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Parents urge Sycamore board to pause advanced-math pathway; administration cites House Bill 96 and access data
Summary
Multiple parents and a student urged the Sycamore board to pause rollout of a new advanced math pathway, saying it would erode the district—ardinal gifted math program; the district presented data and said House Bill 96 and double-gated criteria motivated broader access plans.
Dozens of parents and students urged the Sycamore Public Schools Board of Education to delay implementation of a new advanced-math pathway and preserve existing gifted math classes, saying the district—lagship program risks being "dismantled" if instruction shifts into general education.
"This gifted math program is incredible," said Gavin Gunnerson, a 10th-grader who described how accelerated and double-accelerated tracks provided challenge and community. Parents including Maggie Gunnerson and Elizabeth Sylvestri described families leaving the district or seeking alternatives after perceived reductions in gifted services.
Several speakers asked the board to pause the change for one school year to allow for community input, teacher training and a clear bridge plan for students currently in pull-out gifted services. "I'm not asking you for a change. I'm asking you for a pause to get input as proposed," said Ama Sunvi, a…
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