Cambridge Public Schools are built on a foundation of academic excellence and are committed to promoting an environment of social justice.
We believe in creating equity through rigorous opportunities for all students. During the 2015-16 school year, the English and History Departments held a series of joint meetings to discuss enhancing 9th grade instruction to address persisting opportunity gaps and the underrepresentation of students of color in Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Teachers and administrators determined that continuing to offer both Honors and College Preparatory level English and World History classes at the beginning of a student’s CRLS experience stratifies the student community and reinforces opportunity gaps. To address this problem, we decided to “level up” by having all students engage in Honors level English and World History instruction. Therefore, beginning in September 2017, 9th grade English Language Arts will be leveled up so that all students are enrolled in Honors English 9. In September 2018, history will be leveled up so that all students will be enrolled in Honors World History. This implementation plan was made after careful study and several conversations among teachers, students and administrators.
Sources Cited
Burris, Carol Corbett. On The Same Track: How Schools Can Join the Twenty-First-Century Struggle Against Resegregation. Boston: Beacon Press, 2014.
Hattie, John. Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. London and New York: Routledge, 2009.
Leek, Gideon and Emma Ramsdell, Devonte Richards, Chorobi Sagna & Sarah Whiteman. “Recommendations to Close the Achievement Gap at CRLS.” STARs Peer Leadership and Community Action. Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Cambridge, MA. 25 January 2015.
Oakes, Jeannie. Keeping Track: How Schools Structure Inequality. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1985.