Schools

Parkland Sets Goals For The New School Year

Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman briefed the school board at its meeting this week.

As Parkland School District students prepare to head back to the classroom on Sept. 6, administrators have set new goals that aim to enhance curriculum and boost student success.

The goals take into account the state's planned Keystone Exams, a battery of exit tests in core subjects such as English and algebra that students would have to pass to graduate. 

Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman told the board the goals are "lofty" and that it would take "an entire team" to reach them.

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"We do have ambitious goals," Superintendent Richard Sniscak added, "and we like that."

Among the curriculum goals:

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* Audit math courses in kindergarten to 11th grades to make sure the curriculum is aligned with state standards in math.

* Evaluate and set up "best teaching practices" in programs such as language arts, math and science.

* Set up mini-bench marks to evaluate students in grades 6 to 8 and in all algebra one classes to make sure they are on target and would be able to pass state exit tests, and to provide immediate remediation if necessary.  

* Evaluate free online books for use in grades 6 to 12, to complement existing approved texts.

Troutman said the district also aims to be cost-effective as it works for student success. 


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