Focus on Standardizing the Curriculum
Fall 2004 Vol. 12 No. 1
A new, uniform "core curriculum" is being put in place by the School District at all Philadelphia schools. Last year, reading and math instruction in grades K-9 was standardized. This fall, a uniform curriculum was introduced in high school English, math, science, and social studies. While many have welcomed the new materials and the consistency, others are criticizing the effects of standardization.
Core curriculum brings uniformity, new challenges
by Jessica Oliff
During the third week of September, every fifth-grade student in the School District of Philadelphia reads part of a story called The Hot and Cold Summer and reviews "declarative sentences." The next week, students read a section of Sees Behind Trees and learn about "exclamatory sentences."
This districtwide uniformity is the result of Philadelphia's new standardized "core curriculum," a multimillion-dollar package of new books, materials, assessments, and professional development aimed at improving students' academic achievement.
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ESOL curriculum addresses longtime need, but concerns persist
by Beandrea Davis
Last fall, teachers of students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) did not receive their own core curriculum materials like their colleagues teaching in mainstream K-9 classrooms did.
Instead, according to several ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teachers interviewed by the Notebook, they had to borrow and photocopy materials from regular classroom teachers in order to effectively instruct ELL students on grade-level material.
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Table of Contents
Theme articles
- Core curriculum brings uniformity, new challenges by Jessica Oliff
- Understanding the District's new core curriculum: a glossary of terms
- Timeline: standardizing the curriculum
- Origins of the standardized curriculum by Jessica Oliff
- What's in the 'Core Curriculum Documents'?
- Contracting out: 10 contracts to know about
- 2003-2004: a data snapshot
- Teachers grapple with challenges of literacy instruction by Jessica Oliff
- Groups charge curriculum falls short in addressing diversity by Beandrea Davis
- ESOL curriculum addresses longtime need, but concerns persist by Beandrea Davis
- District ELL programs: a troubled past by Beandrea Davis
- Despite safety net, are some students being left behind? by Ron Whitehorne
- Teachers give District's training mixed reviews by Jessica Oliff
- What is good professional development? by Jessica Oliff
- Teacher training: what's planned for this year? by Jessica Oliff
- Some school managers bring in their own curriculum by Karel Kilimnik and Jessica Oliff
- Schools examine test data to guide plans for what to teach by Sukey Blanc and Jolley Bruce Christman
- Now in college, Philly grads give advice on deficits in curriculum by Benjamin Herold
- Teachers look back at first year with the new curriculum Interviews by Ron Whitehorne and Jessica Oliff
Guest opinions
- Connecting students with the curriculum takes time by Cristina Gutiérrez
Other news & features
- PFT contract: key questions in the dispute by Paul Socolar
- More schools making AYP: what does it mean? by Paul Socolar
- Hotlines
Notebook news
- Notebook celebrates 10 years of publishing, throws a party by Moira Moody
Cartoon
- Fall 2004 cartoon by Eric Joselyn
In our opinion
- Core curriculum kinks
From our readers
- Glowing report of test score gains masks deadening effect of test prep
- After 10 years, little evidence of progress on inclusion
- Keeping education advocacy alive during challenging times
Eye on special education
- Core curriculum presents new challenges for special education by Jessica Oliff
Activism around the city
- New military high school spurs 'Peace Academy'
- Activist gathering links education, social justice
- Education highlighted as fall election issue
School snapshot
- Olney High School
News in brief
- Bush budget: cuts in school funding planned
- Local effort boosts teen voting numbers
En español
- Currículo de inglés como segundo idioma (ESOL) resuelve problema antiguo, pero todavía preocupa por Beandrea Davis
- 'La universidad es un mundo totalmente distinto' por Benjamin Herold
- Estudiantes sugieren cambios al currículo por Qaid Hassan
- Programas ELL del Distrito: un pasado lleno de problemas por Beandrea Davis
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