FCPS (Fairfax County Public Schools) has been gradually phasing out valuable upper-level, high-school Honors courses for English and Social Studies/History.

Therefore, we need your help to ensure a rigorous high school curriculum that meets the needs of all levels of learners. Students should have a choice of AP, Honors and Standard level courses.

The School Board met on July 18th to discuss this important issue.  Unfortunately, they took no action and have not scheduled a follow-up meeting to move forward.

If we hope to see Honors courses restored to the Course Selection Catalog for the 2012-2013 school year, we need to act NOW.  We need to show the School Board that the FCPS Community wants and needs upper-level, Honors courses for English and Social Studies/History.      

Please read the Joint Resolution below (FAIRGRADE & Restore Honors Courses) and take action by signing this i-petition and sharing it with your school community!

Equally important, please share your individual stories via the Comments section if applicable. Your voice matters! 

Thank you for your support!

FAIRGRADE & Restore Honors Courses (RHC)

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Please disregard any i-petition requests for a donation.  Your signature will be registered without requiring a donation.

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JOINT RESOLUTION on FCPS HONORS COURSES

WHEREAS:

•  Approximately 65% of FCPS’ graduates will attend 4-year colleges (FCPS Profile).

•  "Strength of the curriculum" and "Grades in college-prep classes” are the 2 most important factors in college admissions' decisions (NACAC-State of College Admissions Report, 2010)

•  FCPS no longer offers upper-level honors courses in World History 2 (10th grade), English 11 (11th grade), US History 11 (11th grade), English 12 (12th grade), and US Government (12th Grade) at AP base high schools;

•  College admissions and scholarship opportunities may be negatively impacted when upper-level honors courses are not offered;

•  Most high school students are not academically prepared to take 4 or more AP courses in one year; 

•  FCPS routinely recommends that students take no more than 2 or 3 AP classes per year;

• It is instructional "best practice" to provide a continuum of instructional levels to meet the academic needs of all students;

•  Montgomery, Loudoun, Howard and other high-achieving school districts offer three or more levels of classes in these subjects, including honors and AP classes; and

•  FCPS currently offers - or has recently offered - these 5 honors-weighted courses at various IB high schools and/or at TJHSST, but not at the 16 FCPS AP base high schools;

•  Roughly 30% of FCPS students (non-TJHSST) fail AP exams in these five subjects, and the failure rates are higher for the AP English and AP History/Government courses taken during junior and senior years, when students are trying to juggle more advanced courses with extra-curricular activities and other obligations;

•  FCPS School Board Regulation 3201.20 requires "a balanced curriculum so that students at various levels of achievement are able to select appropriate courses to meet individual learning needs."

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

FCPS School Board should vote to offer these five upper-level honors classes at all AP high schools no later than Fall 2012