Curriculum Updates Presented by Jane Callaghan, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction August 23, 2010

Agenda Pupil Services Presentation Parent Education Family Services Draft of Revised ESL Plan PDE Updates Changes to Graduation CalculationsAdoption of Common Standards Proposal to Accept Keystone Exams as Graduation Requirement UMASD Professional Development Plan Curriculum Updates Physical EducationDigital Academy Elementary Language Arts – reminder that these were shared and will be on the August 30 School Board Agenda

Physical Education Presented by Jenn Straub

Digital Academy Electronic Curriculum “Lives” on a wikispace – Accessed through the Curriculum Dept. Website A wikispace is a web 2.0 tool that: Is Interactive Is Public or Private – This wikispace is private. It “lives” on a UMASD Server and users must be invited. Provides a forum for multiple ways of accessing curriculum Allows multiple users to collaborate on their work

Elementary Language Arts e/default.asp

UMASD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Aligned to Standards published by the National Staff Dev. Council Data Driven Using a model of differentiation Needs Assessment – Addendum at the back of the plan Aligned to Strategic Plan Goals

UMASD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Delivery System Required In-Service Days Summer Workshops Teacher Induction Teacher Book Study Cohort Study Groups Principals’ Academy

UMASD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN UMASD Principals’ Academy Job-Embedded Research Based Designed to Enhance Leadership Designed Around Big Ideas and Essential Questions

Keystone Exams Proposal to the Committee to accept the Keystone Exams as Graduation Requirements Review areas impacted On-going Preparation Class of Algebra I English Composition English Literature Biology Class of English Composition and Literature Two of three mathematics (algebra I, geometry, algebra II) one of two sciences (biology or chemistry) One of three social studies (American history, civics and government or world history)

Impact in Any 7 th or 8 th grade student taking Algebra I will take the Algebra Keystone exam this year The Keystone exam will count as 1/3 of the final grade Grade 8 Students will also take the PSSA in Reading, math, writing and Science Students will be able to retake the assessment in whole or in part – dates to be determined The Keystone Exam is expected to take 2-2 ½ hours The 8 th grade math curriculum (Algebra and Algebra IA) has been aligned to the PA Standards, the Eligible Content and recently released Keystone Exam Enhanced Eligible Content Information relative to the Keystones has been added to the C&I website under information For Parents

Policies Pertaining to Graduation and Assessments To be Revised to include Keystone Keystones will be added to the assessment plan No changes in wording needed No specific wording regarding grading practices MS will need to revise grading practices for Algebra Policy #213 Assessment of Student Progress Policy #217 Graduation Requirement s High School Program of Studies Policy #127

High School Program Of Studies – Proposed Revisions GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS All students who wish to earn an Upper Merion Area High School diploma must meet certain standards. The PA State Board of Education and the Upper Merion Area Board of School Directors set the requirements after considerable review with citizens, parents, teachers and students. Please refer to the graduation requirements as you design an individual program of studies. Graduation Requirements – Suggested Revision Successful completion of standards, the Graduation Project as well as required Keystone Exams must be met by all students who wish to earn the Upper Merion Area High School diploma. Graduation Requirements are set by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and the Upper Merion Area Board of School Directors after careful review. Listed below are the minimum number of credits required for all students who wish to earn an Upper Merion Area School District Diploma. English 4.0 Computers 0.5 Social Studies 3.5 Health 0.5 Mathematics 3.0 Arts & Humanities 2.0 Science 3.0 Electives 5.5 Physical Education 1.0 Teenage Issues 0.5 Total 23.5

Graduation Calculatons Changes to Graduation Calculations Effective with the school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will begin calculating a “4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate” for all public high schools that graduate students from 12th grade The transition to the new method of calculating the graduation rate is required by the US Department of Education States must begin using the “4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate” for determining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) beginning with the AYP reporting year. Graduation Rates are Calculated through a PIMS Pull (Data provided by the Districts

Draft of Revised ESL Plan Components Statement of Goals and Objectives Procedure for student In-take Identification, placement, and exiting the ESL Program Instructional Program Staff Development