PTA Howard County Responds to Proposed Curriculum Adjustments
Dear PTA leaders:
It has come to our attention that the school system is anticipating that the new Common Core State Curriculum will have a direct impact on the Middle School program offerings and they are proposing some changes which we think as parents we need to have some input on before they are implemented in the Fall of 2012.
Here's what is being recommended:
- Literacy instruction will be purposefully integrated into all courses. Reading will not be taught as a stand-alone course.
- Time allotted for content courses will be increased.
- All students should receive 90 days/year of physical education. Whenever possible, instruction will be spread across the full school year.
Students should be given the option to begin world language instruction in 6th grade. The instruction will be spread across the full school year. The school system is proposing these changes because they recognize that there has been concern about the Fitness Needs of Middle Schoolers and likewise and they are hoping that the proposed changes will result in earlier foreign language study. Under this proposed plan, Middle School students will have the option of learning a foreign language in 6th grade vs. 7th grade.
- The proposed changes involve not teaching reading as a separate course of study and there is research which suggests that the achievement gap is a reading gap. Students will no longer be afforded the opportunity to learn reading strategies which have a direct impact on other areas of study such as math. Integration of reading across the curriculum sounds good but we need to understand and ask questions about the level of training our science, math, social studies teachers etc will receive on reading instruction so that they have a level of proficiency in teaching reading which will not detrimentally affect our children.
- We also need to explore the impact that this will have on staffing of related arts as their load will be significantly increased.
Right now your questions and involvement are needed so that we have a clearer understanding of the issues and potential impact that this will have on our students. Here's how you can get involved and we once again need your presence and your voice:
- The Board of Education will receive a report about the proposed changes on Dec. 8, 2011
(Contact your Board Member if you have questions about the proposed changes) Click here to find out which BOE member is assigned to your school - Public Hearing will take place on January 12, 2012 (WE NEED YOU TO TESTIFY and VOICE YOUR OPINION)
- Board will take action January 26, 2012
- Implementation of changes slated for Fall 2012
Let's have an impact on this while there is still a chance to make some changes if we think that they are necessary. Thanks again for your help and as always if you have questions, please email me at president@ptachc.org and I will get right back to you.
— PTA Council of Howard County Office