Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 12, 1993 TAG: 9302120345
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
2 COUNTY ELEMENTARIES WILL TRY UNGRADED CLASSROOMS
Two elementary schools in Pulaski County, Claremont and Northwood, will offer pilot programs on ungraded classrooms next school year.Joy Colbert, director of research and development for the school system, briefed the Pulaski County School Board Wednesday night on the project.
Part of the school system's strategic plan has been to develop non-graded programs. Discussions have been held with principals and staffs at schools throughout the system, she said.
One advantage of this approach is that children progress at their own pace. "You wouldn't have to worry about accelerated classes or remediation," she said.
The principals and staffs at Northwood and Claremont wanted to try it next year, she said. Meetings on the program will be scheduled before then at both schools for parents, and publications on it will be sent to pupils' homes.
Superintendent William Asbury said he believed other schools will want to try it when they see how it works in these two schools.
"Not everybody is going to be required to do this at one time or even over the next couple of years," he said. "I think you'll see more that want to, as things get off the ground."
Colbert also told the board that the Futures Task Force is ready to make its recommendations on improving the county school system.
This task force includes representatives of colleges and universities, business and governmental leaders and educators who have been meeting for a year examining national education trends "and to come up with a report that we might use in the schools to help shape future plans," she said.
The report will be discussed at a public meeting Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in Pulaski County High School's Little Theatre.
"You're going to be excited and pleased. It's a dynamic report," Asbury told the board.
The board also got the Pulaski County Education Association's budget recommendations for the coming year. Board Chairman Ron Chaffin said they would be considered as the board goes through its budget process.
Keywords:
GRADELESS GRADE