By Melissa Canfield

A disagreement seems to be facing our education system as to what we should be doing about our students these days. There are many differences in handling it and the CAPSS (the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents) feels like they have an idea about what they can do. We have been going about our school systems in the same way for 150 years and now this method is viewed as outdated, so the CAPSS wants to start off 2012 with a different approach to education. In a report developed over two years, this organization recently proposed a number of changes in education. The report, which aims to place the responsibility of learning more on the school system than on the child, was written by a “core group” of superintendents, one of whom was Region 15’s Dr. Sippy.

The problems that face school systems are international and racial achievement gaps, inadequate preparation for today’s higher education and workforce, and low level of student engagement and motivation. These are not the only current problems, but they seem to be the most important ones.

Going about these issues isn’t going to be an easy task and the CAPSS knows this, so it feels that redesigning the system is the best way to go about resolving them. But what can be done? By looking over the typical current practices, the superintendents were able to come up with ideas as to what they can do. For example, one typical goal is universal access to education and also to transform education. These superintendents said that their goal is to educate all students with high standards. They want to establish ambitious, focused, and coherent educational standards in all major education disciplines.

One idea that this association has thought up is that of building instructional programs based on student learning needs, styles and interests. It seems to most as if they are getting to the root of what students are really like and playing off of that to ensure that they get the education they need. Another typical current practice is to group students by age. A way to transform this is by grouping students based on the progress that they show in school. CAPSS also suggested that if children start attending school when they are as young as three or four, they will be ready to learn once they get to kindergarten. Establishing a structural relationship between preschool and the K-12 system is a plan that officials are hoping will be successful.

The CAPSS is taking a serious step towards enhancing the schooling systems all throughout Connecticut. Is this really going to help the kids or will it just help the teachers and leaders in schools? They want to offer more options and choices. The hope is that this will help schools to become more independent. But is this going to help with our school? And is our superintendent really going to put this into effect? We are all going to have to see what happens next in the new year.