Can We Talk About An Equitable Education System? Falls Church City Public Schools, (FCCPS), no doubt, like other school districts across the country, are working to respond to the ever present demand for more rigorous standards and the call to meet the needs of “twenty-first century” learning.  In addition to the force and promise from technology, is the focus on STEM in our classrooms. Alexa will tell you that children “with a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics will go on to play an integral role in our nation’s global competitiveness and economic stability.”  Talk education here in Falls Church and the focusRead More →

By
On
With 8 Comments

Alison Kutchma Requests Board Assess Funding Equity Letter to School Board Reveals Spending Allocations Class section sizes of IB program classes detailed Editor’s remark:  Falls Church resident Alison Kutchma, as part of her request to assess all programs across the school district, has requested that FCCPS fund a special education program audit.   In one of two recent emails sent to the board, both of which included video clips from recent Special Education Advisory Committee meetings, Ms. Kutchma asked the board to take a closer look at resource allocation issues.  One of those letters is reprinted below. At the March 21st school board meeting, the FCCPSRead More →

By
On
With 5 Comments

The FCCPS School Board convened this past Tuesday, January 10, to reorganize as it does every January. Lawrence Webb was voted in as Chair.  All members present voted for Mr. Webb with the exception of John Lawrence, who abstained. He offered no explanation. Phil Reitinger was unanimously voted in as Vice Chair. They did not choose advisory committee liaisons as former-chair Justin Castillo suggested; it is the tradition that the Vice Chair weigh in on those choices and by waiting, the incoming vice-chair Phil Reitinger will be afforded the opportunity to do so. They moved on to the budget work for the upcoming year. The principals of ourRead More →

By
On
With 7 Comments

When I went to high school in the late 70s in New England, coursework was straight-forward. College bound students took four years each of English, Math and Science (earth science, biology, chemistry and physics) and a foreign language( French, Spanish or Latin).  The curriculum was basic, but challenging. Graduates headed off to a variety of adventures, vocations and post-secondary educational institutions, including Ivy League universities and highly ranked liberal arts colleges. At GMHS, we have several college tracks and many options.  We offer a standard diploma; an advanced studies diploma; and an IB diploma. Students can take classes at the Arlington career center,  AP (AdvancedRead More →

By
On
With 5 Comments