Board approves three-year purchase of Art of Education University visual-arts curriculum

The Schenectady City School District Board of Education on April 23 approved a three-year purchase of a visual-arts curriculum and teacher professional-development suite from Art of Education University after a yearlong pilot and teacher review.

Erica Wardell, assistant director of visual and performing arts, told the board the district piloted the Art of Education University program for a year and evaluated six other options before narrowing to three. Wardell said 75% of the district’s visual-arts teachers participated in the selection process and that teachers found the program’s content, assessments and professional development to be the strongest fit.

Wardell described the paid suite as a single digital subscription that combines curriculum units, grade-level materials, assessments, substitute-ready lesson plans and on-site or virtual coaching. She said the district plans to use the product’s professional-development resources over the summer and during opening superintendent conference days and that the vendor offered an extended pilot period to support initial implementation. “This is definitely in alignment with the work that we’ve been doing,” Wardell said, referring to the district’s curriculum and assessment work.

Board members asked for details about teacher counts and past curriculum-writing work. Wardell said the district has 11 elementary, 6 middle and 10 high-school art teachers (27 total) and that 28 teachers participated in curriculum-writing activities last summer. She described the three-year purchase as a recommended “sweet spot” to allow teachers time to implement the program and to measure its classroom benefit before re-evaluation.

The board voted to approve the visual-arts curriculum information resolution. The motion was moved by Board member Jamaica and seconded by Board member Alexandria; the chair announced the motion approved by voice vote.