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District to expand Project Tree enrichment, keep accelerated high-school credit options in place
Summary
District staff proposed moving Project Tree pullout services into students’ home schools, expanding K–3 classroom enrichment, preserving accelerated math and ELA credit pathways and seeking additional staff at Northeast School.
District curriculum staff presented proposed changes to the Project Tree enrichment and acceleration program at the Feb. 19 board meeting, aimed at keeping enrichment inside students’ home schools and expanding access for younger grades.
Presenters said the plan would stop the early-morning pullout model that required some students to travel between buildings. Under the proposal, K–3 students would receive aligned classroom enrichment during a new district-supported 45-minute intervention/enrichment block (“win time”), with consistent lesson materials developed by grade-level ELA and math representatives. Grades 4–5 would receive classroom core instruction plus pull-out enrichment; grades 6–8 would continue the current accelerated math and ELA offerings that allow eighth graders to earn high-school credits in algebra and English.
District staff told the board they want to preserve single-subject and grade-level acceleration where appropriate, citing two eighth graders currently taking honors geometry in high school as examples of successful acceleration. The plan also proposes expanding the part-time (0.5) Project Tree teacher position at Northeast School to a full-time role.
Speakers stressed equity and access: staff were asked to analyze qualifying data so resources can be distributed more evenly and Northeast receives comparable staffing to other schools. The presenters said the change is intended to reduce bus time, increase instructional minutes and give principals more flexibility in master scheduling.
Board members asked about teacher workload and how enrichment activities would be developed and shared; presenters said the district will provide ready-to-use enrichment units so classroom teachers are not expected to create extra materials alone.
Ending: District staff said they will return with implementation timelines and staffing requests; the board’s consent agenda later included an item to approve a 0.5 Project Tree teacher at Northeast School (see Votes at a glance).
