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Board approves five new courses, including physical rehabilitation CTE completer and English-learner supports
Summary
The board voted to approve five new courses for implementation in fall 2025, including a career-and-technical education (CTE) physical rehabilitation completer to be offered at comprehensive high schools and two English learner courses aimed at long-term multilingual learners.
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to approve five new courses recommended by Superintendent Mark Bedell’s staff for implementation in 2025–26, including a physical rehabilitation CTE completer and two English Learner development courses for long-term multilingual learners.
Christina Catalano, chief academic officer, and curriculum staff explained the board policy process used to vet proposed courses and said the proposals align with the district’s strategic priorities including academic excellence, future readiness and whole-child supports. “This committee goes through a very robust vetting process,” Catalano said.
The proposed physical rehabilitation completer is intended to expand career pathways into rehabilitative health fields at comprehensive high schools. Michelle Batten, assistant superintendent for curriculum and assessment, said the sequence includes two foundation courses (Foundations of Medicine and Health Science; Structure and Functions of the Human Body) and a capstone clinical course where students would earn CPR certification and prepare for supervised clinical experience. Staff told the board they are exploring industry-recognized certification options with Anne Arundel Community College and other partners, though no single state-recognized credential was guaranteed at the time of presentation.
The board also approved two English-learner courses (Success 1 and Success 2) aimed at students who have been in English-language development programs for six or more years and need sustained academic-language support aligned to WIDA standards. Staff said the courses may satisfy an English graduation requirement while providing targeted literacy interventions.
Superintendent Bedell and assistant superintendents said curricular materials will be developed over the spring and summer with teacher professional learning ahead of fall 2025 implementation.
Votes at a glance: the motion to approve the presented courses passed unanimously (8–0).
Ending: Board members praised the CTE pathway as career-building and commended staff for addressing long-term multilingual-learner needs; the board authorized staff to proceed with curricular development and partner outreach.
