Grade Band Comments
1-­‐5 and 6-­‐8 I feel fine so far. 1. Agree that 6th graders have more in common with older kids. 2. Am concerned about the costs to increase the size of our middle schools. 1.Please read Education Week's article, "Shorter School Grade Spans Leads to Bullying" (Oct. 4, 2016). http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/10/05/shorter-­‐school-­‐grade-­‐spans-­‐linked-­‐to-­‐bullying.html If the district stays true to the committee's recommendation to make a 6th grade wing in each building, and if the district builds relationships as suggested in the above article, the change could be worst case scenario neutral and best case scenario beneficial for the social-­‐emotional aspect of our children's education. 1) I am concerned about combining 6 -­‐ 8 grade students because the maturity level differs so much between ages 11/12 (6th grade) and 13/14 (8th grade). My older children who have already attended middle school were exposed to dating behavior, drug usage, violent behavior and bullying to an extent not seen in grade school. This is very concerning for 7th and 8th graders, much less 6th graders. 2) I am also concerned about ensuring that 6th graders do not miss out on traditional 6th grade activities like music programs (e.g., honor band), camp, etc. Care should be taken to plan ahead so that these opportunities are not lost should the School Board agree to this grade band configuration recommendation.3) Just because other school districts have moved to a 6/7/8 middle school does not mean that Shoreline SD must do so, as well. Many of the other school districts moved to the 6/7/8 model due to classroom space shortages (as is possibly the case here?), and not necessarily because it was best for the kids. If school space considerations are at least part of what lies behind this recommendation to move to a 6/7/8 model, then just be honest with us.4) Based on the information presented, it seems that the curriculum adopted several years ago by Shoreline SD was truly meant for the traditional 6/7/8 middle school model. Perhaps we should have considered this prior to making the (expensive) curriculum change. And we should definitely keep in mind existing grade band configuration when any future curriculum changes are considered. 100% for it. I actually wished this had been done awhile back. I'm already concerned my competent and engaged 6th grader will be behind by the time she goes to middle school. There is not enough independence for these kids, locked in the confines of an elementary school, being taught be generalists. Get these 6th graders changing classes now, involved with specialists and reaching higher towards their educational goals. There are always going to be outliers, who are not quite there socially or emotionally, but that can be handled with additional support at the middle school. I KNOW there will be emotional push-­‐back from parents, who want to keep their little ones safe in the confines of an elementary school, away from the boogeyman that is 7th and 8th graders. That piece has to be addressed. 100% support the reconfiguration-­‐-­‐I have been wanting the district to do this for 20 years! 20 years ago I was against this idea, as I didn't want the 6th graders to be put into a learning environment they weren't ready for and I didn't want the 5th graders growing up any faster (I've taught both). Now, I think it's a good idea, especially with all of the curriculum being aligned 6-­‐8, and for science lab needs and such. 6-­‐8 grades together makes a lot of sense. 6th graders mentally/maturity not a good fit to be in middle school. A 6-­‐7-­‐8 model would better serve the academic and social needs of middle school students, 6th graders do not need a "special section" of the school. My 1st child attended K-­‐6 at Syre, wonderful Grade Band Comments
experience. I was worried about middle school, however, 7th grade was a breath of fresh air! Wished she could have done 6th grade at Einstein! Middle school 7&8 was too short a time. Hopeful this will be implemented ASAP! Thank you! A bit unsure of the 6th grade movement but can only base that off my own perceptions and experience not any real research. Absolutely! It makes sense from a social emotional view and from a curriculum view. They need access to lab space, teachers can be experts in their subject and collaborate upwards. Academically, emotionally, and socially I believe that it makes more sense to group students in a 6-­‐8 grade band. Having taught previously in a 6-­‐8 school, I have seen the benefits of this model. It allows for greater depth of knowledge of teachers and deeper experiences by students. It also allows students and families to feel more tied to their school knowing they will be there for 3 years. As this process moves forward I would suggest that we look at ways to have a sheltered experience for incoming 6th graders (their own lunch, clustering 6th grade classrooms together etc.). Addressing the grade band configuration is important and would like to see a space for the 6th graders to learn and grow in an environment that best suits their needs and prepares them for 7th grade. After hearing about the curriculum (especially science and our ELL students)I agree with moving 6th grade to middle school. Agree on decision All five of our grandchildren are in school districts where the middle school, 6-­‐8 configuration, is the norm. Two are currently in that configuration (one with special needs) and are thriving. All my experience (as a student and educator) prior to coming to Shoreline was in districts that employ the K-­‐5, 6-­‐8, & 9-­‐12 model. It works. I hope the district is very careful about examining the bell schedule for the new 6-­‐8 middle schools. Is a block schedule REALLY best for KIDS or best for adults? Arguments regarding curriculum and facility needs are compelling. As a former parent of LWSD, the 6-­‐8 model was very good. As a teacher, it is essential to get 6-­‐8 standards taught by specialists. As a middle school employee I fully support this change. I know this school district has kids at their core and look at the whole child not how they can have high scores-­‐but how we can high standards for all students As an elementary school teacher, it is very noticeable to see the difference in student maturity by the 6th grade. So a transition to a 6-­‐8 grade band seems very logical. However, in my past experience in a K-­‐5 school is that the 5th grade (the now oldest grade) start to have some of the same issues as the 6th graders might have had. But overall, the move to a 3-­‐year middle school seems to be a better arrangement for students, parents and teachers as well. As I am experiencing a building with 6th grade housed, our 6th graders are at such a higher maturity level than primary grade levels and their needs and wants tend become distinctive. Also, the ability to start introducing the notion of being in charge of your learning is harder when you don't have the space, and ability to look at other classes that could be offered or peak your interest. As it stands now, students in 6th grade learn a band or orchestra instrument (almost alll students) as well as have 60 min of general music per week. Those who design the new 6th grade school day and requirements must include Shoreline SD music teachers in order to create the best scaffolding of both music performance experience and skill learning. Shoreline has a fantastic music tradition, and the way it does it's performance group entry points is significant so we should include the SL music Grade Band Comments
