2 are slim

[Anonymous]

The gaps were always there and were always this large. I have always had students from the 1st percentile in the same class as students in the 95th percentile or higher. Differentiation is usually a word that gets tossed around, but it actually can be done. Unfortunately, most people don’t have the training and or the time to be able to implement it with fidelity. Montessori schools have students from various grade levels in one class, so it is possible.