With two children in the Northshore School District, I have seen no program better support every student’s dreams and ambitions than Challenge. The Save Our Challenge petition on Change.org has 1,387 supporters. Abundant parent and student testimony to the School Board has supported the option to choose, or not choose, Challenge classes in every discipline. Anything less weakens college readiness and leaves students at greater risk of becoming dropouts.

I asked seven 10th grade young women their views. Each spoke passionately for the Challenge option. Heads nodded as one student explained their perspectives. They all know that colleges expect students to take Advanced Placement courses and that Challenge was essential preparation for AP. Without Challenge, they wouldn’t have felt confident to take AP or have begun proving they were getting college-ready in 10th grade.

The Challenge option also supports every student so they graduate. The District is proud of its 90.3 percent (four-year 2014) graduation rate, but what will be the impact of more difficult state standards on graduation rates? Lakewood School District, by contrast, is struggling to improve its 85.2 percent graduation rate (four-year 2014) and has set a 3 percent annual improvement target. Lakewood informed families: “The new learning standards are more challenging than the standards they replaced.” Then Lakewood reached out for input, “Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your child.” If our District asked that question, I would say: Retain Challenge in seventh and eighth grades and add it to 6th grade to support essential social and academic goals including college readiness and graduating high school with their peers.

The Challenge option equably supports students’ needs academically and socially and is highly popular and effective. The Middle School Task Force proposal to weaken or end Challenge as a choice starting 2017/18 lacks parent and student support. The School Board needs a thoughtful approach and rigorous analysis before unwittingly risking college readiness and graduation rates. Challenge works. Don’t break what isn’t broken.

Sylvia Schultz, NSD parent