educators in this plan in order to promote a smooth transition. As long as the facilities questions are answered satisfactorily then I am supportive. Can you give us more information on the timeline for this change? Certain to configure the plan so that it truly meets the 6th grade student needs. CK8 has been following the K-­‐5/6-­‐8 model for years and I have found it to be an appropriate split. It'll only help our teachers to have the rest of the district follow suit and I love anything that gives our teachers more support! ;-­‐) Could be exciting developments for our great district! Could be exciting developments for our great district! Currently before/after care programs are K-­‐6 -­‐ we go to 6-­‐8/K-­‐5 model -­‐ will there be 6th grade before/after/non-­‐school day care for 6th graders who while I support being curriculum wise with 7/8 shouldn't be home alone yet Definitely supportive of grouping 6th graders with kids closer in age. The emotional support this will provide will be invaluable to kids who are beginning to separate, both emotionally and physically, from the younger kids they are surrounded by in elementary school. Despite what was presented, I feel like this decision is based primarily on an infrastructure issue (trying to make space in elementary schools) rather than what is best for students. Academic research seems to lean strongly towards keeping 6th graders in elementary school. Seems like District is stretching for reasons to reconfigure grade bands because it is the easiest fix for their overcrowding problem. I am not entirely supportive because I don't think it is the best solution for our kids or our public education spending. http://www.whiteplainspublicschools.org/cms/lib5/NY01000029/Centricity/Domain/4/6th.pdf Do we have any projections to our potential population about 10-­‐15 years from now? Will we need new high schools? Also, if the elementary are overcrowded and only Parkwood would be rebuilt, does this mean a rezone of the district or portables in the elementary schools? Extremely supportive, priority of the three For some kids going to a middle school environment will not be good for them. Others are ready. I feel that being in the elementary school gave those kids who were unorganized and immature in responsibility and social skills one more year to catch up. But I understand the need for space and curriculum issues. Full support! fully support 6-­‐8 configuration Fully supportive. Go for it. Grade band configuration for 6th, 7th, and 8th is socially appropriate and best meets the developmental, social, and academic needs of this age group. GREAT! Bring it on! Has the school district considered recent research about the effects of a K-­‐8 school vs. a 6-­‐8 model? This article speaks to this: http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/19/494232646/sixth-­‐grade-­‐is-­‐
tough-­‐it-­‐helps-­‐to-­‐be-­‐top-­‐dog Hate to see young elementary students (grade 6) thrust into a giant setting (middle school) Having worked in another district with 6-­‐8, I am very supportive of the three year plan. GREAT for kids, families and staff. Grade Band Comments
Honestly, due to my kids' ages it really depends on how disruptive the transition/building process would be. The fewer times they switch physical learning spaces the better. There maybe a significant impact on 6th graders if they are moved into middle school so soon. A big study looking at 90,000 kids just came out (link is above) http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/19/494232646/sixth-­‐grade-­‐is-­‐tough-­‐it-­‐helps-­‐to-­‐be-­‐top-­‐dog I actually wish it was K-­‐6, 7-­‐9 and 10-­‐12. It does not seem that 9th graders are ready for the High School experience and 6th grade is not really ready for middle school. I will qualify this by referring to mental maturity vs. physically mature. I do not think they are mentally mature enough. I agree that with the curriculum layout as it is now, sixth graders are not provided the space, resources, or core of staff that they could benefit from, and combining grades based on curriculum groups makes absolute sense. However, I am hesitant to adopt the recommendation wholeheartedly because I feel the exposure of sixth graders to the lewder, cruder activities and thoughts of kids about to enter high school would mean a removal of innocence that at this time is still protected. I'm not so naive as to think there isn't already influence present from older siblings and friends, but there's also a benefit to allowing sixth graders maintain confidence and be leaders on campus while they make the transition to such different topics and curriculum. I agree with putting grades 6-­‐8 in one middle school. I agree with the concern about the ability to create a strong community in the current configuration. I went to school in a district with 6/7/8 middle school and it seemed just fine. As a fifth grader I felt "ready" to move on to middle school most likely because I knew it was the next step! I am against 6-­‐8 middle schools. In my understanding, the 6 graders in elementary school setting perform better academically and have less behavioral problems compared to the 6th graders in middle school setting. Even NPR had an article about 6th graders having a hard time in middle schools recently. Other school districts may do 6-­‐8 middle but they also offer more k-­‐8 school options. In Shoreline, Cascade is the only k-­‐8 option and its academic setting is not for everyone. I believe this is all about space, but you were forcing it like an educational, which didn't make any sense. I am happy to support updating school buildings and build new elementary schools to accommodate growing student population. However if the plan includes moving 6th graders to middle schools, that would be detrimental to the students and therefore I will not support. Also, it would be helpful if you could provide citations of the documents and study you used in your presentation. I am concerned about the social/emotional piece. The academic pieces make sense. There was just a recent article in the NEA Newsletter about bullying issues and stress, for 6th grade students in a 6-­‐8 setting. I am concerned about those young (birthdate) sixth graders actually getting support and actually having an implemented program for them so they do not get lost between the cracks of a busy school. I am in favor of moving 6th graders to the middle school, particularly if their needs are taken into account which it sounds like they will be. I am in full support of moving forward with this grade band configuration recommendation. I feel the 6th graders fit in both academically and socially with the 7th and 8th graders and that the transition will be a more smooth process having all three grades in the middle school. Grade Band Comments
