Frisco ISD will be taking away advanced classes next year to promote equity.

Did you know 8 middle schools will be testing a new model where on-level and advanced Integrated Language Arts (ILA) classes will be combined? The schools are Cobb, Griffin, Hunt, Lawler, Maus, Pioneer, Vandeventer, and Wester. The terms used by Frisco ISD to describe the reason for the change include "equitable practices" and "inclusive environment."  Parents of students in these schools are the only ones that received notification of the change. 

On the Frisco ISD webpage, under School Board Priorities, it says a Board priority is to “(w)ork to eliminate unconscious bias and support equity and social justice.”  In this change to promote Frisco ISD’s ideas of equity and social justice, they are taking away advanced learning opportunities away from all of our children.  Frisco ISD is placing an undue burden on teachers by unrealistically expecting them to teach kids at multiple levels simultaneously.  

Tracking methods of educating students (i.e. grouping children together according to their abilities and talents in the classroom) have been proven by numerous studies to have many benefits.  Tracking enables teachers to cater lessons toward the specific ability level of the students in the class.  In low- and normal-achievement level students, tracking can help ensure that students learn the material at their own pace without falling behind.  It also can ensure that these students are not unfairly judged against above-average students and unnecessarily discouraged.  For above-average students, this approach has shown to achieve substantial gains through challenging these students and keeping them engaged.  

So many parents move to Frisco so our children can have the opportunity to achieve academic excellence.  Our goal should be excellence for all students and every child should have equal opportunity to achieve excellence here in Frisco.  Taking opportunities for advanced learning away from children of all races in the name of social justice is not what Frisco needs.     

The mission of Frisco ISD is to know every student by name and need.  Knowing every child by name and need does not mean a one size fits all curriculum.  We don’t raise anyone up by bringing someone else down. 

Please sign this petition and share with others and urge Frisco ISD not to implement this pilot program or remove any other advanced learning opportunities.  Please also contact Frisco ISD superintendent (mikewaldrip@friscoisd.org) and the Frisco ISD school board (leaders@friscoisd.org).