Taking Center Stage – Act II (TCSII)

A Portal for Middle Grades Educators

Chapter Seven
Access

"In any one of California’s thousands of classrooms, we could have future workers with the ability to understand a dozen different cultures and the wherewithal to connect and communicate with people all over the globe on terms they can understand. But, we have not yet tapped the tremendous potential we have. Quite simply, the demanding global economy and a stubborn achievement gap not only threaten the future of our students, but also the future economic health and security of our state and nation."1

Content Sections

• Equity in the Middle Grades

• The Chance to Engage Potential Dropouts

• Closing the Achievement Gap by Providing Access

• No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
  • Access to qualified and caring teachers and staff
  • Subgroups
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Language acquisition
  • Gender
  • Universal access for special education

• Strategies Common to Effective Middle Grades Programs
  • Access to facilities and instructional materials
  • Access to grade-level, standards-based instruction
    • Access to heterogeneous groupings to the fullest extent possible
    • Access to differentiated instruction
    • Access to special education supports
    • Access to English learner (EL) supports
    • Access to advanced programs (gifted and talented education—GATE)
    • Access to accelerated academic interventions
  • Access to electives and exploratory programs
  • Access to leadership and recognition opportunities
  • Access to student clubs, sports, and community Involvement
  • Access to transportation
  • Access to equitable disciplinary referrals and suspension practices
  • Nonpromotion issues

• Conclusion

• Appendices
  • Appendix 7-A. Access Recommendation in Action
  • Appendix 7-B. Teaming Practices Related to Access
  • Appendix 7-C. Access: Chart of Related Initiatives on Middle Grades Reform
  • Appendix 7-D. Online and Print Resources on Access

Footnote
1 Jack O’Connell, “Third Annual State of the Education Address,” Sacramento: California Department of Education, Press Release 06-15, February 7, 2006.

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