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Board approves conceptual physics course aligned to Pennsylvania STEELS standards
Summary
The board approved a new conceptual physics curriculum using OpenSciEd materials to align with the Pennsylvania "STEELS" science standards; board members discussed assessment and student retention concerns before voting to approve.
The Carlisle Area School District Board of School Directors approved a new conceptual physics curriculum Thursday that district educators said aligns classroom materials with Pennsylvania's updated science standards known in the meeting as "STEELS" (Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Learning and Sustainability).
The approval came after a presentation by Dr. Godoy (presenter named in committee materials) and the conceptual physics teacher, Mr. Burbridge, and discussion among board members about how the course will assess student knowledge retention.
Why it matters: The STEELS-aligned course updates the district's science curriculum to state standards that emphasize hands-on, three-dimensional learning and science-and-engineering practices. Board discussion focused on whether the course includes sufficient free-recall testing to measure long-term retention of concepts.
What the board heard
- Curriculum approach: Presenters said the course uses OpenSciEd materials and emphasizes hands-on learning, universal design for learning and student discovery. The committee recommended approval and the board moved to adopt the curriculum as posted on AgendaManager.
- Assessment and retention concerns: Board member David asked whether the course includes forms of free-recall testing (uncued tests, essays or quizzes that require students to retrieve information unaided). He said retention measurement is important to judge whether applied learning yields durable knowledge. A teacher showed a sample test that contained some free-recall items; David said he was pleased to see such items and voiced hope for multiple assessments throughout the course to measure retention.
- Board support: Multiple board members expressed enthusiastic support for the course and for the science department work implementing the new standards.
Vote and outcome
The board approved the curriculum by voice vote. The public transcript records members saying "aye" and "motion carries;" no roll-call tally of individual votes appears in the posted transcript.
Background
Board members described the STEELS standards as Pennsylvania's implementation of next-generation science standards that emphasize core disciplinary ideas, cross-cutting concepts and science-and-engineering practices for K'012.
Ending
The board asked administration and teachers to continue reporting on assessment structures and student outcomes as the course is implemented.
