The Monroe Community School Corporation’s accelerated learning program for elementary students, ALPS, is moving from University to Fairview Elementary School.
The program will transfer to Fairview over the next three years – starting with grades three and four this fall.
This fall will also be the first year that ALPS is offered to third graders, and was previously just for fourth to sixth graders.
The MCCSC board voted in favor of the plan Tuesday night. Assistant superintendent of elementary education Debra Prenkert says the action improves educational equality in the district by centralizing the program.
“Fairview is a more centrally located Elementary School, which is great because we have students identified for high ability programming throughout our whole district.”
Hopi Strosberg spoke during public comment and said it’s important to include all relevant stakeholders, especially teachers at both schools, in the conversation.
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“It will take intentionality on behalf of the Fairview teachers that are already there to make sure that change is successful and for it to not be a school within a school culture.”
The board said during the meeting that they did speak with teachers and administrators at both schools and it has created a hiring bonus to bring new teachers on at Fairview and other priority schools.
The move will not require any current students in the advanced learning program to change schools. The district’s advanced learning program, allows students identified as high ability to complete grade-level requirements and additional enrichment activities.
