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Glen Rock High School proposes course changes: conversational Spanish, film art elective, social-studies realignment and new preschool-linked early childhood-ED
Summary
District staff presented proposed changes to Glen Rock High School's program of studies, including new electives, a conversational Spanish sequence, a social-studies realignment and a new early childhood development class tied to an upcoming preschool program.
District curriculum staff presented updates to the Glen Rock High School program of studies that would change course offerings and the sequence of social studies, add electives, and create dual-enrollment options.
Lauren Daniels, a district curriculum presenter, introduced the agenda and explained the program of studies is the starting point for student course selection and scheduling. "The program of studies is really the start of the scheduling process for the next academic year," Daniels said, noting scheduling follows in February and the changes will be reflected there. She told the board that any state-level changes to graduation testing guidance will be added later as an addendum if necessary.
Key course proposals presented: - Conversational Spanish A/B: The district plans to replace the current two-course "Spanish fundamentals 1 and 2" sequence with conversational Spanish A in the first year and conversational Spanish B the next, allowing students to take three years of Spanish (conversational a, conversational b, Spanish 2) and improving alignment for students who switch languages or who want practical language skills for travel and everyday use. "It'll be looked upon as 3 years of it," a staff member said when asked how transcripts will reflect the sequence. - Art of Film elective: A new semester elective in the art department titled "Art of Film" will combine art history and film analysis, covering narrative structure, cinematography and notable directors. - Social-studies realignment: The district proposed moving U.S. History 1 into ninth grade, U.S. History 2 into tenth grade, and World History into eleventh grade. The proposal also adds an honors world-history option and would allow AP World History to be offered to upperclassmen who have not yet taken it. The change aims to better match the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and reduce academic stress for freshmen in AP World taught as a freshman. - Dual-enrollment and electives: The district reported a partnership with Kean University for a dual-enrollment option in Human Rights and Social Justice with a larger emphasis on Holocaust studies; an early childhood development full-year course for juniors and seniors is proposed to partner with the district's preschool program so high school students can work directly with preschoolers; financial literacy will remain available through New Jersey Virtual School under Option 2 with an April 1 deadline for paperwork; investing will have a dual-enrollment option with Fairleigh Dickinson; and Intro to Business will be opened to ninth graders.
Board members asked about staffing impacts and the presentation said none of the changes require new staffing because licensed staff are available. The presentation also outlined communications about recommendations, the student appeals process for placement, and how counselors and department meetings will support scheduling. Student Hudson Campbell's public comment earlier in the evening asked the board to reduce the district's graduation arts requirement from 10 to 5 credits (policy 54-60); he delivered a petition with about 120 signatures. Curriculum presenters said the proposed changes to electives and sequences would not remove arts classes from the program but increase flexibility.
Why this matters: The program of studies establishes the courses students may select and affects scheduling, transcript notation, college admissions context and dual-enrollment opportunities. The proposed re-sequencing of social studies and the new course offerings would change when students take core social-studies courses and create additional elective and dual-enrollment pathways.
Next steps: The board will consider the program-of-studies updates as part of its review cycle; staff said they will post the material on the website and notify parents and students through Schoology, SchoolMessenger and department meetings, and will add any state testing guidance later if the Department of Education issues updates.
