Norwalk curriculum committee advances 2026 Program of Studies after reviews of dual enrollment, IB and P TECH courses

The Norwalk School District curriculum committee on Jan. 26 reviewed a 180‑page Program of Studies that expands college‑credit opportunities, strengthens IB offerings and adds new P TECH career and technology courses, then voted to send the document to the full school board for approval.

Rob Pennington, who led the presentation, said the Program of Studies is compiled each year after departmental proposals, principal approvals and central‑office review, and that the full board will receive the document next Tuesday. "It's a 180 pages long," Pennington said, noting the volume reflects the district's course offerings and pathway alignments.

Why it matters: The update increases the number of courses that allow students to earn transferable college credit through partnerships with UConn Early College Experience, Southern Connecticut State University and Quinnipiac, and expands access to IB and career‑focused pathways. District staff described the changes as a strategy to improve equity and reduce future college costs for families.

Major changes and highlights - Dual enrollment/"Bear Tracks to College": Norwalk High is expanding dual‑enrollment sections so more students can earn college credit in disciplines that previously lacked AP or college courses. A district assistant principal said the program "gives our students access to college level coursework while still in high school." Staff emphasized that Norwalk teachers who teach dual‑enrollment courses apply to partner universities and meet instructor requirements. - Graduation and financial literacy: Carol Walsher Toth, the district education administrator for workforce development and school counseling, said the 2027 cohort (next year's juniors) will be subject to a 0.5‑credit financial literacy requirement; the Program of Studies lists several course options that meet that state requirement, including a dual‑enrollment personal finance course that can carry college credit if students pass the course. - IB and Center for Global Studies: Brian McMahon High School and the Center for Global Studies are expanding IB offerings. Presenters described IB for All commitments, required junior coursework in IB Language and Literature, and increased options for DP/CP pathways and language enrichment. - P TECH and MSAP grant‑funded courses: P TECH staff outlined new and revised courses aligned to workforce needs — AP Business with personal finance, CompTIA Network+, motion capture (applied in film/gaming and interdisciplinary PE), a 0.5‑credit cybersecurity course, multimedia/composing courses, trigonometry to prepare for college precalculus, and college success prep. Staff said the district's MSAP grant funded curriculum materials, equipment (including a traveling Mac lab) and certification supports for students and teachers.

Questions and clarifications Board members asked whether the dual‑enrollment personal finance course satisfies the state financial literacy mandate. Staff confirmed it does and pointed to alternative, lower‑intensity courses listed in the Program of Studies for students who need them.

Board action Chair Mary Ellen Flaherty Ludwig asked the committee to move the Program of Studies to the full board. An unnamed committee member moved the referral and board member Marcus Jaime seconded; the committee "Approved," and the chair adjourned the meeting. The transcript records the chair calling for a motion, a mover and a second, and the committee approving the referral; the meeting did not record individual roll‑call vote tallies.

What comes next The committee will forward the Program of Studies to the full Norwalk School District board for final review and approval at its next scheduled meeting. District staff said they will email the full Program of Studies document and the list of proposed new course offerings to the full board prior to that meeting.

Speakers quoted in this report include Mary Ellen Flaherty Ludwig (chair, curriculum committee), Rob Pennington (presenter), Carol Walsher Toth (education administrator for workforce development and school counseling), and an assistant principal at Norwalk High School who described the dual‑enrollment expansion.