I am not sure that the Common Core should drive so much of the committee's decision. Will it be around in 10 years after we have spent millions of dollars on buildings? What if the next big study shows that K-­‐8 is the way to go, or that larger schools with narrower grade bands are the wave of the future? How do we ensure the community that we are not chasing the latest fad, but rather making informed choices that our needs? I am not thrilled for my child to attend a middle school during a construction phase, otherwise it makes sense. If we could have 6th graders complete 1st semester in elementary school and 2nd semester in middle school that would be ideal! :) I am really interested in taking a look at what model we will use to best support the 6th graders! I would have been more hesitant to support this but the part about designing a model that with really encompass all the needs of 6th-­‐8th graders won me over! I am slowly being persuaded. Overall, I don't think it is a good argument to say that because all the districts around us are in a 6-­‐8 grade configuration, that we should be also. I don't want my teenagers doing drugs because everyone else is doing it. Get what I mean? I believe exposing 6th graders to 8th graders will hasten their movement to adolescence. We already see 6th graders that are too worldly but not necessarily mature enough to handle the exposure. The strongest argument to me is the huge change in curricular expectations for 6th graders due to Common Core. I won't even go into whether I think this is positive or not, but I will say the content demands are extensive and extreme for the 6th grade teachers!!!!! I would hope with the reconfiguration, there will be some accommodation to ease 6th graders into the junior high scene. I hope the committee will consider models that support our 6th grade students in shared quad/core room type approaches. I am so supportive of this for our 6th grade students and teachers. We have the opportunity to really create a Shoreline specific middle school model to best meet the needs of our 6th, 7th and 8th graders! I am still a little on the fence about 6th going to a middle school. I am supportive as long as we take measures to build a building where 6th grade is very supported in this transition. Sixth graders are growing up faster, yes, but 8th graders are very grown up and the mix can be a little scary. I am surprised that you won me over. I grew up in Shoreline and think that a quick junior high experience is preferable. Learn the study skills and social skills you need and move on. However, if you follow through on making the middle school campuses with a design for 6th graders to be a little bit separate, then I am totally on board. Academically I can see why 6th grade in a more secondary model makes sense. I am very supportive of this recommendation. 6th grade in the middle school is the right configuration. I appreciate all of the research the IPPC did regarding this area. Based on the presentation, I believe it is a clear decision to combine 6th grade with 7th and 8th grades in a junior high setting. It appears to be a more natural and beneficial placement. I fully support the recommendation of the IPPC. I appreciate the research you've put in to assessing the best context for students to learn in. I appreciate the way the parent, Jaime? and the 6th grade teacher, Mr. Peterson, explained the benefits to the 6-­‐8 configuration, and how it makes more sense to have 6-­‐8th graders together. I appreciate this developmentally appropriate shift. I also appreciate that there will be a strong focus on the social and emotional development of students at middle school. I believe curriculum plays the biggest part for this recommendation. It will be important to show Grade Band Comments
parents how this affects their students and their academic needs. I come from an education where I was in a 6/7/8 middle school and it was great. I don't understand what all the fuss is about. If we put our 6th graders in with 7th and 8th grades its not going to hurt their education experience only help it. I am all for our 6th graders having a proper science lab and better tools to educate. I support 100% the 6/7/8 configuration. I definitely support moving 6th grade to middle school! It makes so much sense on every level (academic and social) for those kids to have 3 years of transition time not 2. Also the science reasoning was eye opening, that students don't have access to a lab in elementary school. I definitely think that this school district should switch to a K-­‐5 grade system and to have the 6th grade on location with 7-­‐8 grades. However, the sixth graders should have a separate location on the campus so it would be mostly 6th graders dealing only w 6th graders. This would benefit their emotional and social development. I do not see 6th graders missing out on what was presented by being in elementary school. It is the best fit for them at that developmental age. I do not support the 6-­‐8th grade model. For emotional and developmental reasons and studies I have read. I do wonder if this would be happening if space in elementary schools wasn't such an issue right now. I don't agree that it is the best thing for the kids socially and behaviorally. I do worry about the influence of older kids on the 6th graders. It sounds more beneficial educationally, but that isn't the only thing that matters. I know you did look into both elements, I just put a different weight in them. I do wonder if the 'transition needs' for middle school mentioned by the panel (needing another year in middle school to transition between schools is more for the parents than it is for the kids. I've never heard anyone say they wished they'd had another year in middle school ;-­‐) I do appreciate the possibility of keeping 6th grade separate in the middle school or in it's own hallway. I don't agree that the proposed grade band of 6th, 7th and 8th is appropriate to the social and emotional needs of our children. 6th graders have a wonderful relationship in the schools to those as young as 1st grade. Whereas, 9th graders don't have the same relationship with 12th graders. I prefer the grade banding be as follows: 7th, 8th, and 9th grades together as they have so much more in common with each other and not so much with other grades adjacent to theirs. I don't agree with the 6-­‐8 recommendation. I heard the committee's reasons for the change, but as a parent of a 6th grader, I am very happy with my son's experience at the elementary school and highly prefer it over the 6-­‐8 model (which I experienced as a middle school student). I realize there are some academic reasons for it, but socially I still prefer the k-­‐6 model. My son is not particularly immature, so it is not because of a lack of readiness, I just think it is a safe place to explore moving between classes with the kids you mostly already know before doing the classroom moving with tons of new students being introduced. I found the curriculum based arguments in favor of moving the sixth graders to be completely convincing. The argument about increased hours of service for ELL students also convinced me. I fully support the proposals! I fully support the proposals! I had not considered the benefits to the student and staff by expanding middle school 6-­‐8, especially that social emotional growth and development could be better supported. I hadn't realized that the class curriculum for the 6th grade was more at the middle school level. When we had 5/6 splits this must have been very challenging for the teacher. I personally have never Grade Band Comments
