Reply to APS - How are Grd 7 & 8 intensified courses?

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Reply to "APS - How are Grd 7 & 8 intensified courses?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'd say the jury is still somewhat out.  We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids.  For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes.  They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.[/quote]
According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted.  That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.  [/quote]

GT kids are supposed to be clustered but until last year the clusters could be as small as 5 kids.  Keep in mind intensified is NOT the same as GT.  Very clearly APS went along with this once an equity argument was made and there's a big push to get a wide range of kids into these classes with lots of support to be successful.  [/quote]
The GT cluster size increased to a minimum of 10 kids a few years ago.  Given the big percentages of GT kids at many Arlington schools, I suspect intensified classes could easily be more than 50% GT kids. [/quote]

In Middle Schools we have seen this clustering.  Elementary schools seem to be ignoring it, mostly, perhaps due to kids being identified throughout, not sure.  Anyone else with that impression?[/quote]

They still do clusters any ours. In fact, almost every classroom has a gifted cluster in some grades.[/quote]

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