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Title : Science Curriculum Updates
link : Science Curriculum Updates

Science Curriculum Updates

I had written to the Board -twice in the last couple of weeks - about the science adoption.  I received a reply from Kyle Kinoshita, Executive Director, Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, about the concerns I raised.  

Recently, parents were notified about upcoming open houses (and initially given the wrong month).  It is true the wrong dates originally went out, we sent a correction within 48 hours, during a holiday week. We apologized for our error.

Question regarding the finalists—The finalists are indeed listed on the District Science Adoption webpage, tinyurl.com/SPSPublicDispayK8 and tinyurl.com/SPSPublicDisplayHS The finalists were made public on that page within one day of the Adoption Committee’s determination meeting. Additionally, on this site, you will find links to the online resources from the publishers/developers for each of the instructional materials being considered. 

Here's what the open house description says:

 We are hosting two Science Instructional Materials Open Houses where we will give you time to review the candidates being considered for adoption by the district, provide information about the new standards and how science will look different for your child, and answer your questions. 

How can parents be ready with questions if they don't know who the candidates are?  Are they really supposed to go to a school where the instructional materials would be, look at them and then go to an Open House?  Is there time at an Open House to look at the materials AND have questions answered (in two hours)? 

As stated above, some information is on the web page. And there will be ample time for parents to review instructional materials before their questions on the Open House dates.  OR they can visit one of the schools prior to the open house to review materials. 

- There are no middle schools to view the materials - only K-8s.   Why is that?

Our K-8s house middle school students. These locations will make it easier for parents who have children at multiple grade levels to review materials for both elementary and middle school.

- The two Open Houses are both in the far south end.  Why isn't one in the north and one in the south? That strikes me as a way to get fewer parents in the door. 

We were having trouble securing a north end location and as of the date of the publishing of the memo about the open houses, we did not have confirmation on a north location. We have since confirmed a space at Nathan Hale High School to host the February 2^nd Open House.

Regards what we are going to accomplish in the adoption:

1. The adoption is about ensuring that science will prepare students for today’s college and career readiness, not for past years’.  Science is more than hands on activities, and more than memorizing factual information.  These are all featured in science, but it has moved far beyond to be more accurately described as science, engineering and technology.  In the last 20 years, college preparation and science in the real-world economy moved to incorporate all of these aspects—students will be woefully underprepared without these new features.  This is the “old” hard science with rigorous additions to bring science in line with what higher education and the work world is demanding. 

1. “Three-dimensional science”, a part of new national standards in science, in brief, simple terms, ensures that science education is up to date:  1) Core ideas:  same solid base of content knowledge as before.  2) Crosscutting concepts:  ideas that cut across and interconnect all sciences, as they appear in the real work world, where there are no separate subjects like “biology”, “physics” or “chemistry”. 3) Practices:  science applied to actual global problems and to develop citizens who can use accurate science to make decisions in society. 

1. Amplify Science—Regarding the question of Amplify Science being in use in the district causing a conflict of interest, we have consulted with our legal advisors. The fact that schools have had the opportunity to use a company’s instructional materials does not create an unfairness in an adoption process.  Our committees are made up of a variety of people from different backgrounds and schools and the evaluation rubric that they are tasked to use to evaluate the options presented, whether or not the instructional materials have or have not been used by the district.   In the last three materials adoptions, elementary math K-5, English-Language Arts 4-5, and middle school math grades 6-8, there were waivered instructional materials in use in schools that ended up being candidates for selection.  In the case of mathematics, both Math in Focus and enVision had been in use in schools with waivers prior to their eventual successful selection as adopted instructional materials.   However, because the adoption process is carefully structured to allow for a level playing field, an objective evaluation can be made of all of them, whether or not materials are familiar to staff in the district. 

1. As far as the adoption process as a whole.  We have meticulously followed board policy and procedure, and gone beyond the level of required scrutiny of all candidates, because we know that public scrutiny will be rigorous.  More on this later.

 I appreciate the lengthy reply and am happy to see a north-end Open House added.

We have since confirmed a space at Nathan Hale High School to host the February 2^nd Open House.

I also see the point about having materials reviews at K-8 - I did not consider it would be easier for parents who have students in both elementary and middle school. 

As for the process of reorganizing science, I can only say that I don't truly believe science teachers were as included as they should have been.   

thus Article Science Curriculum Updates

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