liked the 6-­‐8 and 9-­‐12 schools, because at 6th grade and 9th grades I felt the students were immature to be mixing with the older kids. I have a 1st and 3rd grader so I'm very curious how the timing of this will impact their experience, but it seems to make a lot of sense and it's clear the facilities are in need of improvement. I hope my kids are able to enjoy the new space and that a lot of care is taken for integrating the current sixth grade teachers into the new model. I have a hard time with some students adjusting socially and emotionally. I am totally supportive of the education stand point of more support and resources. I am hoping to have the bond pass to put the 6th graders together in a wing of the school. I have a highly capable student so I would support the change if it means that HICAP contained classes would continue through grade 8 and possibly not end at grade 5? THere was not much information at the presentation about how it will change HiCAP I have concerns that the shift causes 6th graders to begin to get involved in inappropriate behaviors that they would not otherwise be exposed to in elementary school. I have experience with 6-­‐8 education and it works extremely well. I have seen a 6-­‐8 setting work very well. This is exciting for Shoreline. I have some concerns about how this will impact some of our traditions here in Shoreline (6th grade overnight camp for example). I have supported this idea since before it was born. I hope the district will be investing in good social emotional/social skills programs. Everyone needs to understand that middle schoolers really need to have those academic enabling skills so focusing on executive functioning/AVID skills would help these students transition well. I know a lot of folks are concerned about the 6th graders joining older students in a middle school setting. My expectation would be that Shoreline is a forward thinking district that would put systems in place to make this transition as smooth as possible for 6th graders. I am a teacher of 6th grade students in a Seattle middle school and I know that when we take a little extra care with our 6th grade group, they make the transition well. I like 6th grade going to middle school. I am concerned with young kids being with older kids, but trust that a 6th grade schedule will not be the same as an 8th grade schedule. I like the current k-­‐6 model we have in Shoreline, but understand the reasoning behind the need to re-­‐
band for instructional purposes. Socially I feel as though the k-­‐6 is preferable.... k-­‐8 would be even better (although a much more difficult structural undertaking)so that even the younger grades could also benefit from access to "proper" science labs and art facilities that are lacking in the current grade schools. I like the idea of 6-­‐7-­‐8 together. Science labs for 6th graders, who currently cannot do the work they need to do with Common Core standards in place, is important. I like the idea of 6th grade moving up especially for hitting academic needs. I'm excited to learn how it would be best to morph them into that setting successfully. I like the idea of allowing students to get more comfortable in middle school before moving to the high-­‐school level. I like the idea when I first heard rumblings about it and now that I've seen the presentation, I like it even more! It makes a lot of sense to me and sounds like a good idea. Grade Band Comments
I love it. I had an entirely different opinion in August and have been easily convinced since then by all of the great points made by the team. I love that you are thinking about how to support 6th graders, vs. just sticking them into the current middle schools. I love the 6-­‐8 idea. My daughters had a hard time at Einstein adjusting to just being there for 2 years. You don't get invested in that short a period of time. I love the idea of a K-­‐5 elementary school. I came from a district that served K-­‐5 and it seems to be a better age range for students both academically and socially/emotionally. By the time students are getting to sixth grade, they should have the opportunity to learn content areas from teachers who specialize in that subject. It's a rather demanding curriculum for one general education teacher to have to learn for all subject areas. I feel a Middle School has better support for intervention and differentiation for students as the curricula becomes more demanding and challenging across all subject areas as well. Socially, students in sixth grade are really starting to mature (even by 5th grade) and it seems to make more sense to have them transitioning into different classes every period, learning from multiple teachers, building relationship with peers across multiple classes, and opportunities for more engagement in the community/school (sports teams, music, drama, art, etc.) I love the idea of moving the 6th grade to the middle school! It just makes sense. I love this plan. I would like to be sure, early on to voice a strong opinion about World Languages in a 6-­‐8 model. All research about language acquisition finds that students do better overall in World Languages when they start younger. All textbook companies at this time offer a 1A/1B textbook model and they do this because it is research-­‐based and what is best for kids. I strongly believe that this needs to be part of the planning process when looking at the 6-­‐8 model. The worst thing would be to create a sort of exploratory for 6th graders and to keep the year 1/year 1 model that we currently have. Students will be so much more prepared if they can spread their first year of learning a language over 2 years. Most students would take 1A (6th) 1B(7th) 2 (8th), but if a student had an extenuating circumstance and had to start in 7th, they could start there with 1A. High school teachers complain that kids come from the middle school not completely ready for Spanish 3, and I believe this is because rushing through 2 high school years of Spanish in just 7th and 8th grade is doing these kids an injustice. Thanks! :) I really want to know the timeline, and I want 6th grade teachers to be invited to be part of the planning. I started out opposing this change but by the end of the video I was impressed with the information presented and can see the benefits to moving 6th grade to the middle school. It likely won't apply for my (currently) 5th grade kid, so even though I have no personal repercussions for this decision I feel mostly positive about it. I support the recommendation from the stand point of aligning curriculum in a 6-­‐7-­‐8 model. I have reservations from a social adaptation standpoint. I would also like to know more about timelines, plans for facilities, and how these updates will be funded. As a taxpayer, I foresee a large property tax increase, which I am not thrilled about. I think based on the curriculum requirements it makes good sense to change the grade banding from k-­‐6 to K-­‐5. Like the idea of providing access to lab spaces for 6th graders to enhance their learning experiences in science. I think it will be important to consider the emotional and social needs of the 6th graders in the new environment. Grade Band Comments
I think it's important to have 6-­‐7-­‐8 grade configuration. My one concern has to do with hoping 6th grade is either kept more separate or a lot of supervision providing for recess/outdoor play and support to guard against bullying by older students. I also feel the experience of 6th grade camp should be kept or moved to 5th grade. I think that a middle school configuration is difficult because kids are so different at that age level. What is going to work for one will not work for another. So, we will help some by going to 6-­‐8, and make it more difficult for others. I think that emotionally, 6th graders fit in more with a middle school model than an elementary model. 