An Arlington advocacy group wants to know: What happened to the Arlington school system’s plan for intensified social-studies programming for eighth-graders this school year?
Arlington Parents for Education recently rapped the school system’s knuckles for pulling back on the promise of such classwork, which follows previous decisions not to offer intensified classes for sixth-graders in English, science and social studies this school year.
“Providing the opportunity to take advanced classes will help keep kids who need more of a challenge engaged in middle school, and make Arlington Public Schools competitive with other neighboring districts that also offer these classes,” the organization said.
The organization noted that, in November 2022, School Board members and Superintendent Francisco Durán agreed to offer intensified classes in core courses to middle-schoolers, only to see things fall apart at the implementation level.
“The direction from the School Board and Dr. Durán was clear, and is consistent with the stated goal of meeting all students’ needs, including the needs of students looking for more of a challenge,” Arlington Parents for Education noted.
