FCPS supervisor outlines social studies overhaul, expanded student leadership programs

Dr. Colleen Bernard, FCPS prek–12 supervisor of social studies and student leadership, told the Curriculum, Instruction and (CNI) committee that the district is aligning social studies instruction to revised Maryland frameworks while integrating disciplinary literacy and ELA to reduce teacher cognitive load and strengthen K–12 continuity. "Our goals in social studies" include "empowerment of participatory members of a democratic society," she said, emphasizing inquiry-based source analysis and evidence‑based argumentation.

Bernard said elementary teams have paired ELA thematic units with social studies conceptual units so teachers can reuse materials and reduce daily instructional shifts. She described work to create companion documents, shared vocabulary lists and high‑quality lesson templates so teachers can plan across subjects: "We're looking from beginning to end and really looking at how does that child experience it from beginning to end," she said.

At the middle‑school level, Bernard said the district revised sixth through eighth‑grade standards in response to state updates and is finalizing selections of high‑quality instructional materials (HQIM) and two new geography‑focused sixth‑ and seventh‑grade courses for public review this spring and board adoption. For high schools, Bernard described multiple pathways — year‑long required courses, AP options and a dual‑enrollment modern world history course — noting the district offers a broad selection of AP and elective social science courses.

Bernard and staff linked curriculum changes to assessments and teacher supports. She described the grade‑8 American history assessment as a four‑session, evidence‑based exam and reported about a 3% year‑over‑year improvement in middle‑school performance, adding that the district has remained "in the top one‑third of counties" on that measure. On professional learning, Bernard said the curriculum office will provide onboarding, coaching and ALP (accelerated learning process) supports to help teachers implement new courses and materials.

The presentation also highlighted student leadership and extracurricular programs that help build civic skills: an elementary social studies fair and National History Day events (Rose Hill Manor; local coordinator Mandy Vanal), a civics and law academy run with the Bar Association of Frederick County (Judge Joanie Raymond and local lawyers on the planning team), Model United Nations (supported by Educational Systems Federal Credit Union), and a robust mock trial program with courthouse and sheriff's office partners. Bernard underscored efforts to expand pipelines and participation, noting translators and targeted outreach for multilingual students.

Committee members asked about equity and access to AP and new course offerings, multilingual learner supports and co‑teaching for students with accommodations. Bernard and staff said the district is expanding virtual AP options, intentionally building small‑group tutoring into the school day, and using co‑teaching models and school‑based mentors to support students and teachers.

The committee moved from presentation to questions and discussion and then transitioned to the second, separate curriculum‑revisions presentation. The full CNI packet includes links to state standards and detailed district companion materials for public review and the board’s consideration.