Everett schools try to forge more rigorous classes

By Eric Stevick

Herald Writer

EVERETT — The Everett School District will spend another month working on plans to add more rigorous course offerings in its high schools.

In February, the district gave schools two months to come up with plans. It has received preliminary reports, but there is more work to be done, officials said.

"We are going to go back and refine and revise, and that should take us another month," said Lynn Evans, an assistant superintendent.

Some changes will take longer than others, but Evans said more high school teachers will get training over the summer to teach Advanced Placement classes, which cover college-level material in high school and allow students to earn college credit if they pass a national exam.

Although there is more work to do, some progress has been made, said Karst Brandsma, the district’s associate superintendent for instruction.

While many resources are spent trying to prepare struggling students to meet academic standards on tough state exams, the district wants to make sure that students who have reached the requirements continue to have challenging classes during the final two years.

Earlier this year, the district brought in experts from different schools and districts outside the area and from colleges to discuss several options, including:

Advanced Placement classes.

International Baccalaureate, a challenging academic program that uses world-class standards while allowing students to earn college credits if they pass exams or advanced placement at many universities.

University of Washington and other college classes, such as from Everett Community College, on high school campuses.

Online and Web-based course work.

Many high school students already attend Running Start classes on community college campuses for college credit.

Some parents are anxious for results. Two Jackson High School parents met with Evans and Brandsma last week, urging them to add more high-level classes to the curriculum.

One of the parents, Jeff Heckathorn, also appeared before the Everett School Board Tuesday. He said some department reports that are part of the three-year proposal to increase rigorous offerings at his son’s school were "just a couple of lines of nebulous comments" and urged the district to make sure the plans are more specific.

"Their plan should clearly state for each year what the improvements will be," he said. "After all, students are planning four years at a time."

Afterward, Heckathorn said he was encouraged that some teachers have expressed a desire to teach Advanced Placement courses.

You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446

or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.