As parents, we deserve to see the full picture before such a major change is made to our children’s education.
Published: 31 minutes agoAs a parent with children in the Anchorage School District , I’ve been following the district’s proposed Academies of Anchorage program closely. Like many of you, I’ve heard the promises that this program will increase student engagement and improve graduation rates. However, after researching the “model” district ASD and their consultants, Ford Next Generation Learning , have repeatedly asked us to look at — the Academies of Nashville — I have serious concerns.
I first identified this inconsistency in late June and reached out to ASD executives for clarification, offering to meet and discuss. To date, I have not received a response.Another key promise of the program is that Academy students outperform their peers academically and are better prepared for postsecondary education or careers. However, my research tells a different story.
Chronic absenteeism rates in Nashville’s Academy schools range from 37% to 65%. This shows that the very students who need to be engaged the most are not being reached by this program. Despite the focus on career and technical education pathways, the Academies of Nashville are failing to connect with the students they need to reach.
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