6th graders have drastically different needs and challenges from the other elementary schools grades.. I think the team needs to be better prepared to address community concerns regarding the social/emotional needs of sixth graders moving up. In my opinion this is a huge concern among parents in our community and I am not sure the IPPC addresses this specifically. I think this is the best plan forward-­‐-­‐both from an SEL perspective and an academic/standards-­‐based standpoint. I trust the people in charge and their recommendations! I understand the logic in moving the 6th graders to middle school, but in my situation, I think that my now 2nd grader would benefit more from another year in elementary school. I understand the need for 6-­‐8 grade. I, too, feel like Jaime Lopez & other parents that there really is no time to be involved with a 2 year program. No desire for parents to participate, no desire for students to get to know the other grade. I understand the reasons for the recommendation and it all sounds valid. However, I still have my doubts that most 6th graders are emotionally ready for middle school. I used to teach in a 6-­‐8 middle school and we kept the 6th graders in a certain wing. We also taught on interdisciplinary teams. I would like us to reconsider teaming for the middle grades. I was a bit skeptical at first (from the perspective of many years spent as a 6th grade teacher)...but there were some compelling points I hadn't thought of before (specifically the data on ELL minutes and growth when moved to middle school). I was completely against switching the middle schools to 6-­‐8. After hearing what the group went through to make their recommendation -­‐ I fully understand and I think it sounds like a good idea. You have my full support as a parent and teacher. I was one of the first classes to go to 6-­‐8 middle school, and felt it was a much better mix of age groups and maturity levels. That was over 40 years ago! I went to a 6-­‐8 middle school and I feel it offered a good transition from Elementary into High School. I went to a 7/8 middle school and loved Kellogg when my own children were there. I liked how one year they were clueless and one year they were getting ready to leave. But your presentation convinced me that a 6-­‐8 model has many good ideas. I wish you were able to give a little more definitive timeline as this effects or school community in a huge way! I worked in a 6-­‐8 middle school model in two different districts -­‐ makes total sense to me. I'm still learning, but the 6th graders in an elementary school just seem too old/mature. I would hope that the middle schools build would happen sooner rather than later. Grade Band Comments
I would like the 6th grade needs to be taken into consideration when designing the building and format of their day. For example, many students are still very immature when they start 6th grade. Things like recess could still be very beneficial. Also, many students will struggle with multiple class and teachers. They haven't yet developed the executive functioning skills. Maybe a separate wing for 6th grade, or having "block" classes would help with this? I would like to see 6th graders in a 6-­‐8th grade facility be supported with schedules and grade-­‐band structures that would ease them into the middle school setting. I would recommend that 6th and 7th graders have some sort of "recess" time during the time. I would suggest that activities like basketball courts, fields, etc. be available at least once during the day. I would want to hear more about what the 6th grade model in the middle school buildings would look like -­‐ especially if it means investing bond money in a physical setting that is designed for this. I would also like to be assured that this is a model and facility that will have some staying power. Otherwise, I think there will be some question among taxpayers/voters in the district about "why" this is needed. Additionally, I would like to know how the district plans to address future boundary exceptions. I'm am looking forward to seeing the creative ideas for how to construct and organize the middle schools with sixth graders there, and am hoping this transition can occur as soon as realistically possible. I'm curious about the difference, if there is any, in cost to have 6,7,8 grades together or I'm excited to think about how a new middle school program can be designed and implemented. I've been teaching 6th graders for 17 years. In my opinion, this needs to be a top priority. These students need a more mature setting where they can be around their true peers and not feel, act, and look so different than the rest of the school. I've liked how the students are very much closer to the same page than if there were a 6th grade class at the school. 6th graders are much different than 8th graders. If there is a need for a third year, I would add 9th graders. If building design allows for a "6th grade campus" within the Middle School, I'm in support of this plan. I believe after the first six months of 6th grade, students are ready to move on to Middle School. However, for the first six months, they are still comfortable and benefit from being in the smaller environment. A campus that allows for some 6th grade "separation" would help balance those needs. If the research shows this is what should be done, we should do it. The schools also need updates anyhow; this would be an amazing time for this. It does make me a little anxious to have 6th graders in middle school but at the same time, it does seem like a better fit and would certainly match what most other school districts are doing. It is very confusing. It makes perfect sense. The 6th graders are so out of place by the end of 6th grade. And, having only and entrance year and an exit year (7th -­‐ 8th) isn't good for anyone. This is a great move. It seems like a no brainer. The research supports the change. Would love a committee to look into switching the high school starts times (like Seattle did). Research based programs are good! It seems like the right thing to do from all perspectives. Maybe it will be implemented by the time the younger one hits 6th grade. It sounds as though the committee did a thorough job of considering many aspects of what is best for our students. Grade Band Comments
It's a hard transition to go through, but I think once it's done everyone will accept that it was a good change. Just the same curiosity everyone has as to when it will happen and what it will look like.... k-­‐5 and 6-­‐8 sounds great! Like all the arguments -­‐ helped to convince me. I'm also a parent of a 6th grader and she is ready for middle school.... Like the idea of new middle schools being built. Having a 6th grade wing is essential to the success of a 6-­‐8 grade middle school model. Hope this model won't be adopted until the new middle schools are built with a well thought out plan to ensure social and emotional well-­‐being of students. Like the idea of combined resources. Long overdue -­‐ excited we're finally moving forward on this and really being thoughtful about middle school education. Love the idea of 6-­‐8 middle schools. Even more innovative would be to go to all K-­‐8s. I've seen great research about K-­‐8s especially with regards to decreased problem behaviors, such as drug/alcohol and sexual activity. Love the idea of potentially making the middle school 6-­‐8 with a wing geared towards just the 6th graders for some of their classes. LOVE this idea! I think it works best for what students need academically and most importantly socially. Make sure that curricula supports are in place. Would 6th grade teachers move up to secondary? Or would the district need to hire specialists? Make sure that the program design for 6th grade reflects a transitional focus. For example, 6th graders probably need a homeroom and maybe 3-­‐4 teacher changes in a day rather than the 6 that happen in grades 7-­‐8. Consider a separate wing for them during this transitional year. More community and k-­‐8 school options in Shoreline would benefit students. Awareness of the value (and demonstrated success) of the CK8 model should be raised by the district and the option of adding another K-­‐8 program pursued. Parents can't all participate, but the demographics of a changing Shoreline population seem to indicate that the option would be well received if communicated effectively. Most girls are ready for middle