Our mission at ACE is to ensure that the Amherst public schools deliver on their promise to provide an intellectually engaging and challenging curriculum that allows all children to reach their full potential.  The Amherst Public Schools should set high expectations, provide academic support, and cultivate intellectual curiosity, and be clearly portrayed as institutions that seek to challenge and support all students.  Administrators must share this commitment, and possess the necessary skills and vision needed to hire, mentor, and retain excellent teachers, adopt progressive yet proven curricula and teaching methods, and engage in continuing evaluation of the schools.  We support the devotion of substantial additional resources to those with academic difficulties and special needs in order to accelerate academic progress and meet the needs of these students.  At the same time, we feel strongly that our schools should also provide a high standard of academic rigor and challenge for proficient and advanced students.

Our Current Priorities

1.      That the Amherst Public Schools demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence for all children to parents, teachers, administrators, and potential job candidates.

·        Formally ask all district candidates on job applications and in interviews how they will build a culture of academic achievement and challenge children at different levels within a heterogeneous classroom.

·        Emphasize evidence of success or the potential for success in attracting, mentoring, and retaining excellent teachers from diverse backgrounds as a key component in the principal searches.

·        Hold a curriculum day to discuss and share strategies for successful differentiated instruction in heterogeneous classrooms.

·        Update the district website to emphasize academic excellence and provide links to academic resources.

2.      That the Amherst Public Schools increase the emphasis placed on academic excellence.

·        Undertake a rigorous evaluation of the middle school that focuses on student outcomes and the costs and benefits of the current balance between social/ emotional and academic/intellectual considerations.  Such an evaluation would compare Amherst with other high achieving districts in Massachusetts in terms of curriculum, achievement and preparation for high school.

·        Maintain strong minimum curriculum standards and programs at each grade level.

·        Develop clear policies and professional training for providing differentiated instruction in heterogeneous classrooms to children with strong preparation and/or achievement in a particular discipline.

·        Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the policies focused on raising the achievement of children who do not reach proficient levels on MCAS or in their course-work.  Again any such study should compare performance in Amherst with that of other high achieving districts.

·        Provide opportunities for students to participate in organized academic events that inspire their interest such as Math Olympiads, Odyssey of the Mind, Spelling & Geography Bees, writing and performing arts competitions, and Science Fairs.  Specify faculty who can serve as advisors in these key areas.

3.      That the Amherst Public Schools provide opportunities for all children to excel in mathematics and science.

·        Establish a goal that all students complete a rigorous algebra course by the end of 8^th grade.  We believe that a comprehensive evaluation of our K-6 math curriculum, including an examination of approaches used in other high achieving districts, is necessary to achieve this goal.  This evaluation should also consider the benefits of using a textbook.  A textbook may be particularly valuable for those who do not receive academic support at home or from tutors.

·        Offer students the opportunity to take four years of lab science in high school in the core scientific disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics).

·        Provide an AP chemistry class.

·        Hold a Science Fair at each school every year.

Conclusions