To the editor:

In your recent article regarding “de-leveling” of courses from the BHS Program of Studies you wrote, "Currently, Barrington High School officials have not 'de-leveled' any math courses."

However, starting with the 2020-2021 school year, the levels of math courses were changed too.

There used to be four levels across the curriculum. Now there are only two.

What used to be a two-period 410-Algebra I class (level 3) taken for a letter grade has morphed into 410-Algebra Skills (level2 ) taken for a pass/fail grade. Students taking 410 must now take 411-Algebra 1 (level 2) for a letter grade.

Furthermore, the former 419-Algebra 2 (level 3) has been changed to 419-Algebra 2 (level 2) while 430-Geometry (level 3) has been changed to 430-Geometry (level 2). Moreover, 435-Trigonometry (level 2) was entirely removed from the math department.

In the English department, the changes are not limited to the 10th grade Honors ELA class. Courses like 113-Lang & Lit (level 3) and 123-American Literature (level 3) have disappeared entirely from the current program of studies.

Also, the science department removed 526-Conceptual Biology, 527-Conceptual Chemistry, and 542-Conceptual Physics.

With the elimination of such courses, students have fewer academically tracked options in core subjects. "De-leveling" is slowly, but surely, being implemented across the curriculum in all departments.

Kind regards,

Ritzy McCarthy

Barrington