Curriculum council previews new math pathway and proposed SUNY dual-enrollment English courses

Curriculum council representatives presented updates Dec. 2 on new pathway courses and possible dual-enrollment offerings for next school year.

Kevin Murphy, a Rye High School math teacher, outlined a geometry course being offered again after several years and an algebra‑2/trigonometry pathway that will strengthen reasoning, proofs and trigonometric applications. "The curriculum is a lot of solving proofs and writing proofs," he said, describing use of technology such as Delta Math and GeoGebra and the course sequence that leads into advanced math and engineering classes.

Lauren Santa Barbara, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, described proposed semester dual-enrollment courses through Westchester Community College: SUNY English 101 (Writing and Research) and SUNY English 102 (Writing and Literature). She said participating students could earn three to six college credits if they pay tuition associated with the college program and that these courses would count for one or two high school credits depending on semester selection.

Santa Barbara said the English 102 course would require a comprehensive research essay (transcript states a 4,000-word/16-page example) and an annotated bibliography as part of the assessment. The board noted a policy meeting scheduled to coincide with a future board meeting and reserved further discussion of curriculum policy items for that session.

Student ex officio Daniel separately reported student-government activities including new suggestion boxes, food drives donated to Bread of Life, Inclusive Schools Week events and planning for a tenth-grade assembly.