Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Cheltenham committee narrows Algebra I placement, eyes K–5 ELA adoption and advances strategic‑plan steps
Summary
At its Jan. 20 Education Affairs meeting, Cheltenham School District officials proposed cutting Algebra I placement criteria from six to three, presented three K–5 ELA instructional‑materials finalists, and gave a year‑three strategic‑plan update covering Portrait of a Graduate, MTSS/mental‑health work, DEI efforts and facilities projects; minutes were approved and staff will return with recommendations and engagement plans.
Cheltenham School District administrators on Jan. 20 proposed streamlining how middle‑grade students are placed into Algebra I, previewed three finalist K–5 English‑language‑arts programs for district adoption and reported progress on the district’s year‑three strategic plan, including mental‑health supports and facilities work.
Dr. Savage, who framed the Algebra I placement discussion, said the district will reduce the existing six placement criteria to three: prior and current PSSA performance (proficient or advanced), an algebra placement test, and grade‑book evidence (no less than a B in the first three quarters). Savage said the change is intended to remove unnecessary “bricks in the wall” that have limited access to acceleration and that the district will still consider individual, bespoke appeals for students with special circumstances. She also flagged concerns about teacher‑recommendation subjectivity and implicit bias and said the staff want to use multiple, objective measures and clear family…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
