Addison SD 4 to add fifth-grade accelerated math course; board hears logistics and eligibility details
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Summary
District staff announced adding a fifth-grade accelerated (two years above grade level) math course next year, described eligibility criteria (3 of 5 data points) and reported current and projected enrollment figures; questions focused on scheduling, transportation and student workload.
At the board meeting Dr. Purse presented planned changes to Addison SD 4's accelerated programming, including a new fifth-grade accelerated math course scheduled to begin next year.
"Addison believes that support and access to curriculum should be equitable for all," Dr. Purse said, explaining the district will provide opportunities for students to work above grade level and that the new fifth-grade offering is designed for students who score in the district's top percentiles. She said eligibility uses a five-item criteria matrix and that students must meet three of those five criteria drawn from routine benchmark assessments and the state IAR.
Dr. Purse gave current enrollment figures: 276 sixth–eighth graders expected to be in accelerated literacy next year, nine current fourth graders projected to enter fifth-grade accelerated courses, and 91 fifth graders projected to move into accelerated math. She said the district will begin the fifth-grade class on a smaller scale and may broaden eligibility in later years.
Board members asked about the length of students’ days and transportation. Dr. Purse said advisory would start at 7:45 a.m., students would attend math first period at the junior high, and the district is planning bus routes to transport fifth graders back to their elementary schools after the junior-high math block; staff indicated costs for dedicated routes were being evaluated and that state transportation reimbursement rules have changed.
Board members did not vote on the programming changes at this meeting; administration said it will continue to refine logistics and eligibility criteria.
