Alternate Science Plan
Here's an alternate plan that meets the needs of a much wider range of students than the plan proposed by PPS.
Let's not distinguish between gifted and non gifted. Let's distinguish between science oriented students and non science oriented students.
Implement the four semester science courses as "a pathway that meets graduation requirements and is designed for the student who does not plan to major in the sciences or a science related field in college. NOTE: It is highly recommended that college bound students take an additional year of science." For better preparation, college bound students who plan to major in anything that has a technical or scientific element to it should take two additional years of science, which is why the full year pathway below is recommended for most college bound students.
Provide a full year pathway of biology, chemistry and physics as an "in depth rigorous college preparatory course that involves detailed study and is designed for college-bound students who plan to major in science or a science related field. NOTE: It is highly recommended that college bound students take an additional year of science." If the administration insists that Earth science benchmarks cannot be taught in 8th grade and in high school biology, add this to the course description for this pathway "Students following this pathway must also take a semester of Earth Science their sophomore year." If their interests are in the sciences, doubling up for one semester of Earth science will not present a problem for these students.
Drop honors level courses. Teach the writing of an IB lab in both pathways. This way a student could move from either pathway to the IB level. Let semester pathway students know that they will probably have to work harder at this level and make that their choice.
Integrate all state and federal benchmarks, and MEAP gaps into both of these pathways. This would meet all standards that the district is required to implement, provide a level of success for ALL students and meet the request of the parents.
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