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Conestoga Valley board previews social studies curriculum ahead of Nov. 10 review
Summary
Trustees were presented a Phase 2 package of social studies units and a timeline for public review and potential approval on Nov. 10; presenters said the work follows the district's Understanding by Design framework and earlier approvals of ELA and math.
Conestoga Valley School District trustees on Oct. 20 received a preview of Phase 2 social studies curriculum units that staff plan to bring back for public presentation and possible board approval on Nov. 10.
The presentation, led by district curriculum staff, framed the revision work around the district's mission and comprehensive plan goals on learner well-being, achievement and belonging. "Last year, you reviewed and approved the English and math courses and curriculum. This year, this fall you're gonna see the social studies," a presenter said, explaining the phased rollout and noting science will follow later.
Why it matters: the district is revising course-level curriculum (the standards and units that guide instruction) rather than instructional resources such as textbooks. Presenters emphasized that curriculum maps learning standards into sequenced units and that planned instructional guides—developed with teacher teams using ESSER funds—support classroom implementation. Board policy numbers cited by presenters included policy 105 (definition and review cycles for curriculum) and policy 106 (implementation and unit development).
Board members asked how electives and middle-school reading selections will be handled. One trustee asked whether middle-school students will read whole novels or excerpts; a presenter replied that “various courses… have novels that they're looking at, and reading, through the approved list.” Presenters said electives will be phased in over time and that staggered development accounts for teachers who instruct multiple course preps.
Superintendent [name withheld when not speaking] urged trustees to submit questions early so staff can bring department chairs or teacher leaders to the Nov. 10 discussion. "If you have questions, the earlier you can get those to us, so we can have a really deep discussion in November, that would be great," the superintendent said.
Next steps: trustees have three weeks to review the units posted in board documents and submit questions ahead of the Nov. 10 public presentation and vote. The district said it will present the full units and supporting materials at that meeting for stage-1 approval of desired results and evidence under the Understanding by Design framework.
