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Parents and teachers urge Newark Unified to keep sixth-grade cohort and flex model
Summary
Multiple teachers, parents and students at the March 17 board meeting urged the Newark Unified Board of Education not to dismantle the sixth-grade cohort model or the flex/intervention block, saying the approach improved safety, attendance and academics and warning that removing it risks reversing gains.
Board members heard sustained public comment March 17 from teachers, parents and a sixth-grade student urging the Newark Unified School District to preserve the sixth-grade cohort model and its flex/intervention period.
Hardy Court, a sixth-grade teacher and district graduate, told the board that the cohort model and intervention block helped transform a middle school once known for frequent fights and instability into a safer, more consistent environment. “Simply put, these structures are working,” Court said, noting that of the 10 teachers who started the sixth-grade program, nine remain.
Parents echoed that view. Angela Silvera, a parent of two students who experienced the cohort model, said families were given “clear, very clear assurances” when sixth grade moved to the middle school, including cohort groupings and separation from older students for lunch. She said those assurances matter to trust and retention: “If the goal is student retention and strong community trust, then we should be building programs that families believe in, not cutting the ones that are working.”
A current sixth grader, Adeline Silvera, described the student experience: having two core teachers for two periods helped her connect, reduced overwhelm and made the transition into middle school easier.
District staff and the superintendent acknowledged recent community concern and said they had reviewed FTE allocations and have not finalized any master schedule changes. The superintendent said no decision to end the site flex model has been made and that human resources and educational services will continue to work with sites to build master schedules.
Board members said they appreciated the public input and emphasized they want to protect successful programs. Member Jones asked staff to ensure superintendent reports and attachments are available with the posted agenda so the public can review proposals in advance.
The meeting record shows no formal board action to change the sixth-grade design at this session; board members said any program changes would follow a deliberative process with community and teacher input.
