By JUDY RATTNER
But that's exactly how a group of educators in the American Educational Research Association (AERA) has come to view the district.
Last Thursday, more than 70 members of AERA came to see for themselves how the public schools here actually work. Combined with a review of studies and papers written about Rockville Centre schools, it's safe to say these AERA educators hold the district in high regard.
In Manhattan for their annual convention, the educators from all over the country and the world took a side trip to Rockville Centre to meet with school administrators, guidance department staff, teachers and students. After a brief introduction at South Side High School, they split up and observed high school, middle school and Wilson Elementary School classes. Some also spoke with a select group of students in the high school library. Before they left, the reseachers participated in a question and answer session and shared observations.
They were focused on learning how Rockville Centre's educators have already achieved what they say other school districts are still far from attaining -- measurable educational growth and equity for all populations in a racially and socioeconomically diverse public education setting.
The educators looked at what they believe is Rockville Centre's successful approach. The district long ago abandoned ability grouping that kept students on separate tracks. This "detracked" approach, they believe, enables every one of its students to receive a rigorous course of study that includes an enriched and sometimes accelerated curriculum, in what the educators described as "a culture of excellence" among the students.
The visitors learned that from kindergarten through the end of 10th grade, all students in the district are on one track. Struggling students are offered "fluid" support classes and/or tutoring. In 11th grade, students choose either a Regents or an International Baccalaureate diploma or certificate. Researchers have found that in Rockville Centre, high achievers are doing better, and more students have become high achievers in the detracked classrooms, citing statistics that back those findings up. The researchers were told by school superintendent Dr. William Johnson that "no stone will remain unturned to make sure every child is both served appropriately, and challenged."
Delia Garrity, Rockville Centre's assistant superintendent for curriculum, said a team of teachers and central administrators worked hard to develop and implement this approach. Teachers were included every step of the way, she said. "Their expertise and collective wisdom is honored," Garrity said of the teachers. "They created the curriculum, they're teaching it and they're behind it."
"I'm always surprised at how much interest there is from around the globe in what we're doing here in Rockville Centre and how well known we are," said Johnson after the visit.
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