| Curriculum
The Pennridge School District prides itself on the range and depth of its educational program, its commitment to ongoing curriculum renewal, and its efforts to insure that the instructional program is responsive to the needs and interests of our students. The overall goal of the educational program is expressed in the district's Mission Statement:
Curriculum development is an ongoing process in the Pennridge School District. Curriculum is the roadmap that guides the delivery of instruction and assists students to attain district goals and state standards. It is essential, therefore, that all programs undergo periodic review. Special program improvement resources are available to insure that the curriculum is current, responds to the varied and changing needs of students, and integrates technology and other emerging learning tools.
Curriculum frameworks are standards-based. Each program area is organized around a set of K-12 goals that encompass (and often extend beyond) Pennsylvania Academic Standards. These program areas include all traditional subject areas and a variety of instructional support services such as guidance, gifted support, special education, library services, and English as a Second Language. Curriculum guides and courses of study align classroom instruction with grade level or course goals, student proficiency standards, and a developmentally appropriate sequence of learning. Whenever possible, interdisciplinary connections across core subjects are incorporated into the curriculum and emphasized during instruction.
Classroom and district-level assessments complement curriculum and instruction. In addition to teacher-designed assessments used to measure student progress and enhance instructional planning, other forms of curriculum-embedded assessments are administered district-wide to help teachers and administrators evaluate program strengths and needs. Writing portfolios, math "snapshots", science and social studies performance tasks, and a variety of culminating projects are included in these program assessments. At the secondary level, departmental labs, final projects, and final examinations also provide student and program data.
In addition, the Pennridge School District conducts formal assessments of reading, writing, and mathematics in grades K-11. The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests and nationally-normed standardized tests such as the New Standards Reference Examinations are used as a basis for evaluating our students and our programs within a larger context; they also determine state-mandated levels of student proficiency. These tests are complemented by the district's own Language Arts Assessment Tasks (for grades 1-6) and by reading and/or writing portfolios at the secondary level.
High School Graduation Requirements are based on multiple criteria for student success. Students are expected to meet graduation requirements in each of five areas: 1) demonstrated proficiency in mathematics, reading, and writing; 2) credit hours; 3) course requirements; 4) graduation project; and 5) performance demonstrations related to academic standards. The awarding of a Pennridge diploma is contingent upon student success in meeting the requirements in all five categories.
Parent and community involvement in program development and review takes a variety of forms. Various program-related advisory committees meet on a regular basis to discuss present and future program issues. These include the Business Roundtable (HS), the Family and Consumer Science Advisory Council (MS and HS), the Gifted Advisory Council (K-12), the Health Advisory Council (K-12), the Progress Reporting Parent Focus Group (K-6), and the Technology Steering Committee (K-12). Parent input is also welcomed at regularly scheduled meetings of the Curriculum Committee of the School Board, the Superintendent's meetings with parent leadership representatives, and through the Strategic Planning process.
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
At the elementary level, students experience planned instruction in the following subject areas: art, computer education, guidance/career education, health education, language arts, library/media education, mathematics, music, physical education, science, and social studies. Students with identified needs may also experience planned instruction in specialized programs such as ESL, gifted support, and special education. Curriculum documents support planned instruction in each of these areas.
At the middle school level, students continue to experience planned instruction in all of the subject areas initiated at the elementary level. A team approach supports instruction in core academic subjects. Library/media education is integrated into instruction in language arts (reading and English) and social studies. Health and physical education are integrated into a unified wellness curriculum. Middle school students also experience planned instruction in the following additional subject areas: family and consumer science, foreign language, and technology education. The middle school program also provides opportunities for students to participate in selected mathematics and foreign language courses drawn from the high school program of studies (e.g., algebra I, algebra 2, and level I courses in French, German, and Spanish).
At the high school level, all students are required to participate in extended course sequences in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and health/physical education/wellness. In addition, graduation requirements require students to elect courses in fine/performing arts and humanities. To support students in the transition from middle school to high school, the team structure is maintained for core subjects in Grade 9. The program of studies at the high school includes a rich array of course offerings in all the subject areas included in the middle school program and adds instructional opportunities in business education and vocational education, both in-district and through partnerships with the Upper Bucks County Vocational School. Connections to post-secondary education are fostered through an extensive array of Advanced Placement (college-level) courses offered as part of the high school program. |