Eastchester schools propose pilot accelerated‑learning program for grades 2–5, contingent on budget

Dr. Valente, superintendent of the Eastchester Union Free School District, told the school board that the district plans to pilot an Accelerated Learning Program for students in grades 2 through 5 beginning in September and anchored in the elementary WIN (What I Need) period.

The proposal calls for one full‑time teacher, certified in gifted and talented education, to work on a six‑day rotation between Anne Hutchinson (Ann Hutch) and Greenvale elementary schools and to serve up to about 80 students at each school (a maximum of roughly 20 per grade level). Students would attend a 60‑minute pullout during the WIN period for project‑based, interdisciplinary enrichment rather than additional drill in regular classroom subjects.

The district would identify candidates using existing NWEA achievement data and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). As presented, students considered for ALP would generally need to score at or above the 90th percentile on NWEA (ELA and/or math) and on the CogAT; the committee retained flexibility to adjust cutoffs if enrollment numbers or needs require it. Parents would have the option to opt out; the committee also will review parent requests to consider a child for the program.

"We're looking to launch in September," Dr. Valente said, adding the program is "data driven" but that teacher input would be part of selection. Doctor William Meyer, the committee chair, said combining an ability score with achievement results would produce a more holistic identification: "If the teacher's observing and working with your gifted and talented accelerated teacher and they agree, hey, this child is doing very well, is benefiting from it, this one experience is the right one, then we wouldn't have to retest that child."

Committee members said they expect the ALP to support districtwide instructional practices over time. "If it was done and done well, it isn't going to just impact a specific group of learners. It should ripple out to the entire school community," said a member of the committee, describing plans to extend capstone projects and competitions such as Destination Imagination and Science Olympiad to broader student participation in later years.

The committee named for the pilot includes Doctor William Meyer (chair), Joanna Cenisi (Greenvale principal), Laura Capiello (Anne Hutch principal), Caitlin Mondelli (Waverly principal), Robert Jacoby (director of technology), and literacy coaches Maria Elena Barbuto, Christina Aron Conrad and Dana Orlando. The committee will also interview candidates for the ALP teacher and make a recommendation to the superintendent.

Staff said the program design favors a single, certified teacher to ensure a consistent curriculum and parent communication during the pilot. Superintendent Valente said the district could pursue broader faculty professional development instead of hiring immediately, but that training the whole faculty would take more time.

Budget and scheduling caveats were raised repeatedly. Valente said the district intends to remain under the 2% tax levy cap and is assuming no increase in state aid for planning purposes; he also warned that expected tuition revenue for special‑needs placements may be down "about $300,000–$400,000." He said the ALP teacher could be funded only "if we satisfy our basic needs" in the 2025–26 budget process. "Program‑based and zero‑based budgeting" approaches will guide decisions about whether the district can add the ALP teacher or pursue districtwide professional development instead.

Board members asked about reassessment, incoming students without local test scores, and parental waiver/opt‑in procedures. Valente said the CogAT would not necessarily be administered every year for students already in the program; the district will test incoming students with the NWEA and administer the CogAT on entry as needed to inform placement. "Parents have the right to waive their children out," Valente said of the pilot.

Actionable next steps the district outlined: the committee will finalize selection criteria, identify candidates in spring assessment windows, interview and recommend the ALP teacher, and present budget implications during the February budget conversations. The superintendent and committee emphasized the program is a pilot and that many design details remain subject to committee judgment and budget approval.

Votes at this meeting and other agenda items were handled separately; the ALP presentation itself did not include a board vote. The district plans additional follow‑up and community communication as the committee completes its work.