Teaching and Learning committee previews STEAL standards roll-out, assessment purchase and student-centered initiatives

Dr. Kennedy, reporting for the Teaching and Learning committee, told the board on Nov. 3 that the committee met Oct. 29 and reviewed professional development and curriculum implementation plans. The committee highlighted Better Lesson training held on Oct. 13 and said the district planned to implement the new STEAL standards and increase student-centered learning beginning Nov. 4.

Committee items included planned seventh-grade ELA sessions (with a Dec. 17 session in partnership with Moss Flower), a Kutztown author visit on Nov. 7 involving roughly 80 students and 11 chaperones, and elementary-level deployments of mystery science kits to provide hands-on activities aligned to STEAL standards. The report noted visits to the B300 Wing tech ed and engineering area to observe automotive and wood shop programs and to meet students demonstrating project work.

Dr. Kennedy also mentioned that the committee reviewed proposed agreements for student teaching and dual-enrollment arrangements with Lancaster Bible College, Penn State Berks and Harrisburg University and said the district is considering repurchasing the STAR 360 assessment platform. The board subsequently approved agreements for Title I/II/IV services with the BCIU and a Renaissance continuum of learning/universal screener subscription at a cost of $72,712.60 to be paid from the teaching and learning budget.

The committee described additional professional learning pathways for staff who were not attending the Nov. 4 professional development sessions and previewed elementary and middle-school experiential learning opportunities such as a first Textile Institute field trip and library-author connections. The report emphasized hands-on, student-centered approaches across grade levels.