May 21, 2019 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting

Key Points of the Briefing:

• We updated the art curriculum to reflect the 2014 National Core Arts Standards, which require students to create, respond, present, and connect to their art.

• The following is the art curricula being brought forward:

  • Art 1

  • Ceramics I and Ceramics II

  • Craft Design, Sculpture

  • Adaptive Art I, Art II

  • Drawing I

  • Printmaking, Painting

• The global competencies are embedded within the curricula

• We have created enduring understandings and essential questions which address the National Core Arts Standards

• Opportunities for common assessments are provided to students which help inform our teaching practices

• We continuously review our curricula and student work samples to ensure vertical alignment

Key Points of the Briefing:

• As the number of students in the Bethel Public Schools with limited English  proficiency grows, we continue to strive to provide a program that meets their needs.

• As of October 1, 2018, Bethel High School has been mandated to provide bilingual programing.

• Currently, we have one part-time tutor at BHS who works with students who are English learners. We are currently reviewing applications for a bilingual/TESOL teacher.

• We are proposing 2 courses at Bethel High School, English Language Development I and English Language Development II, to support the language acquisition of our students who are English learners.

• ELD I is a year long course designed for students who have had little or limited exposure to the English language. At this level, students will be working to develop their ability to communicate in English within social, school, and academic contexts.

• ELD II is a year long course designed for students who have some exposure to the English language and are able to maneuver basic communicative tasks in uncomplicated social or survival situations.  At this level, we will focus on increasing the complexity of the ideas students are able to express and apply them in social, school, and academic contexts.

• We will be working with a consultant from ACES to develop the curriculum for each of the courses that will incorporate the Connecticut English Language Proficiency Standards. We will use our Title IV funding to cover the cost of the consultant.  

• Summer curriculum work has already been budgeted for in the 2019-2020 budget (at the cost of $4,250 for both courses). BHS-ELD I & ELD II Curriculum Proposal

• We will continue to work with our classroom teachers to provide sustained, professional learning opportunities to work with students with whom English is not their first language.