Parents press NAFCS over proposed cuts to accelerated middle-school math

Several parents told the school board they believe proposed changes to the district's high-ability program will remove vital acceleration pathways and may violate state guidance.

"What the letter did not mention is that the options to take algebra in 7th grade and geometry in 8th grade are not being offered after this year," Melissa Glover told the board, saying new pacing guides remove many advanced 7th- and 8th-grade standards from the 6th-grade high-ability guide. "This hinders the ability for these high performers to get to calculus and calculus 2 in high school." (Melissa Glover, parent and public commenter.)

Marsha Ziegler, a law professor and parent, said she reviewed Indiana's statutes, the administrative code and the state high-ability handbook and warned that acceleration is a recognized element of the high-ability program. "Acceleration is what the district has taken away," she said, and urged the board to reexamine the change.

Allison Temporo, who identified herself as a Floyd County taxpayer and licensed clinical social worker, placed a formal objection on the public record and said she would request an Indiana Department of Education review and pursue public records related to the decision if the district proceeded without stakeholder input.

Superintendent Dr. Madison acknowledged parents' concerns, said the district's goal is not to lower expectations and cited checkpoint and other assessment data as part of a broader review. "Our goal is not to lower expectations for high ability students," Dr. Madison said. "We want a program that increases opportunity, continues to challenge students to the fullest extent possible, extends their knowledge and skills, provides meaningful opportunities for optimum growth." (Dr. Madison, superintendent.)

Dr. Madison said the district will hold informational sessions and Q&A meetings at each middle school in the coming weeks, will provide the checkpoint data referenced at the meeting to board members and to parents on request, and committed to improved communication.

Next steps: the district will schedule the promised meetings and make the referenced data available; parents at the meeting asked the board to examine alternatives such as separate honors classes or opt-in acceleration for students who test into advanced math.