The Marysville School District has eight Small Learning Communities that serve high school students. Each SLC specializes in unique core classes geared toward specific industry. The SLCs are not equal; the curriculum focus and electives are different.
Each spring eighth-grade students review each of the eight SLC curriculums and indicate their top three choices. Students have to think about classes that interest them and career choices. Students complete the SLC selection form and their choices are run through a computer-driven lottery. Students do not decide where they will attend, the lottery does. The lottery has made education a game of chance.
If the student is unhappy with the SLC given they can file for an in-district transfer. Transfers are only honored as space becomes available. Never does the district consider why the student made their first choice or ask what courses they need to gain academic rigor. The school district requests eighth-grade students make challenging choices about their future career paths and spend the next four years studying in this pathway. However, there are no safeguards to make sure each student receives the needed curriculum to attain future goals.
The district states in No. 7 of its vision statement: “We believe that it is critical to ensure that all students are prepared for work and post secondary education and training.” Yet, you can be an eighth-grade student who has met the challenge to think about your future, made a definitive decision and not receive the SLC of your choice. They ask that you settle for coursework and classes that were adequate but not geared toward the academic rigor you requested.
When you serve 800 freshmen the lottery is a necessity, but the district needs to amend procedures to ensure that every student is the lucky winner of the lottery.
Laurie Dunston
Tulalip
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
