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District updates curriculum: formative assessment tool rollout and plans for AP Research course
Summary
Lockport Township HSD 205 reported summer curriculum work across 63 projects, a district rollout of a new formative assessment tool and plans to offer AP Research (AP Capstone) alongside other course proposals. District staff recommended approving the AP versions of courses where fidelity to a recognized curriculum is required.
Curriculum staff told the board the district completed 63 curriculum projects over the summer and is rolling out Formative, a district assessment platform intended to broaden how students demonstrate learning.
Dr. Christopher Huntington and instructional‑technology staff described features of Formative, noting its multiple question types (audio responses, video response, drag‑and‑drop and others) and a tracker report that lets teachers see pre/post growth and performance by standard. Huntington said Wednesday‑morning department meetings now use Formative to examine student work, identify misconceptions and find exemplars to guide classroom instruction.
The board also discussed planned course approvals. Huntington said that where a course follows an Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum, the district prefers to approve the AP version to ensure fidelity to the College Board’s standards. He contrasted that with previous decisions where the district used a Joliet Junior College dual‑credit option for certain curricula (for example, environmental science) when that pathway better matched district goals. On AP Research (AP Capstone), Huntington recommended approving the AP pathway to align with AP Seminar offerings already in place and to provide students a coherent capstone experience.
Board members asked about target grades for a new test‑preparation course; Huntington recommended offering it to sophomores and juniors to maximize preparation before the junior‑year ACT. Student board members expressed support for adding AP Research and for the assessment changes.
Why it matters: Formative may change how teachers collect evidence of student learning and how the district tracks standards mastery. Approving AP Research would expand senior‑year research and capstone opportunities for students who completed AP Seminar.
What’s next: District staff plan to bring specific course approvals to the board next month; teachers and departments will continue formative‑tool rollout and professional development.
