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Teaching, Learning & Equity committee adopts Mystery Science; to pilot departmentalization at three elementary schools
Summary
The Teaching, Learning & Equity committee recommended Mystery Science as the elementary core science program and approved a pilot to departmentalize grades 4–5 at three elementary schools beginning next school year, with expanded rollout planned for 2026–27.
The West Chester Area School District Teaching, Learning & Equity (TLE) committee on March 17 recommended Mystery Science as the district's elementary core instructional material for science and authorized a pilot of departmentalized 4th‑ and 5th‑grade instruction in three elementary schools for the 2025–26 year.
Curriculum adoption: Mystery Science
District curriculum staff described a multi-stage review process in which a committee of teachers, a building administrator, two parents and central-office staff examined 13 candidate programs and conducted classroom pilots. The review narrowed the choices to two finalists — FOSS and Mystery Science — and the committee recommended Mystery Science based on curriculum-alignment ratings and cost considerations. A staff presenter said Mystery Science performed well on criteria including alignment with standards and classroom usability and that its lower purchase price would allow the district to invest in locally developed science notebooks and nonfiction supports to augment the program.
TLE members voted to approve the committee recommendation to adopt Mystery Science for elementary grades; the purchase, implementation timeline and professional development will be brought forward for board action and budget approval as required.
Pilot departmentalization in grades 4–5
The committee also approved a plan to pilot departmentalized instruction (separate teachers for core content areas such as math and ELA) in grades 4 and 5 at three elementary schools — East (district notation shown as "East Ocean" in the record), Fern Hill and Starkweather — for 2025–26. Staff said the three schools were chosen to represent different building sizes and needs: Starkweather is one of the district's largest elementary schools, Fern Hill is smaller, and the East school provides another point of comparison.
District leaders described the rationale as student-centered: departmentalization, the staff said, can provide content experts for math and English language arts, increase time for targeted instruction, create more natural transitions and improve differentiation. Staff described planned supports for teachers, including content-specific professional development sessions in March and summer planning, and indicated principals were preparing multiple master-schedule options for the pilot schools.
Equity and related work
The committee heard an equity update that highlighted restorative-practices training, student-centered events for Black History Month and student leadership participation in regional equity summits. Staff said restorative practices will be the focus of professional learning in June and will be used to strengthen relationships, social-emotional learning and tier‑1 supports.
Ending
Staff said the Mystery Science recommendation and the departmentalization pilot will be shared with the full board and included in implementation planning; staff will return to the committee with purchase and rollout details, implementation schedules, and family-communication plans.
