This is one of the chief weaknesses in the K-6 curriculum. The state dictates TAAS emphasis - but the objectives tested are appropriate. In some cases the teachers are photocopying chapters of the books to hand out to their students, a practice which has occurred in previous years as well. We are so far out of compliance with Gifted and Talented guidelines, well, it's not hard to see why CISD doesn't have a tradition of academic excellence. Honors and Advance Placement classes are scheduled during athletics in the high school.
Kids have to choose one or the other.
This district runs on what the coaches tell them to do. When they were discussing the problem of what to do with the middle schools, they asked the athletic director what they should do. Teachers are buying textbooks for their classes. One student couldn't get in to see a counselor to set up her schedule, so she went to each teacher and got waived into the classes. He also told a group of students that he didn't want politically active students on his campus.