NELMS Position Statements

NELMS has published nine Position Statements that reflect best middle level practices.

NELMS ENDORSED POSITION STATEMENTS

1) Policy Statement—High-Stakes Testing
With public demand and recent federal legislation calling for high standards and improved student performance, virtually every state in the nation has created and administered statewide tests that measure student progress over time. The requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 will result in increased use of these tests. After careful deliberation, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform and the NELMS Board have endorsed this statement of policy.

External link to The National Forum—High Stakes Testing

2) Policy Statement—Teacher Preparation, Licensure and Recruitment
NELMS is committed to making high-performing middle-grades schools the norm rather than the exception. We believe that specialized preparation of middle-grades educators will produce competent and caring teachers who are well-qualified to teach young adolescents. Therefore, we strongly support the specialized preparation of middle-level teachers at both the pre-service and graduate levels.

External link to The National Forum—Teacher Preparation

3) Policy Statement—Student Assignment in the Middle Grades Towards Academic Success for all Students
Schools across the country are struggling with how to group students for instruction. Ability grouping is a divisive issue among parents, teachers, and policy makers. Members of NELMS have struggled with the many nuances of ability grouping and have come to unanimous consensus on this statement of policy, which is the first in a series of education reform issues we will address.

External link to The National Forum—Academic Success

4) Supporting Students in their Transition to Middle School
Moving from an elementary school to a middle school is experienced by more than 88% of public school students as they begin the middle grades. This time of transition evokes a wide variety of emotions, behaviors, and concerns for both young adolescents and their parents. The NELMS Board unanimously endorses this joint position statement.

External link to The National Middle School Association—Supporting Students in Their Transition...

5) Position Statement on Curriculum Integration
The time has come to push the middle school concept substantially beyond structural concerns and school climate issues and establish a balance among the academic, physical, and social needs of middle level students. To achieve this balance, NELMS emphasizes the crucial need to change the way we currently think about curriculum and to redefine the middle level curriculum. The NELMS Board unanimously endorses this position statement.

External link to The National Middle School Association—Position Statement on Curriculum Integration

6) Supporting Young Adolescents' Literacy Learning
In recent years early reading has received increased attention from policy makers, funding agencies, and educational planners. Young children must get off to a good start in reading; however, it is a serious mistake to assume that a good start is sufficient for producing confident readers. Middle school students deserve continued and systematic instruction in reading. The NELMS Board unanimously endorses this position statement.