We are a group of parents with children in District 181 with serious concerns regarding the sweeping changes that were approved by the Board of Education to the district wide curriculum based on an incomplete evaluation by the administration. As parents we do not have confidence in this district's leadership to make decisions that support the core standards and to provide a transparent, trustworthy environment where parents input is actually considered.
Our concerns include some or all of the following:
· As parents we do not approve for our children to be part of a non-research based project which is an “educational risk”, i.e. the @d181 Initiative (iPads). Please do not approve the use of more tax payer money for this unsubstantiated initiative. There are other forms of technology that provide value to schools.
· With the adoption of new language arts programs last school year and the acceleration of Everyday Math program, the teachers have not had adequate time to prepare for this school year. How are the children who need extra help being supported while the whole class is being accelerated? How are the needs of children who have already mastered the compacted math being addressed?
· The schools are missing new materials and the teachers are scrambling to address current school year needs with all of the changes that were approved in the spring. There is no content that was prepared over the summer.
· The new Philosophy of Teaching & Learning has mandated the Response to Intervention (Rti) process be used for addressing any child’s learning needs but that involves an extensive use of substitute teachers and a cumbersome and time consuming process for teachers and parents. The needs of all learners, including the advanced learners, cannot be addressed by an incomplete Rti process as defined on the district website. Parents and teachers deserve to have clear guidelines when being asked to follow this process.
We are tired of waiting for the administrative leadership to provide a clear goal that really addresses needs of ALL learners without compromising any learner’s needs.
Please sign this petition to support some or all of these concerns.
