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Radnor curriculum committee previews 2026–27 program of studies: unified 6th-grade ELA, internship and math pathway changes
Summary
The Radnor Township SD curriculum committee reviewed proposed changes for 2026–27 including a unified sixth-grade comprehensive language-arts course, an entrepreneurship elective, a 0.5-credit technology internship, restructuring of math courses and a temporary elective freeze; materials and a redline version were posted for public review.
At a Dec. 9 curriculum meeting, the Radnor Township School District presented proposed changes to the 2026–27 program of studies that would affect middle- and high-school offerings and graduation requirements.
Dr. Widlick, who led the middle-school presentation, said the district plans to unify two existing sixth‑grade English language arts sections into a single "sixth‑grade comprehensive language arts" course to deliver rigorous, grade‑level instruction while providing built‑in supports for both advanced and struggling learners. "We will make sure that we are meeting kids where they are," Dr. Widlick said during the presentation.
The middle-school package also includes a new entrepreneurship and innovation elective designed to teach business fundamentals — market research, branding, financial planning — and culminate in a student business expo. Administrators said the changes include editorial revisions and a redline version of the program document posted for board and public review.
The committee also detailed a proposed technology ambassador internship: a competitive, applied program (administrators said it will begin with a very small cohort) in which students earn 0.5 credit while working per period with the technology teacher and district IT staff to address building‑level technical needs and produce reflective journals. Mr. Bechtel noted the proposal "will...require us to have two supplementals, and so there will be a financial cost to this." The internship, presenters said, will not give students access to other students' private data and will be supervised by technology staff.
High‑school program changes include replacing "Foundations of Math Essentials" with "Foundations of Algebra 1 Advanced Part 1" and "Part 2," and adding "Applied Algebra 2 Advanced," a course focused on modeling and real‑world applications. Presenters said the applied Algebra 2 pathway is intended for students seeking application‑oriented mathematics and typically leads to Algebra 3 & trigonometry or statistics rather than a precalculus sequence. Administrators emphasized that teachers will recommend core placements and that students and parents may override recommendations through counseling conversations.
Beginning with the Class of 2030, the district proposed reducing required elective credits from 5 to 4.5 and adding a required 0.5‑credit personal finance course in 10th grade. Officials also announced a one‑year elective "freeze" aimed at stabilizing elective enrollment and an electives fair planned for February to help students make informed choices.
No formal vote on the program changes was recorded during the meeting; presenters described the session as informational and encouraged public review of the posted redline materials. Administrators said they plan to collect data and feedback during piloting and will return to the committee or board with updates as needed.
The presentation included multiple questions from participants on teacher notification, placement processes and whether applied Algebra 2 students could access precalculus; presenters answered that teacher recommendations and one‑on‑one conferences will guide placement and clarified the expected sequencing for the applied pathway.