school by 6th grade, boys are not usually as mature. Most important and long term consequences is "less time with family". There will never be a time when families and child development will be equal. Public Education needs to respect the child's development and educational opportunities regardless of being from a $25,000 family a four budget to $80,000 or more. I don't want to get into what came first, the chicken or the egg, with adolescence occurring sooner than 50 years ago. I understand evolution and survival of the fittest in the nicest terms possible. Please consider what is going on with Ach Bishops football team. When a comment was made about turning all schools into "cascade" and a child brought the conversation back to reality, I had a little hope that maybe schools, parents and students are working better together. My children were both 6th graders in Elementary school and thrived in the role model, leadership and mentoring positions that comes with being 6th graders in elementary school. This taught them responsibility for their behavior in front of younger kids and gave them opportunities to share their newly starting interest in independence. As 7th & 8th graders (I currently have 8th & 10th grade students) my kids have utilized the short time in middle school to learn good study skills, taking on the Grade Band Comments
larger work load and being with a larger district population without having to stress about grades too much. ALL parents I know that have 6-­‐8 configurations in their districts say the same thing, "The 6th graders are really kept separate from the 7th & 8th graders, it's no big deal." This is not a glowing recommendation to me for this configuration. Quite the opposite. 7th and 8th grade is a difficult age and 2 years feels like enough for getting through it and being well prepared for what high school will be. I am sorry that the teachers and administrators might feel that it is not enough time for kids to care about the school, but this is not a good enough reason to implement this change. I was not blown away by the studies on the web site, none of them persuade me outside of what I experienced. I didn't believe in 6-­‐8 when they closed Sunset and North City (when they first proposed this change) and I don't believe in it now. If it's about the money... we should find another way. If we absolutely can't, then I want the district to be honest with people and say that the real reason for the change is money and that you don't think it will be detrimental to the 6th grade students, because honestly, I don't think there is really any compelling evidence that says that the reason to do it is because it's best of for the kids. My husband and I have lived in Shoreline and paid taxes here for 11 years. We feel strongly that sixth grade should stay in elementary school. The majority of the research shows this is best for kids' development and their learning outcomes/test scores. One of the reasons we chose Shoreline was because sixth grade is in the elementary school. If the school district makes this choice, we will be very sad. We see this as a giant step backwards. Our son who is a junior at Shorewood benefited greatly by having 6th grade be in his elementary school He was in NO WAY mature enough to handle middle school when he was in 6th grade. Our daughter is in first grade now. She is very small for her age. We would like her to have the benefit of staying in elementary school until 7th grade. We have heard that the real reason for this change is financial. This makes us extra sad, and pretty angry. Please prioritize what is best for the kids over dollar signs. Not sure what the correct answer is for those students Overdue PLEASE get the 6th grade with their peers at the 7th -­‐ 8th grade level. The standards we have adopted demand that they have a middle school experience. It is unfair to them to keep them at the elementary level, and it is unfair to the 6th grade teachers to expect them to perform herculean feats to give them what they need. Please read this article from NPR on a large recent study on the negative impact that moving 6th grade out of Elementary has on children.http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/19/494232646/sixth-­‐
grade-­‐is-­‐tough-­‐it-­‐helps-­‐to-­‐be-­‐top-­‐dog Please do NOT move 6th grade to middle schools! Presentation of findings was helpful and insightful. I was against the idea, but the presentation addressed some of my concerns. As was mentioned in the presentation, if the building is designed right, it seems like it should work well for the 6th graders to move to the middle schools. Prudent choice, both in terms of facilities and instruction. Reading through "The Impact of Alternative Grade Configurations on Student Outcomes through Middle and High School" it seems clear that a K-­‐8 approach is preferable to a traditional middle school model for both the social/emotional well being and academic performance. Currently Shoreline has only one K-­‐8 school and I believe growth and population could easily support two more K-­‐8s, one on each side of I5 (feeding into Shorecrest and Shorewood). These additional K-­‐8s would grow naturally Grade Band Comments
from existing elementary schools and relieve enrollment on Kellogg and Einstein, making these schools more manageable from a child's perspective. What 6th grader needs to go to a school with 1200 other students? All in the same volatile emotional state? I am very disappointed to read that the Shoreline School District would rather build two new middle school education factories than develop and grow more organic and successful models as alternatives for children in their early teens. Really like the idea of 6-­‐8 middle school and new buildings. Regarding Bell Schedule for 6,7,8: I would like to see the committee consider putting a tutorial period at the END of the day for teachers to use as "office hours", a chance to touch base with students, give test makeups, reteach a lesson, offer a space for kids to do homework with support, etc... I find it very difficult to support my students outside of class given the current tutorial system. Thanks! Research needed from experts. Seems very logical. I have heard great things from parents and colleagues whose communities have already embraced this model. Should have done this a long time ago like others did. Makes sense for one teacher to teach social studies, another math, etc so they can develop curriculum expertise in one area rather than be jack of all trades and master of none. Smartest place to look if you are serious about getting your elementary schools down to reasonable numbers in the most cost effective way. I support the idea that 2 years is too quick a stop for these kids in a volatile time of life. Solidly supported by research in child development. Strongly in favor of a 6-­‐8 middle school! The presentation nailed it exactly in regards to student and parent/family buy-­‐in. They need to settle in and not just be coming or going. Supportive with curriculum, but I still have trouble thinking of a 6th grader hanging our with hormone crazy 8th graders. I think it just accelerates child development. I remember the note in the presentation saying kids are maturing earlier than 50 years ago, but I am wondering if it because we are the accelerators of this? Switch to 6-­‐8 ASAP. Thank you Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal to move 6th grade to middle school. We don't think that moving 6th grade to middle school is a prudent approach to addressing issues with common core. Many educators and parents aren't wild about the common core, and we are not sure that should be a