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Rochelle Park prepares for state curriculum changes: cursive returns to grades 3–5; science standards pending
Summary
District curriculum director told the board that cursive instruction will return for grades 3–5 in September 2026, the state is revising science standards, and the district is aligning assessments and targeted instruction in ELA and math.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Cara Hurd told the board on March 24 that the district is preparing for several state-driven curriculum changes and internal assessment work.
Hurd said the state will require cursive instruction for grades three through five beginning September 2026. She also said the New Jersey science standards are in the process of being updated; district staff plan revisions to the K–8 science curriculum and stand ready to implement changes when the State Board finalizes guidance.
Hurd described a district emphasis on assessment design and data use: building formative, benchmark and summative assessments aligned to the NJSLS in ELA and math, analyzing growth trends, and creating targeted instruction and enrichment for students who need additional support.
The board’s curriculum committee reported ongoing, substantive meetings and coordination with Hackensack schools on curriculum alignment and professional development. The district also noted it is preparing for a full QSAC review next year and is discussing a “profile of a Lion” to define graduate expectations for eighth-grade students.
Hurd’s remarks signaled the district will communicate upcoming curriculum changes and resource needs to parents and staff as more state guidance becomes available.
