Honors Designation at Northfield High School Prepared for 5/7/12 – revised 5/29/12

Meeting Agenda Introduction Honors Designation Overview Laurie Gossens, WSSU Superintendent Honors Designation Overview Ryan Parkman, NMHS Principal Reflections & Observations Panel of teachers and parents who participated on NHS visiting team to Kearsarge Regional High School. Questions & Answers Moderated by Jerry Cassels, NMHS Guidance Counselor

ENDS POLICY: ACADEMIC COMPETENCE (E.01) All Supervisory Union students will meet or exceed high academic standards by acquiring the knowledge and skills essential for reading, writing, communication, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and technology. The Supervisory Union will eliminate the achievement gap of disparate performance between identical student groups and will make yearly progress toward eliminating the achievement gap.

THE CALL FOR HETEROGENEOUS GROUPING NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) recommends that NMHS research grouping models and adopt grouping practices that reflect the diversity of the student body, foster heterogeneity, reflect current research and best practices, and support the achievement of the school’s mission and expectations for student learning. (Specifically requested for 5-year report due March 1, 2012 – original recommendation in NEASC report from May 6-9, 2007.)

WHAT IS HONORS DESIGNATION? Heterogeneously grouped classes in which students enter into a contract requiring them to engage in challenging educational experiences that go beyond the standards in areas of critical thinking, analysis and application. These students will also have to maintain a higher level of mastery in each course. Specific requirements for each course may vary.

HOW DOES HONORS DESIGNATION INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES? Increases the number of students that have the ability to earn Honors. With Honors Designation, there will be ten sections in which students have the opportunity to earn honors compared with only four separate sections of those classes. Higher Expectations for every student in each class. Expect every student to be college ready: College is any post-secondary training.

NHS COURSE OFFERINGS 2012-2013 English: History: American Lit., Language Arts 9-10, World Lit., Honors World Lit., Language and Comp., Honors Language and Comp., AP Lit. and Comp., Diversity in Lit., Crime in Lit., British Lit., and Public Speaking. History: U.S. History, AP U.S. History, World History, AP World History, Psychology, Introduction to Sociology.

NHS COURSE OFFERINGS 2012-2013 Mathematics: Science: Pre-Algebra, Algebra (1a/1b), Geometry (1a/1b), Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 2, Functions Statistics & Trigonometry, Honors Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus, Math for Business, Personal Finance. Science: Science 1, Science 2, Forensic Science, Intro to Engineering, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Environmental Science & Sustainability.

WHERE IS THE CHANGE? Incoming Freshman: Incoming Sophomores: U.S. History, American Lit. and Science 1. Incoming Sophomores: Science 2. All students in these classes can earn Honors Designation. Still offer eleven Honors or AP courses in separate sections.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Study Group of teachers to meet throughout the year. Examine the number of courses offering Honors Designation. Continual monitoring of course offerings to meet policy on class size. Expand course offerings through Virtual learning.

SCHEDULING STRUGGLES Singleton classes: Science 2 example: Currently offering three sections w/lab during periods 2/3, 3/4, & 6/7. The 2/3 section forces students into Honors World Lit. and AP World History. The 3/4 section forces students into Honors World Lit. and some lose Health and/or Spanish II/III. The 6/7 section forces students into Algebra 2. Honors Designation in Science 2 will allow all students to take the other courses they requested.

WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE HETEROGENOUS GROUPING? Champlain Valley Union High School (VT) – Students in 9th and 10th grade are placed in heterogeneously grouped classes, there are no honors sections or any form of honors designation. AP courses are available, mostly for upper grades. Colchester High School (VT) – Students may earn Honors distinction through high achievement on the Habits of Learning Rubric used in many of the courses in the Green House (students in the 9th & 10th grades).

WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE HETEROGENOUS GROUPING? Stowe High School (VT)- No honors versions of any courses are offered at any grade. AP courses are available, mostly for upper grades. Currently ranked #1 in Vermont by US News. Kearsarge Regional High School (NH) – Honors Designation: An Honors designation option is offered to all students who wish to pursue advanced academic studies in World Languages and all heterogeneously grouped courses (9th & 10th grade).

PANEL OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS FROM VISITING TEAM Reflections and/observations on Honors Designation and their involvement in this process. Question and Answer session: Moderated by Jerry Cassels.

HONORS DESIGNATION INFORMATIONAL MEETING Thank you for coming tonight and for your interest and support in the education of the youth of Northfield.