driving force behind this move. There are very mixed results in the research about the effects on 6th graders being moved into middle school environments. Many of the studies indicate that it is actually detrimental to 6th graders with lower test scores and more social and emotional issues. In meetings with the school district they agreed that this is also the case. Furthermore on their web site, the studies that are supportive of moving 6th grade to middle school are 30 years old (http://www.edulink.org/msconfig.htm), while the recent studies(from the late 1990s into the 2000's) cited in the Schwerdt and West summary document (http://ftp.iza.org/dp6208.pdf) generally show results that are detrimental. In addition, simple Google searches provide links to numerous literature summaries that cite research from the 1990s through the 2000s that clearly state that there can be significant detrimental effects on students transitioning to middle school in sixth grade, including significant achievement loss, increased feelings of anonymity, loss of self-­‐esteem in adolescent girls, and decreases in both extracurricular and leadership activities for both boys and girls, Grade Band Comments
among others, that last well into high school. A students social emotional needs are the basis by which they are able to learn and I think we should err on the side of caution. There are arguments that some students are bored in 6th grade and therefore they should be in a middle school environment. It is better to have a few bored students than to push kids into situations they aren't ready to handle. The research bears this out. The Hi Cap program is already in place to deal with students that want to proceed at a faster pace. The argument that other schools are doing it so we should isn't a valid argument. The school district already has a bond ready to build out the middle schools. This give the impression that this is a foregone conclusion which is frustrating as the committee was only put together 6 months ago. It's our opinion that one of the potential reasons for the move was that our elementary schools are over capacity and that moving 6th grade would relieve the pressure on the elementary schools with the least amount of cost to the school district. It is a fact that our elementary schools are beyond their capacity. While it is true that this is caused in part by a growing population in Shoreline, it is also true that out of district students currently attending shoreline schools are putting additional pressure on the school system despite the district closing to future out of district boundary exceptions. It is also true that Washington Initiative 1351, passed in November 2014, mandates smaller class size for K through 12, with K-­‐3 classes supporting 15-­‐17 students each, and 4-­‐12 classes supporting no more than 22-­‐25 students each, which will also increase the pressure on elementary infrastructure. The board's recommendation to build onto the two middle schools seems like it might relieve some of the pressure on elementary schools but at what cost to the 6th graders? Many parents moved to shoreline because of the school system. They have voted for leaders that are supportive of better schools and they have voted to pass school levees every time they have come up for a vote. It is very frustrating as a shoreline resident, voter, and tax payer that our school system is being stretched by out of district students and we are being asked to support a proposal that will likely degrade our school system, hurt our 6th graders, and increase our taxes. This will be the first school levee we will not be voting for. The CCSS seem to have been built from the premise that 6th grade is not taught by a single super person. Having sixth in MS also allows MS staff to know and support students needs better. The comment was made to support the 6,7,8 configuration, but added to that was the comment that 6th graders still have different social-­‐emotional needs. Specifically they still need recess time. The demands of 6th grade content matches the organization of middle school much better than elementary school. Teachers who are specialists and facility resources will support 6th grade student learning much better than our current configuration. The district where I attended most of my schooling (Kent, Wa school district) had a model of K-­‐6, 7-­‐9, 10-­‐12, so the proposal of K-­‐5, 6-­‐8, 9-­‐12 makes sense to me. I think three years of middle school seems like a healthy amount of time for the emotional development that takes place in kids that age. The evidence gathered was convincing. Even though my worry had been the social piece for 6th graders, the assurance that new building design will be thoughtful around this point put those worries to rest for the most part. The science piece was very compelling as well as the depth of content knowledge needed at the 6th grade level. Content specialists make sense for that teaching. The logic for banding Grades 6-­‐8 is very powerful and persuasive. The recommendation sounds great! New/overhauled middle school buildings are greatly needed. The recommendations were based on research and was well regarded. Grade Band Comments
Thinking of my child, I would be pleased if she had more access to science classes, electives, and other opportunities for challenges as a sixth grader. The social/emotional aspect of putting a 6th grader with 7th and 8th graders gives me pause, but overall I think it is a great model. This has been a difficult discussion in the past, but I believe that the time is right to make this change so that Shoreline students are academically prepared for science and math courses in their secondary education. This is an opportunity to be in alignment with districts around us, best practices/research AND our CCSS. We solve many issues with this one decision -­‐-­‐ hooray! This is HUGE. PLEASE make 6-­‐8 a thing. This is long overdue. This is the smart forward thinking thing to do. This makes PERFECT sense. This needs to be done regardless of commentary. It doesn't matter that it is different from "how we did it." It's better for the kids, hands down. This seems to be more about moving students due to lack of space than doing what's best for the students. 6th graders may be intellectually ready for middle school math and science curricula, but they are emotionally closer to elementary students. I moved my family to Shoreline for the quality of the school district, and this change will lower the educational experience for our kids. This was a well thought out decision. This will be absolutely detrimental to our children. This will be very supportive for student learning. Totally support the recommendation as long as there is enough prep for both the incoming 6th graders and 8th graders. Hopefully the 8th graders will learn to be accepting and help guide the 6th graders so they feel comfortable and not intimidated. Very excited about this! Such a great idea! Very excited to have 6th grade at middle school -­‐ maturity/age, longer time at middle school, content/standards, more access to lab science. Very impressed with the level of thought and collaboration that went into this recommendation. Very informative; I always assumed 6th was moved into middle school to gain space at the elementary buildings. This presentation was well done and changed my thinking. Very much for this change. At Brookside, 6th grade is 'segregated' anyway. They are not allowed for patrol...seems they are very much in the middle and have no real place in elementary school. I don't think this sets a good model. Many more advantages to have 6/7/8 together. I like the idea of at least new Kellogg. Does Einstein really need to be rebuilt? Further evaluations here needed. Very supportive! The committee's recommendation makes total sense. I appreciate the amount of time the committee spent looking at the academic and social/emotional needs of our sixth graders. The most interesting thing about the committee's work was learning that the space/classroom needs for the content 6th graders cover requires a totally different set up than what they have in elementary schools. I'm excited about the possibility of designing a space for 6th graders that allows them to be a part of the middle school, but to also have their own area which helps them ease into a new and different school (to address their social/emotional needs). Grade Band Comments
