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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I posted above.  I think APS could use ATS as an example of some things that work really well w/out implementing homework and dress code.  I am talking about the emphasis on literacy that I feel goes above and beyond what we saw at our last APS school. I think it also involves teaching much more than the VA Standards of Learning requirements.  That's a great baseline, but kids can and should learn more than that.   It also has a culture of expecting "great things" from every teacher, child, administrator and valuing parents as key partners in their child's learning journey.  
Why couldn't those things work at other APS schools? I am not saying they don't exist any some other APS schools (I know for sure they do and that there are many excellent neighborhood schools), but I do not believe they exist consistently across APS schools, and that's a pity.

Rather than tear ATS down and say it shouldn't exist (no one here on this thread has said it but I hear it A LOT)  wouldn't parents who are unhappy with their child's school be better served to use ATS as a  model of some (not all) of the types of things they would like to see implanted across the board? Just a thought.

If you ask APS to get rid of ATS, how does that send a message that you'd like to see some of the same qualities at your neighborhood school?[/quote]

NP.  I think I share the sentiment of your comments, though probably not the same vision for it.  I think you're absolutely right that the best, most effective and desired aspects of ATS easily could (and should) be implemented in every single school in the system.

There is an APS dress code that pertains to all schools.  It doesn't require tucked-in shirts; but APS could beef their dress code up a bit and put more emphasis on enforcement.  Of course, this runs you into the racist accusations because dress codes apparently single out minority girls.  That's another discussion.

The other thing that can and should be implemented systemwide is what you elude to regarding expectations.  The expectations of students and teachers is different at each school.  Why?  Aren't kids at Barcroft just as capable as kids at Taylor?  Having experience with a range of schools in APS now, I can attest to how the expectations are significantly different; and that impacts the way the administration and teachers approach instruction and therefore the outcomes of that instruction.  One ATS-specific example:  students are encouraged/expected to read 50 books over the summer.  At my kids' elementary school, the goal was 10.

APS needs to stop lowering their expectations and standards because they believe certain students and their families are not capable due to lack of time, money, or transportation.  Yes, food is important.  But that's not APS' responsibility. The County should be tending to those needs (can work with and through the schools; but should be the County's responsibility to pay for and administer) and the schools can then focus on what IS their responsibility:  educating the children.

Consistency in curriculum across schools would help, too, if they are offering the most effective ones.  Why is ATS allowed to use the reading program it uses and other schools use something else that clearly is not as effective?

But I wouldn't just get rid of ATS - yet.  As long as it provides a more rigorous and arguably more effective education with higher expectations and standards for its students, parents should be able to opt for it.  In the meantime, implement those same expectations and standards at all the other schools, and eventually there won't be a need for an ATS.  Then you can eliminate it.  I honestly don't think parents are choosing ATS because their kid is required to tuck in their shirt.  And I don't think you have to have the same excessive expectation among the parents to volunteer and be so heavily involved (something I think is a product of both ATS principal and the PTA parents).  But those other things ATS does - why can't all the schools do them????
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