New Hampshire District Reexamining Middle School "Leveling."

The Nashua (NH) Telegraph (8/8, Brindley) reports that Nashua, New Hampshire, Superintendent Mark Conrad says he has no intention of ending the "controversial" practice of leveling, or homogenous grouping, in the city's middle schools. However, the issue "is one of the topics on the agenda for a three-day summer workshop starting today. ... The focus of this week's institute is to re-examine the way education is delivered in the city's three middle schools. Approximately 50 teachers and administrators are taking part." The piece notes that studies have indicated that leveling "puts disproportionate numbers of low-income, minority, special education and English Language Learner students into the lowest-level classes." The Telegraph notes parenthetically that the NEA opposes this type of grouping.