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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I thought long before making this post yet I feel this video is very relevant to discussion of the OP's original question.

As an ACPS parent, I watched the 12/18/14 Alexandria City School Board meeting, where board member Kelly Booz introduced an amendment to add a single Honors Class by fall of 2015 during Agenda #9 discussion of "2015-2016 Program of Studies". It turns out a good number of ACPS students themselves are asking the school board for more choice between academic "standard classes" and "AP classes".

An hour of board discussion ensued. Repetitive back and forth between the Superintendent and amongst Board Members on if enough time exists between now, mid December 2014, and September 2015 to allow even a single Honors class be added to at least address student's request for a more rigorous class than standard. The Superintendent said it was possible, but also thought more lead time was preferable, to this viewer urging the following academic year 2016-2017.

I didn't believe some who wrote on this thread that ACPS shorts the above average  students and gifted students. I just thought that ethically impossible. Watch the video discussion starting at 1:22 and make your own judgement.

Listen where a Board member addresses the request: "it's a matter of priorities". Multiple times the word "priorities" is said, code, one might deduce, for not on the agenda for the great majority of students. I almost had to turn the ACPS Board meeting off, it broke my heart how some students are higher "priorities" in ACPS.

Ms. Booz earnest amendment for a single new Honor's class in 2015-2016 was vetoed 5to 4.

If a single new ACPS Honors class for 2015-2016, urged by Alexandria students themselves for more rigor can't get passed and completed over 9 months, then there is a big problem in ACPS.

If ACPS Board refers to the majority of students as "priorities" and these exclude honors and gifted students, then it appears the Alexandria City Public Schools may indeed be lopsided. Strong words, yes? Remember, I didn't believe you initially. It is now less hard for me at least to believe, after watching and listening to this sad, prolonged, beat-around-the-priority-bush hour of the ACPS Board Meeting this week.

I post this not to rankle ACPS School Board members, but to facilitate further discussion amongst Alexandrian's and as commentary to the OP's original question.

http://acpsk12va.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2 
(1:22 for board discussion, preceded by staff presentation)
[/quote]

Thanks. I didn't listen to the video, but I'd bet there was also concern that offering an Honors class might lead some kids not to take the AP class - which might be bad for TC's "Challenge Index" rating.

But, just to be clear, I think that's BS and that letting kids take Honors classes builds up their confidence to take more challenging classes, particularly as juniors and seniors.

[/quote]

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