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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school.  (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. [b] I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.  [/b]

3.  Middle school is a tough age.  Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty.  Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.
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As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school.  On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.[/quote]

Homework is fundamentally inequitable.

Many students don't have stable environments at home to perform homework, no quiet space, no desk, maybe bad internet, or their parents aren't home or speak english so can't help (and you know some parents DO help).  On top of that, many are caring for younger children, or working in the family business in the afternoon/evenings.

Because of this, homework has been shown to increase the achievement gap, and thus will be eliminated throughout APS eventually.[/quote]

Infuriating. Race to the bottom.  Equity is supposed to be about giving support to bring up those who need it. This approach is about squishing everyone down. 
 
Parents with resources will supplement so their kids will have homework anyway. Maybe I’m cynical but schools really can’t equalize for all the disparities in life. [/quote]

YES!
And nor SHOULD schools be expected to equalize for all life disaparities.  Education is a tool and a pathway to opportunity and overcoming economic, social, and academic disparities.  But every person is not equally talented in all areas - there are, and always will be, differences.  Part of life - and an aspect of life all kids need to learn to deal with and try to overcome.[/quote]

Public schools have to be equitable or they will be sued nonstop. Colleges have a lot of latitude in admissions and that is the time when differentiation can start. [/quote]

Again, "equity" is not the same as "equal."  Public schools can be equitable without dumbing down for higher-performing students.  Equity does not mean that every student has the same capabilities and the exact same support systems outside of school.  Schools are not responsible for outside support systems and should not be expected or required to go about the business of education from the "least common denominator" approach.  Nobody can expect every student to graduate from any individual school with the exact same experience or level of achievement in every area.  The suggestion that that is what is meant by "equity" is ridiculous.[/quote]

Rip Van Winkle here apparently fell asleep in 2019 and just woke up. [b]This is exactly what they mean when they say “equity” now.[/b] [/quote]

That may be; but they're wrong and it's sending our schools (and society) downhill fast.  Another example of seizing on a term and running with it thoughtlessly and taking the easiest way to superficially achieving the goal.

Remember that visual folks (including the SB) used to like to pull out to demonstrate "equity" - the kids standing on various sized/# of boxes looking over the fence to watch the baseball game?  All the kids get to see the game by giving the kids who couldn't see over the fence boxes to stand on; not by cutting the fence line lower so the smallest one could see over and keeping all the kids on the same starting point.  APS seems to miss that and is going about it backwards:  lowering the goal so everyone reaches it, instead of helping those in need achieve the higher standard.  
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