U-46 offers options for students with higher reading skills
Nearly half of Elgin Area School District U-46 middle school students will not be required to take reading next school year, officials said.
Reading will not be mandatory for all students at U-46's eight middle schools starting next year because placement into reading courses will depend on scores.
"Students scoring above the 50th percentile will have the opportunity to choose other electives, which one of them is advanced reading," said Perry Hayes, principal of Ellis Middle School, who was part of a team that developed reading program changes. "The 50th percentile and below is really anyone below grade level in reading. If you qualify for reading, you will get reading and one other elective."
Other elective courses offered include, rotation (art, family and consumer science, Project Lead the Way, and computer technology), speech and debate, health education, and world language, for which students have to be above grade level in reading.
Speech and debate is a new elective this year offered at all eight middle schools, Hayes said.
"We're looking to help shore up and get kids ready for high school, not only for debate club type of competition, but give students the opportunity for public speaking and presentations," he said.
U-46 middle school students take multiple reading tests throughout the year used to gauge whether they require support.
Next school year, 41 percent, or 1,239 middle schoolers will be required to take reading based on consistently scoring below the 50th percentile in the current school year. For 13 percent, or 381 students, placement into a reading course will be at the principal's discretion because those students scored above the 50th percentile once this school year. Also, 46 percent, or 1,371 students, do not have to take reading next year and will have their choice of two elective courses, officials said.
U-46 administrators tried changing the middle school reading program for the current school year, but decided against it after parents, teachers and students complained that the cut score was set too low - at the 30th percentile, meaning any student scoring above that mark would not have been required to take a reading class. That proposal also did not offer an advanced reading class option as an elective.
Officials say they haven't had any push back from parents on the reading program changes.
"Choice usually is something that parents want," said Laura Hill, U-46 director of assessment and accountability. "Speech and debate is another English choice for these students, as well. If (teachers) see a lot of progress in the student, it might open up an elective for them. The purpose of reading class is to really work on strategies for lower-level reading students. We wanted to fit the needs of the students who were actually being served in that (reading) class."
In the past, students who fell below the 20th percentile would automatically get extra reading support.
"Now everyone below grade level will get reading, and individual schools may look at the number of students who are at the 20th percentile and below and see if they need extra support," Hayes said.
Ellis will offer two classes of advanced reading next year. "Kids who enjoy reading at least have the opportunity to take that in class," Hayes said.
The school will use Title I funds to provide additional reading support for students below the 20th percentile, he added.
"Really, the bottom line is, the kids that need reading are going to get reading, and the kids that enjoy reading can take advanced classes. We thought we've come up with a solution that really satisfies everyone," Hayes said.