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Committee advances plan to eliminate ninth-grade 'general' level, add MTSS supports
Summary
Kutztown Area SD committee recommended removing the "general" course level for ninth grade and enrolling students in academic courses supported by MTSS interventions, plus new "Math Plus" and reading/writing lab supports; the proposal was referred to the full board for a vote.
The Policy & Curriculum Committee for Kutztown Area SD voted to send to the full board a department recommendation to eliminate the "general" course level in ninth grade and instead place ninth graders in academic-level classes backed by a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS).
The curriculum director, who led the presentation, said district data show a sizeable share of ninth graders currently labeled "general": 29% in language arts, 28% in U.S. history and 42% in science, and that the general cohort is disproportionately economically disadvantaged (67% in the general category versus 18% in honors and 45% in academic). "Ninth grade is a huge transition year for students," the director said, arguing that moving students into academic-level instruction with targeted interventions will increase access to grade-level standards.
The department proposed two specific supports: "Math Plus," an additional period paired with algebra to provide targeted skill instruction and retest opportunities, and a Reading & Writing Lab that would use data to place students and add instruction as needed. The curriculum director described MTSS as a tiered model in which teams of teachers meet regularly to identify students for tier 2 interventions and escalate to more intensive supports if progress stalls.
Committee members pressed staff on classroom differentiation and honors expectations. One member said parents worry that mixing general and academic students could slow honors students; the director replied teachers will use data to distribute students and apply small-group instruction, and that class sizes would not increase as a result. A resident raised concerns about communication with families after noting a student at 50% in math; committee members said the proposal includes increased outreach and periodic marking-period progress reports.
The committee emphasized that the change is a pilot for ninth grade only: the district would monitor outcomes and keep general levels for grades 10–12 this year while determining whether to expand the approach. Committee members voted by voice to move the proposal to the full board for consideration next week.
Next steps: the full school board will consider the recommendation at its upcoming meeting; staff will provide monitoring data if the board approves the referral.
