GCPS Invites Public to Participate in Curriculum Review

This school year’s review of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) curriculum offers different opportunities for parents, community members, and GCPS staff to share their feedback about the school system’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum.

The school system is seeking input on new AKS standards that have been developed to align the curriculum with new state Common Core Standards as well as AKS for other new courses. In addition, citizens may give feedback on additions, changes, or deletions for the current AKS. Both reviews are currently ongoing and run through Feb. 15.

Review of AKS curriculum aligned with new Common Core math courses and new AKS standards for other courses

Last year, the Georgia Department of Education adopted a new state curriculum, the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) for K-12 Language Arts, K-12 Mathematics, and literacy standards for Science, Social Studies, and Technical Education. The first phase of this revised curriculum began in 2012-13, with K-12 Language Arts and K-9 Mathematics.

The next phase-in for 2013-14 includes five new Common Core-aligned high school mathematics courses. These specific courses are Algebra II CC, Geometry CC, Accelerated Geometry CC, Pre-calculus CC, and Accelerated Pre-calculus CC.  

Parents, staff, and community members may review the proposed AKS standards and provide input on the recommended curriculum revisions for the five new mathematics courses for grades 9-12.

Annual review of current Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum. Citizens also may participate in the review of the existing AKS curriculum. If there is an AKS standard parents, community members, or staff members would like to see added, deleted, or revised, they may suggest that through this review.

In addition, AKS standards also are under review for two Junior Leadership Corps courses for middle school students, and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) courses for the district’s Army program at the high school level.

To participate in either review, participants can visit the school system’s web site (www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us) where they will find the material to check as well as the forms to be used for making suggestions.

They may submit the AKS Review Forms by email to
AKS Review@gwinnett.k12.ga.us or by U.S. mail to Curriculum Development Office, 437 Old Peachtree Rd. NW, Suwanee, Georgia  30024. Comments will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 15.

Participants should note the following information in their narrative comments:

-- Current AKS information, including file name (i.e., current first grade language arts), grade level, AKS number

-- Comment about course in general or specific AKS

-- Suggested change

-- Rationale for suggested change


A committee will consider both community and staff suggestions this spring and will make recommendations to CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks for adoption by the Board of Education.

For more information about the review process, please contact Debbie Cate, GCPS Director of Curriculum Development and Instructional Support, at 678-301-6061.