8 March 17 - April 6, 2012 Schools, From Page 1 “There is no one approach that works best for all stu-
dents and we pride ourselves on having so many quality opportunities,” Locke reports. “One student might benefit from a certain approach where another student, some- times a sibling, would flourish in a different approach. We provide parent choice options at Patterson Elementary, enabling families to choose either a traditional or classic classroom at the same school. This has been so popular that we will open Carlson Elementary in July with the same choice for parents.”
Community
year, some in CTAs and others in classic model classrooms. And while families living within the boundaries are guaran- teed enrollment at Carlson, only students who meet specific criteria will be admitted into the school’s CTA. Like parents across the SanTanSun area, families will
have to decide which way to steer their children. “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to education,”
Locke says. “We are working hard to meet the varied expectations of families.” For many parents, the task of evaluating the various aca-
demic styles and determining which type would best meet their child’s needs is a daunting task with serious long term implications. To help sift through the choices, CUSD offers assistance ranging from an informational website to individualized conferences with school personnel. “We have created a portal for our Choice is Yours mar-
keting program that enables parents to shop our schools online at
ww2.chandler.k12.az.us/choice,” Locke notes. “Parents can learn about each of our schools. And princi- pals are very open to working with parents to find the best possible fit for their child.”
More options coming Recent economic woes have placed a new emphasis on edu-
BASICS: The CTA Independence campus is at 1405 W. Lake Dr. in Southern Chandler. STSN photo
Making the choice CUSD’s newest school, Carlson Elementary, is currently
registering students for its inaugural year. It’s in the Valencia neighborhood with enrollment boundaries bordered by Chandler Heights, Riggs, Gilbert and Lindsay roads. Between 450 and 500 students are expected to attend Carlson the first
cation and its affect on a child’s economic future, leading more and more families to look beyond the classic learning model for more diversified academic opportunities, says Locke. In response, CUSD is building new construction and adapting existing space to meet this growing demand. “Hamilton Prep was a magnet program that will move in
July to the former Erie Elementary campus so we can pro- vide sufficient space,” says Locke. “It will be renamed Arizona College Prep – Erie campus and serve grades seven through 12 and eventually grades nine through 12. Likewise, we converted the former Chandler Junior High campus into Chandler Traditional Junior High. It merged with Hamilton Prep and is now called Arizona College Prep – Oakland campus. It currently serves grades six through
www.SanTanSun.com
eight and will eventually serve seven through eight.” For other parents, the best option is CUSD’s program for
gifted students, which is also expanding and offering new scholastic venues. “This year we opened the Knox Gifted Academy at Knox
Elementary,” Locke notes. “This was created with a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focus.” Plans are underway for a STEM diploma at Perry High
next year for qualifying students with a similar program coming soon to Basha High. The district is in the process of purchasing land in the far
southeast portion of the district boundaries to build future facilities as Chandler’s population grows. Plans are still in the works, but one or both locations will likely offer acad- emic options that go beyond the classic learning model. According to Locke, the Governing Board approved the
purchase of two sites. The first is 13 acres at Ocotillo and Power roads for a future elementary school at a cost of $1.3 million. The other is 31 acres at Power and Riggs roads for a school-type to be determined at a cost of $2.4 million. Voters through bond elections authorized these purchases. Projected openings are 2015.
No Child Left Behind Accountability and progress standards are also undergo-
ing changes in the wake of the state’s decision to ask for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) pro- gram. NCLB imposed strict benchmark guidelines on pub- lic schools and measured students with standardized testing. But the project was fraught with problems and limitations that often complicated the educational picture rather than advance it, according to Locke. “No Child Left Behind was certainly well intentioned. There
has sometimes been a perception issue when a school does not make adequate yearly progress (AYP). A school can be excelling by the state’s standards but fail AYP because they have not met all cate- gories. If an elementary
See Schools, Page 9
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