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Salisbury Township outlines shift to STEEL science standards, flags furniture and materials needs
Summary
District curriculum staff told the board the new STEEL standards take effect July 1 and will require hands‑on instruction, new sequencing for grade bands, modest materials purchases and possible furniture replacement; a partnership with the Da Vinci Center and use of Title IV funds were proposed to expand field‑trip and mobile‑lab opportunities.
Mrs. Pauling, the district’s science curriculum presenter, told the board the district is transitioning to the STEEL standards (Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability), which take effect July 1 and will bring more hands‑on, phenomena‑based instruction to classrooms. "They go into effect here with July 1, officially," she said, and staff have been working on professional development and curriculum sequencing to align instruction across grade bands.
The board heard that the state’s decision to band science expectations 3–5 created a shift: "So the grade banded standards are 3 through 5," Mrs. Pauling said, explaining that fifth grade will now carry the assessment and that the district is realigning units so content flows vertically between grades. She added that high‑school level‑2 courses will be phased and that district teachers have drafted many units with OpenSciEd and other resources.
Why this matters: the change affects testing, pacing and classroom practice across K–12 and will require both staff time and modest budget adjustments. Mrs. Pauling flagged two concrete needs: more consumable laboratory materials as instruction becomes more hands‑on, and replacement of some middle‑school furniture because slanted tables hamper lab work and risk spills. "We need to replace some of the furniture with different desks and chairs that are more...mobile," she said.
The board also discussed a proposed partnership with the Da Vinci Center in Allentown. Mrs. Pauling said membership would give the district discounts on field trips and summer camps, priority scheduling, grant‑writing and professional development opportunities, and access to a newly acquired mobile lab the center will deploy to schools. She said the district would use Title IV funds to cover some partner costs and that detailed plans and scheduling would be shared online as arrangements solidify.
Board member Laura raised a subject the curriculum team will revisit: elementary chemistry coverage. "Where's the chemistry?" she asked, noting the STEEL materials appear light on chemistry topics at the elementary level. Mrs. Pauling acknowledged the gap and said the team would consider inserting chemistry content in small chunks over future revisions.
Next steps: the district expects to complete most K–12 science curriculum work by the start of the school year, bring the full curriculum to the board in August, and continue work on remaining high‑school level‑2 courses. The board did not take a separate vote on the curriculum tonight but approved related textbook and consent items as part of the consent package earlier on the agenda.
