Friday, February 10, 2012
Some parents say inconsistencies across county aren't fair to students
Following last month's school board decision to restore several honors courses at high schools countywide, how each school is fitting those classes into its curriculum varies widely as the system is putting its faith in principal discretion — upsetting parent advocates who worry all students won't have the same opportunities. After the Jan. 26 vote added five courses — English 11 Honors, World History and Geography 2 Honors, English 12 Honors, Virginia and U.S. History Honors, and Virginia and U.S. Government Honors — the school system's instructional services department sent out new course descriptions to all student services directors and principals to include in their course catalogs, Assistant Superintendent Peter Noonan said. …
Friday, January 27, 2012
With 11-1 vote, members also commit to re-evaluating broader curriculum
The Fairfax County School Board voted 11-1 Thursday to restore five honors courses to the high school curriculum starting with the fall semester. Board member Dan Storck (Mount Vernon) introduced the motion that will bring English Honors 11, World History Honors 2, U.S./VA History, English 12 and U.S. Government back to the 2012-13 course catalogs for on-site instruction. English Honors 11 and World History Honors 2 are currently offered online. Member Kathy Smith (Sully) voted against the motion. "I'm frustrated, disappointed that I think that the board isn't asking consequences questions," Smith said in Monday's work session on the topic. "I do not believe that three tracks serves most of our students well. If it's a question of rigor …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Join us at noon Friday for a discussion with school board member, community advocates about Fairfax County honors course offerings
The Fairfax County School Board will revisit its position next week on high-level class offerings — a discussion it put on hold last summer — so any changes made can be implemented before the 2012-2013 course catalog is printed. Dan Storck (Mount Vernon) asked the school board to reconsider its elimination of some 11th and 12th grade English and Social Studies honors courses this month so the system could implement any curriculum changes in time for the fall semester. "This directly affects students ... it's incumbent upon us to address it at the earliest possible opportunity," member Elizabeth Schultz (Springfield) said at the board's meeting last Thursday. Over the past several years, the school system has phased out honors courses in …
Barry Meuse
11:00 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Two points. First, it's a hope and far from reality that Fairfax County 'standard-level courses' are "extraordinarily rich and rigorous' (Noonan). I can applaud the hope but not neither the reality nor the effort by school administrators to achieve the hope. There are no audits of courses in Fairfax County. It's not enough to 'set standards' and sit back and await 'hoped-for' outcomes. One needs … more ›