As expected, Garden City High School Principal Hank Hardy responded to parents concerned with the proposed changes in the honors selection process at the high school at the May 8th Garden City Board of Education work session.

If the changes are implemented, more students will have opportunities to enroll in Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Hardy emphasized that the curriculum for Regents courses will not be negatively affected or "diluted" since more students are expected to be included in the Honors courses. Also, expectations in Honors and Advanced Placement courses will not be lowered to accommodate students who fall on the "cusp" of the grade required for entry.

The current selection process is based solely on published criteria and is considered to be informal and restrictive. Appeals are directed to the department chairperson or the principal.

Hardy proposed basing selection on published criteria and/or skill sets to make the process formalized, less restrictive and consistent. Appeals will be directed to the department chair, but they will also be reviewed by a middle school/high school department committee and guidance counselors.

High school students who are in honors classes and achieve a certain grade, which varies depending on the subject, will automatically be placed in an honors course the following year. The policy is more directed toward those students who fall on the "cusp" of the required grade. If they are within five points, a departmental review will determine if the students has the necessary skills to handle the course. A student's parents can request an additional review by a department committee and guidance counselors. The principal may also be involved to conduct a final review. Once a student enters an honors course, he or she will be re-evaluated at the end of the year.

Deciding where students should be placed as they make the transition from middle school to high school has been more challenging since the exit requirements from middle school do not match up with the entrance requirements to high school. The current process involves limited collaboration with middle school staff. The teacher usually makes the recommendation based on published criteria.

This will change to involve more middle school involvement. Whether or not a student has the necessary skills to handle an advanced course will be considered along with a child's grades.

It is important to college admissions officers that students take challenging courses, emphasized School Board President Kenneth Monaghan. The district is seeking to maintain the integrity and rigor of its honors program. In 2001-02, approximately 504 AP exams were taken by 222 students. Last year, 685 AP exams were taken by 311 students.