By Anthony Rifilato and Jonann Brady
At last week's first school board meeting of the academic year, a number of parents whose children had recently entered Middle School asked the board about requirements for kids entering honors classes.
Some wondered whether the district's policy of allowing all children into Honors classes meant that standards would be lowered.
While the parents who spoke at the meeting seemed to believe that the all-inclusive policy was a new one, district administrators said that honors classes had been open to all students for at least five years.
The only recent change to the program, according to Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Jeffrey Hollman after the meeting, is that beginning this year, kids can choose one to four honors classes in any combination. Previously, kids could take all four honors classes -- English, Social Studies, Science and Math -- or a combination of English and Social Studies or Science and Math only.
"It's not a cut and dried system," said Hollman after the meeting. "There's no minimum entrance requirement or requirements to stay in."
The process of entering the Honors program is a "human one," he said. "If kids and parents want a child to challenge an honors course, they should have a chance."
If an honors class is seen by educators as inappropriate for a certain child, they will meet with the child and parent to discuss it, and if a class proves too difficult, a child can opt out of the class, said Hollman.
Hollman added that inclusion does not mean lower standards.
"There is a misunderstanding that standards will go down. That's just not true," he said.
According to a parent who attended the meeting, she and others were under the impression that students needed to maintain an 85 average to stay in honors classes.
"It seems the way it's been presented that there's been a relaxation of the standards," said Barbara Cohen, whose child is in sixth grade and will be eligible for honors classes next year.
Parents need more information on the requirements of the honors program, said Cohen and other parents. "I love the inclusion part but it needs guidelines," said Cohen at the meeting.
Parents also commented on what they said was a lack of clarity about Academic Intervention Services (AIS) and Study Skills Tutorials (SST).
One parent, Cathy Muscente said that she was not informed ahead of time that her daughter would be placed in an SST class because she scored poorly on her seventh grade finals.
Weiss acknowledged the need to explain to parents the kind of services on the school schedule.
Schoen said part of the problem could be confusion over all the acronyms. "It's a problem with initials," he said. "Maybe on the web site there should be a glossary."
Another parent, Ellen Holland said she wanted to know what the policy was that puts a child in that program.
Jeffrey Hollman said students who struggle are often identified by teachers as needing academic intervention services. He also said that parents can opt out of SST services.
The board also announced the implementation of an after-school tutoring program provided by SCOPE, an independent Smithtown-based organization which provides educational services.
SCOPE will provide Saturday and after school tutoring services, which will be available for grades two through six with a $350 registration fee for 30 hours of instruction in the fall/winter and spring/summer. Although there will be no district money allocated for the program, Baldwin Schools will provide building space and classes for SCOPE.
"We don't know a lot about it," said Weiss. "It's not our program. An
evaluation of the program would be up to parents and teachers."
Bill Edelman, the board's vice president, said he would like to see the district participate in a similar program of their own if the SCOPE program works.
"We might be able to manage it on our own if it works out," he said.
