D303 Might Add Another Year of Science

The St. Charles School Board could soon discuss the idea of adding more required science courses to the high school curriculum.

A study group of teachers and administrative staff is examining options to modify the high school science curriculum.

They've reached an unofficial conclusion that a third year of science will be added, said Superintendent Donald Schlomann, during a committee meeting. The "agreed upon" sequence would be biology, chemistry and then a third course, drawn from a number of electives and chosen by the student. This would also require expanding the requirements to graduate from 23 credits to 24.

This matter will come before the School Board for a decision, Schlomann said.

The curriculum development team, comprised of about 70 teachers, was formed to head the examination of the science classwork, said Michelle Fitzgerald, director of curriculum. This is part of an ongoing process to reevaluate and improve the standards of the district curriculum.

"From my perspective, I'm about giving kids more, so I hope we don't have too big of a battle about that," said board member Kathleen Hewell.

"I don't see the pathway changing as much as taking care of those two issues." Fitzgerald said.

This pathway, as it was described, involves the addition of the third year of coursework.

Students now are only required to have two years of science in order to graduate.
About 87.5 percent of students already take three years of science, Schlomann said.

There also is some debate about what courses could be included in the third year. One, an integrated chem-bio class, is given at East High School and is offered at North. However, no one has reportedly taken the class at North. A dynamic earth class also is being examined. Right now, it's offered as an honors class but some involved in the study want it to be offered to all students.