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Board hears proposals to expand CTE pathways, add fifth-grade research course and new electives
Summary
District administrators presented proposals to expand career and technical education to eight pathways, introduce a fifth-grade 'Research Exploration' course, a full-year English 12, a non‑Regents chemistry option, and language/music program revisions; the proposals were for review and not adopted at the meeting.
District administrators presented detailed new course proposals and revisions spanning career and technical education, languages, arts and sciences at the Plainview-Old Bethpage board meeting.
Dr. Bowen (speaker 2) opened the curriculum presentation with an overview of Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, saying the district currently offers five programs of study and is proposing to add three more—accounting and finance, architecture and marketing—bringing the total to eight pathways. "CTE career and technical education ... offers students industry-recognized certification, internships, work-based experiences, and a culminating course that can provide a CTE endorsement on the diploma," Dr. Bowen said, and he credited CTE coordinators Gina Farrell and Scott Lieberman for their work on the program.
The presentation included several specific course proposals and revisions:
- Fifth-grade Research Exploration: a full-year, every-other-day course focused on 21st-century skills, research process and a culminating research symposium; it would replace current fifth-grade wheel offerings such as digital keyboarding and introductory language classes. - English 12: a full-year course combining literature and writing elements as a senior elective. - Non‑Regents Chemistry (1 credit): a daily, lab-included chemistry course without a separate lab period targeted to students who may struggle in Regents-level chemistry; administrators said the course could support students moving later into Regents-level science or physics. - Music program restructuring: renaming and separating audition and non-audition ensembles (string orchestra vs. Philharmonic Orchestra; symphonic band vs. wind ensemble) to support an arts 'plus one' graduation pathway and IAP portfolio. - World languages: an 'honors by achievement' approach for ASL, Chinese, French and Italian that would allow students in the same course to earn an honors designation via additional assignments or a portfolio; proposals also included dual-enrollment options through Adelphi and credit pathways with Stony Brook and SUNY Farmingdale.
Board members asked practical implementation questions: Tara and others pressed on where keyboarding instruction would be preserved if removed from the fifth-grade wheel; Dr. Bowen said the district will explore moving ~20 keyboarding lessons to elementary schedules. Members also asked about expected enrollment for the non‑Regents chemistry course and whether it would pull students from Regents-level chemistry; Dr. Bowen said he anticipated at least one section and that the course would primarily serve students who otherwise would avoid chemistry.
Dr. Bowen cited growth metrics: since June 2021, 139 students have graduated with the CTE endorsement and for this June 54 students could potentially earn the endorsement, indicating program growth.
The chair emphasized these proposals were presented for feedback and are not being adopted tonight; the curriculum guide and any final adoptions are expected at a future meeting (the chair referenced a December timeline). The district said it will finalize course descriptions for the course guide and provide additional parent and staff guidance before adoption.
