NEASC decennial visit finds inconsistent online curriculum; district plans to standardize by end of school year

Superintendent Dr. Kelly reported on Sept. 9 that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) decennial visit identified a finding: the district "does not yet have a written curriculum in a consistent format for all courses in all departments across the school," the report states. Dr. Kelly told the committee the finding appears in the published decennial report and that the visiting team recommended a single, consistent online format to make curriculum more accessible to students and families.

Dr. Kelly showed committee members examples from the district website. She said the English department's grade‑level curriculum maps follow the format the visiting team praised — with essential questions, standards, rubrics, assessments and anchor texts — while some other departments, such as math, present curriculum in a different layout that the visiting team said makes it harder for parents to compare courses.

Dr. Kelly said the district has already begun work: "Dr. Mokaba did meet with all of the curriculum directors over the last couple of weeks, and they took an inventory of where they are," she said. The high school English curriculum has been moved into the new format and special education and other departments have work underway. Dr. Kelly said the district aims to have the "standardized curriculum outline for every single course at Riviera High School, including electives" by the end of this school year and will update the committee in the spring.

The superintendent said the commission uses the district's self‑study and on‑site evidence to produce its report and that the decennial document will be published with the meeting minutes. No formal sanctions were reported at the meeting; the item was described as a required follow‑up from the decennial visit and as work already in progress.