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District moves forward on updated middle‑ and high‑school science sequence; curriculum teams align to next‑generation standards
Summary
Teachers and curriculum staff presented K–12 science curriculum work, explained alignment to next‑generation science standards and PA expectations, and recommended instructional materials (Activate for grades 6–8) and mapping strategies; committee discussion focused on standards alignment and course‑plan follow‑up.
The EPR Committee heard presentations June 5 from district curriculum teams on revised middle‑school (grades 6–8) and elementary science curriculum aligned to next‑generation science standards and Pennsylvania frameworks.
Staff explained that middle‑school teachers piloted Activate Learning at one building this year to let teachers “dip their toes” into the material; curriculum writers linked Next Generation Science Standards to Pennsylvania standards where possible and mapped units and performance expectations by grade. The presenters said most standards aligned well; engineering and sustainability standards required careful placement and sometimes cross‑department coordination with technology and social studies.
For high school and intermediate grade planning, presenters said they created broad objectives and then unpacked those into grade‑level performance expectations and course plans to support teachers new to the materials. Committee members praised the collaborative work across grade spans and asked about eligible‑content references; presenters said Pennsylvania’s eligible‑content documents are older in some areas and that mapping will be updated once state guidance is published.
Presenters also said work on elementary science resources continued in parallel: the elementary committee reviewed several products and engaged a Penn State expert to help orient K–5 chairs to pedagogy and planning; materials recommendations appear elsewhere on the agenda for final board consideration.
Ending: The committee accepted the curriculum reports; staff will finalize course plans and classroom course documents for board review and continue cross‑departmental alignment with engineering and sustainability standards.
