Jericho UFSD lays out off-grade and single-acceleration options for middle school families

Ivy Sherman, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, opened a parent information session explaining options for middle‑school acceleration and introduced principal Mr. Gleason and curriculum associates Janna Ostroff and Helene Kriegstein.

Kriegstein and Ostroff described two models: single acceleration (commonly offered in 8th grade, allowing students to take Algebra 1 or Earth and Space as high‑school courses) and off‑grade acceleration (OGA), where 7th graders take high‑school‑level coursework and Regents exams two years ahead. "The reason why you accelerate is because you wanna gain access to upper level courses down the road," the principal said, framing acceleration as access rather than an endpoint.

Both presenters emphasized that the district offers multiple pathways so students are not permanently tracked out of higher‑level coursework. Kriegstein said nonaccelerated students can still reach AP or advanced calculus through summer courses or co‑enrollment, and Ostroff noted that in high school students are mixed by course rather than kept in cohort tracks.

Administrators stressed selection is meant to match readiness: "We really look at this as a holistic approach," Kriegstein said, noting teachers complete rubrics on habits of mind — perseverance, reasoning and social‑emotional maturity — in addition to exam and grade data.

The district also flagged procedural details parents should note: enrollment in OGA has historically been small (about one section), single acceleration is open‑enrollment, and credits for 7th‑grade high‑school‑level courses are not recorded as high‑school course credit even when the Regents exam result is accepted on the transcript.