State College Area School Board this week approved a contract for a Middle Level Review Plan to update the district’s middle school education.
The board unanimously approved a contract for costs not to exceed $25,000 with Thomas Murray, of FutureReady Schools, to guide the work of a steering committee comprised of middle school students, faculty, parents, administrators, board representatives and experts and representatives from Penn State and the community.
The steering committee met for the first time on Monday and will continue its work through the rest of 2019.
“I thought it was a very exciting and productive first day, and I’m excited about moving forward,” said Will Stout, assistant superintendent for secondary education.
In recent years, the district has reviewed and made changes to educational programs and schedules at the elementary and high school level. SCASD’s middle schools include Park Forest, Mount Nittany and the Delta Program.
‘The purpose of this review is to develop a vision for the future of middle level education within State College Area School District,’ Stout and Superintendent Bob O’Donnell wrote in a memo to the board.
Collaborating with students, faculty, staff and parents, the steering committee will consider several factors and questions to guide the inquiry process.
It will look at Pennsylvania’s minimum requirements per year and what is occurring at other high-performing middle schools. It also will explore updated research on early adolescence and what research findings identify as best practices for middle level education.
The committee will find out what district stakeholders believe is going well and what needs to be improved. Additionally, it will learn how aligned the middle schools are with the district’s five strategic plan goals (engagement and support for the whole student; continuous growth for every student; critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem solving; closing individual achievement and opportunity gaps; and successful transitions and readiness for a purposeful life).
It also will find out with the school district community wants middle level education to look like in the next five to 10 years and how that can become a reality.
In March, the committee will conduct site visits and Murray will work with faculty, the committee and a community and parent forum on April 23.
A survey will be developed over the summer and administered to all middle school students, faculty and parents in September. The committee will then consider and analyze survey results and feedback received during the spring to prepare a report for the board on the vision for middle level education.
During the 2020-21 budget development process, the board and district administrators will consider steps for implementing the recommendations.
