Anonymous wrote:The section of the MSMC report:
"Research also highlights the importance of integrating students of different backgrounds and ability levels at the classroom level in helping to decrease achievement gaps. Magnet schools that effectively integrate students at the classroom level, as well as at the school level, provide
opportunities for students from various backgrounds to learn together, which help break down socioeconomic barriers and allow students to benefit from one another academically which can help to diminish preconceptions and stereotypes about other groups.199 Research also suggests that strategies to integrate students within classrooms, such as through cooperative learning, benefit achievement of low-income students because all students have equal opportunities to participate in rigorous academic work. Conversely, ability grouping or tracking can serve to
diminish the benefits of socioeconomically-integrated schools because students do not have opportunities to interact with different groups of students in meaningful learning experiences. This can actually widen the achievement gap between high- and low- performing students over
time.”200
Yet, some argue that integrating students of mixed ability levels within classrooms may negatively impact outcomes of high achieving students.201 However, schools have effectively achieved integration at the school and classroom level using methods such as small group pullout
services for enrichment or differentiation. Additionally, at the secondary level, schools offer classes with an honors option, so that students who can and are interested in pursuing higher level instruction can do so by completing extra assignments and classwork. These strategies allow high achieving students to receive rigorous instruction within integrated class environments.202"
If you are reading conclusions/findings from the Magnet consortia choice, applying them to the test in magnets and failing to realize it is out of context.... I don't know what to tell you....