We do need to make sure we are thoughtful in how 6th graders are integrated. My feeling is kids enter 6th grade still acting like elementary school children but leave as quasi middle schoolers. But I think that can easily be accomplished through smart building design and thoughtful teachers and staff. I do believe the educational benefit would be significant. We have been successfully teaching 6 through 8th for 14 years. As we have had a stable location, curriculum and staff -­‐ we have been able to lead students to great achievements with a 30 month launch pad to high school instead of a 20 month launch. We need a time machine. Why does everything happen the year after I need it to? We'll need scaffolding to make some of it developmentally appropriate... Will 6th grade students have access to the high school classes offered on campus? Algebra, geometry, foreign language? With program/staff focus on assisting "not quite ready" 6th graders. Would like a little more information about the timeline of the 6-­‐8 change. Yay!! YES!! Your presentation made good, logical sense. The progression definitely worked for me.I hadn't considered the science needs, so that had a powerful impact. I'm sure you'll have a good response! As a girl I loved the fact that 6th grade was in elementary school. Like many girls I started my period when I was in 6th grade. There would be days that I was in so much pain I could not go to school. The slower school day allowed me to deal with my period in a discrete way and allow me to miss school with it being detrimental to my learning. Please keep 6th grade in elementary school. It helps girls learn to deal with their cycle and helps them learn even if they need to not go to school if they are in pain. The new grade band configuration sounds like a great way to build community. For some students, middle school is a difficult time and it would be great to provide additional support as students transition into high school. The evidence demonstrate this is a good plan. Is there any way we can begin to implement this sooner? Grade Band Comments
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal to move 6th grade to middle school. I don't think that moving 6th grade to middle school is a prudent approach to addressing issues with common core. Many educators and parents aren't wild about the common core, and we are not sure that should be a driving force behind this move. There are very mixed results in the research about the effects on 6th graders being moved into middle school environments. Many of the studies indicate that it is actually detrimental to 6th graders with lower test scores and more social and emotional issues. In meetings with the school district they agreed that this is also the case. Furthermore on the district web site, the studies that are supportive of moving 6th grade to middle school are 30 years old (http://www.edulink.org/msconfig.htm), while the recent studies(from the late 1990s into the 2000's) cited in the Schwerdt and West summary document (http://ftp.iza.org/dp6208.pdf) generally show results that are detrimental. In addition, simple Google searches provide links to numerous literature summaries that cite research from the 1990s through the 2000s that clearly state that there can be significant detrimental effects on students transitioning to middle school in sixth grade, including significant achievement loss, increased feelings of anonymity, loss of self-­‐esteem in adolescent girls, and decreases in both extracurricular and leadership activities for both boys and girls, among others, that last well into high school. A student’s social emotional needs are the basis by which they are able to learn and I think we should err on the side of caution. There are arguments that some students are bored in 6th grade and therefore they should be in a middle school environment. It is better to have a few bored students than to push kids into situations they aren't ready to handle. The research bears this out. The Hi Cap program is already in place to deal with students that want to proceed at a faster pace. The argument that other schools are doing it so we should isn't a valid argument. The school district already has a bond ready to build out the middle schools. This gives the impression that this is a foregone conclusion which is frustrating as the committee was only put together 6 months ago. It's my opinion that one of the potential reasons for the move was that our elementary schools are over capacity and that moving 6th grade would relieve the pressure on the elementary schools with the least amount of cost to the school district. It is a fact that our elementary schools are beyond their capacity. While it is true that this is caused in part by a growing population in Shoreline, it is also true that out of district students currently attending shoreline schools are putting additional pressure on the school system despite the district closing to future out of district boundary exceptions. It is also true that Washington Initiative 1351, passed in November 2014, mandates smaller class size for K through 12, with K-­‐3 classes supporting 15-­‐17 students each, and 4-­‐12 classes supporting no more than 22-­‐25 students each, which will also increase the pressure on elementary infrastructure. The board's recommendation to build onto the two middle schools seems like it might relieve some of the pressure on elementary schools, but at what cost to the 6th graders? Many parents moved to shoreline because of the school system. They have voted for leaders that are supportive of better schools and they have voted to pass school levees every time they have come up for a vote. It is very frustrating as a shoreline resident, voter, and tax payer that our school system is being stretched by out of district students and we are being asked to support a proposal that will likely degrade our school system, hurt our 6th graders, and increase our taxes. Mr. Schultz’s and Ms. Miner’s presentations persuaded me that the proposed grade band configuration is the way to go. Grade Band Comments
I have a 6th grader now, I struggle to imagine him at Kellogg. However, the older children get along well with the younger ones at elementary school, it could be an opportunity for leadership and mentoring. This band change won’t affect our family directly-­‐but I want a quality place for future generations. This configuration will best meet the needs of the 6th graders. It will help them be better prepared for their high school years. I think now is a good time to incorporate 6th grade into middle school as new buildings will be built and can be designed to accommodate them. I like the idea that it frees up space in the elementary schools. Have you considered having some K-­‐8 options (more than just Cascade) in Shoreline? Recent work shows that this type of structure is better emotionally and socially for kids.