Arbor Monthly Newsletter

Central Office
1335 Franklin Grove Road
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-7722
FAX (815) 284-8576

Dixon High School
300 Lincoln Statue Drive
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-7723
FAX (815) 284-4297

Reagan Middle School
620 Division Street
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-7725
FAX (815) 284-1711

Jefferson Elementary
800 Fourth Avenue
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-7724
FAX (815) 284-0435

Lincoln Elementary
501 Lincoln Avenue
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-7726
FAX (815) 284-1305

Washington Elementary
703 East Morgan Street
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-7727
FAX (815) 284-0440

LCSEA
1335 Franklin Grove Road
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-6651
FAX (815) 284-9680
Gifted Program Meeting Print
Written by M. Juenger   
Friday, May 07 2010 10:58
Recently the Administration met on two consecutive evenings with concerned students, parents and staff members.  The purpose was to discuss the status of the Gifted Program and how it would be affected by the budget reductions for next year.  

During the meeting, the Board Policy and the State guidelines for Gifted Education was discussed (Click here to read more about the local and State guidelines for the Gifted Program), the fact that Gifted Education has not been funded by the State since before the 2006-07 school year, the history of the Dixon Challenge Program (the local name for the gifted program), grades 3-8 program eligibility, the District’s current practice, and the future of the program.  Much of the concern centered around the belief that the program was going to be eliminated.  Those attending the meeting were relieved to hear that was not the District’s intent nor was it ever the intent to eliminate accelerated classes for students.  Due to anticipated larger class sizes at 3rd and 4th grade and due to fewer sections at these grade levels, keeping Challenge class sizes at their current level would have resulted in the remaining sections of 4th grade having 29 or 30 students in each classroom.  What those who were in attendance learned, is that the class size gap needed to be reduced and it is possible to do so, that the District remains committed to providing a challenging educational experience, including accelerating the curriculum when appropriate, for all its students.  They also learned that data is gathered through a variety of means allowing for a measurement of a student’s academic progress and the overall academic growth of the program as a whole.

Both evenings the Superintendent was asked about the recommendation to the Board of Education and his response at the end of the second meeting included the need to establish a minimum class size in an attempt to balance class size.  To use the new assessment system (MAP), in determining the effectiveness of the Challenge Program and to continue to look for ways to improve it.  

The recommendation to the Board of Education will be to continue the Challenge Program, but to ensure that there is an acceptable balance between all classes within a grade level.
 

Dixon Public Schools, in cooperation with the community, will provide students with a comprehensive educational program that produces well-educated, self-sufficient, and involved citizens.