(ConservativeHub.com) – Seattle Public Schools is getting rid of its current gifted students program and replacing it with a more “equitable” and “inclusive” program. This is part of a general move by several states to focus more on diversity by removing certain honors classes, Fox News reported.
The Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) of the school has been slowly phased out since the 2021-22 school year, as the SPS has claimed that the program, which was focused on advanced learners, did not help address racial inequalities. In its place, a new program, called the Highly Capable Neighborhood School Model, is going to be made available in all elementary schools in the district starting in the 2024-25 school year.
Rather than separating schools and classrooms for gifted students, the school district will keep the students in the same classroom, where teachers will provide education and support designed to match the individual student’s needs.
The district has argued that this change is going to help all the students and their individual needs, while also addressing historical inequality. It added that the new program will show respect for the cultures and backgrounds of the different students.
The program has been criticized by some teachers and parents who are concerned that gifted students are going to end up overlooked under the new model. This has also led to concerns about the program potentially leading to teachers having to take on the additional burden of having to form individualized plans for 20 to 30 students.
On the other hand, advocates of the program have argued that it will help support students who were previously left behind.
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