York County School District (YCSD) currently does not offer Advanced Biology nor Advanced Chemistry for 9th and 10th grade students. Please read the facts below and sign this petition in support of advanced science classes for 9th and 10th grade students.
Advanced/Honors Biology and Chemistry are offered at every other district in the surrounding area for 9th and 10th graders.
(https://www.hampton.k12.va.us/students/2015_16CourseOfferings.pdf pg. 20. http://www.nnschools.org/counseling/HScourses.pdf pgs 47-48. http://www.poquoson.k12.va.us/dynimg/_FYAAA_/docid/0x4FFB058AB45399F4/1/Program%2Bof%2BStudies%2B2015-2016.pdf pg 41. http://www.cpschools.com/departments/student_services/secondary_course_catalog2013.pdf pg 44. WJCC is not online but these classes are also offered there.)
Three years ago a group of YCSD science teachers proposed adding these courses to the curriculum. The teacher's proposal was denied with no explanation.
It is frustrating to see that YCSD 9th and 10th grade students cannot enroll in advanced science classes given that:
1. Ninth and 10th grade students in YCSD have the opportunity to take advanced classes in every other discipline (Math, English & History).
2. There is a push within the Department of Education to promote studies in the STEM field.
3. There are many companies in the surrounding area that are science based and many YCSD parents, who have advanced science degrees, work for these companies (NASA, Jefferson Lab, Canon, the Shipyard, local hospitals and doctor's offices, etc..).
5. If YCSD teachers proposed these classes 3 years ago it is obvious that they want to see the classes implemented in the district.
6. Students at other districts have a competitive advantage over YCSD students given that they can start off their high school career with advanced science classes while YCSD students do not have the same opportunity.
7. Some school districts add weight to a student's GPA for these advanced science classes which could make a difference for YCSD students when competing with other students for college entrance.
Please sign this petition to let the School Board and administrators at YCSD know that we want our children to have the opportunity to enroll in an advanced science class in 9th and 10th grade. These are classes that should have been implemented years ago.
Thank you!
Updates
January 15, 2016
The administration has taken notice of this momentum and an initial meeting is now on the calendar for next week. I am currently finalizing a formal letter to the school board that outlines the discrepancies between our district and our neighbors. This documentation will be presented during the public comment portion of the next board session.
11 Comments
As a pervious York county student I would have loved an advance bio and Chem class to avoid the students who didn't want to be there. I remember being in class and watching a student ask another student to hold their cigarette. In advance classes I never had this problem.
My daughter attended school in Virginia Beach and benefited from the Advanced Science classes she took. She's now graduated in May from ODU with her Bachelor of Science - Biology degree. All kids should benefit from these advanced classes.
As a parent of four studnets coming through this school system, and a parent of a current freshman that would love the opportunity to take and advanced science course, I really feel YCSD should offer it to freshman and sophomores. Let's give our children the chance to achieve the most they can out of their education.
I would like to see honors classes in all departments for those kids who are not quite ready for the work load of an AP course.
There should not be any reason for not providing the Advanced science classes in YCSD, while its very certain that career in field of science is lucrative; these Advanced classes needs to be introduced earlier at high school level. This will help the students in the long run.
I think that all students no matter there grade should be able to take what classes they want as long as they are still getting what they need to graduate each year.
There should be 3 levels of English too
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York County School District (YCSD) currently does not offer Advanced Biology nor Advanced Chemistry for 9th and 10th grade students. Please read the facts below and sign this petition in support of advanced science classes for 9th and 10th grade students.
Advanced/Honors Biology and Chemistry are offered at every other district in the surrounding area for 9th and 10th graders.
(https://www.hampton.k12.va.us/students/2015_16CourseOfferings.pdf pg. 20. http://www.nnschools.org/counseling/HScourses.pdf pgs 47-48. http://www.poquoson.k12.va.us/dynimg/_FYAAA_/docid/0x4FFB058AB45399F4/1/Program%2Bof%2BStudies%2B2015-2016.pdf pg 41. http://www.cpschools.com/departments/student_services/secondary_course_catalog2013.pdf pg 44. WJCC is not online but these classes are also offered there.)
Three years ago a group of YCSD science teachers proposed adding these courses to the curriculum. The teacher's proposal was denied with no explanation.
It is frustrating to see that YCSD 9th and 10th grade students cannot enroll in advanced science classes given that:
1. Ninth and 10th grade students in YCSD have the opportunity to take advanced classes in every other discipline (Math, English & History).
2. There is a push within the Department of Education to promote studies in the STEM field.
3. There are many companies in the surrounding area that are science based and many YCSD parents, who have advanced science degrees, work for these companies (NASA, Jefferson Lab, Canon, the Shipyard, local hospitals and doctor's offices, etc..).
5. If YCSD teachers proposed these classes 3 years ago it is obvious that they want to see the classes implemented in the district.
6. Students at other districts have a competitive advantage over YCSD students given that they can start off their high school career with advanced science classes while YCSD students do not have the same opportunity.
7. Some school districts add weight to a student's GPA for these advanced science classes which could make a difference for YCSD students when competing with other students for college entrance.
Please sign this petition to let the School Board and administrators at YCSD know that we want our children to have the opportunity to enroll in an advanced science class in 9th and 10th grade. These are classes that should have been implemented years ago.
Thank you!
Updates
January 15, 2016
The administration has taken notice of this momentum and an initial meeting is now on the calendar for next week. I am currently finalizing a formal letter to the school board that outlines the discrepancies between our district and our neighbors. This documentation will be presented during the public comment portion of the next board session.
11 Comments
This is needed here. I have two science minded middle schoolers soon to advance to York High. I can't believe this opportunity is not available to them! Please correct this oversight!
As a pervious York county student I would have loved an advance bio and Chem class to avoid the students who didn't want to be there. I remember being in class and watching a student ask another student to hold their cigarette. In advance classes I never had this problem.
My daughter attended school in Virginia Beach and benefited from the Advanced Science classes she took. She's now graduated in May from ODU with her Bachelor of Science - Biology degree. All kids should benefit from these advanced classes.
As a parent of four studnets coming through this school system, and a parent of a current freshman that would love the opportunity to take and advanced science course, I really feel YCSD should offer it to freshman and sophomores. Let's give our children the chance to achieve the most they can out of their education.
I would like to see honors classes in all departments for those kids who are not quite ready for the work load of an AP course.
There should not be any reason for not providing the Advanced science classes in YCSD, while its very certain that career in field of science is lucrative; these Advanced classes needs to be introduced earlier at high school level. This will help the students in the long run.
I think that all students no matter there grade should be able to take what classes they want as long as they are still getting what they need to graduate each year.
There should be 3 levels of English too
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This is needed here. I have two science minded middle schoolers soon to advance to York High. I can't believe this opportunity is not available to them! Please correct this oversight!