Belmont Schools Unaffected By National Standards

Despite fears that this week's action by the state's education board to replace the current tough curriculum guidelines with a national standard could hurt education achievement, a Belmont administrator said the decision will not lower Belmont School Department's high level of education learning.

Janice Darias said there will be no impact on Belmont students after the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted July 21 to adopt the new national standards.

"The state's ... adoption of the Common Core standards will not change the curriculum of the Belmont Public Schools," said the interim assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

"Our curricula for math and English/Language Arts exceed the standards of the Massachusetts Frameworks," she said.

Massachusetts education officials unanimously approved replacing the state's math and English public school curricula with national standards backed by President Obama.

The state Board accepted the national Common Core Standards, which specify what is taught in math and English classes at each grade level.

Supporters of the change, which includes Gov. Deval Patrick, said the national guidelines are stronger in some areas than the states.

Opponents of the national system contend the state's educational system will be weakened by the move and to abandon the state's Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests that measures student learning.

The concept behind national standards is educational uniformity throughout the country and replacing the various current state policies so that all students have access to similar education throughout the country.

Yet even as the state switches to national standards, school systems in Massachusetts will still be able to have additional ones as long as the common core is at least 85 percent of English and math standards.

Opponents of the Common Core standards say they are not as rigorous as the ones the state has in place now.

Darias, however, said it will make no difference in the education of Belmont students.

"(Adoption of the national standards) will not change our curriculum for math and language arts," she said.

"We have a very strong curriculum and we will continue to teach it," said Darias,  who was previously Belmont's Curriculum Director for Foreign Language and has also taught in the Belmont system as a foreign language teacher.

There's not debating that the Belmont schools provide an outstanding education experience to the town's residents.

In the latest round of state tests held in 2009, Belmont students rank well above the state average in core curriculum subjects with more than one of every two Belmont High School students achieving advanced rankings in English and science with 80 percent reaching the highest mark in Math.

Yet the decision by the state's education board to switch from the current curriculum guidelines and tests to a national-based Common Core system has many in the education field expressing concern that Massachusetts, and with it Belmont, will see results drop under the guidance of less rigorous standards.

Darias said Belmont's curriculum prepares students not only for the Commonwealth's statewide student assessment programs but to meet the long-term goals of the Belmont Public Schools.

Those six long-term goals and improvement targets are:

Goal 1: Students of Belmont Public Schools will be confident, motivated and engaged learners who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to pursue their academic goals and become life-long learners; Expand the variety of instructional strategies, supports and interventions practiced in all schools to reach all learners.

Goal 2: Students of Belmont Public Schools will be responsible, involved citizens who engage in challenging problems and who make a difference in their school, community, country, and world; Increase opportunities for civic engagement/citizenship education, service learning and expanding global and cultural awareness; Articulate core values and demonstrate progress in developing a school culture and climate that reinforce core values.

Goal 3: Students of Belmont Public Schools will be prepared to be successful and productive workers with 21st century skills and competencies; Expand curricular opportunities to develop and practice skills and competencies that prepare students as 21^st century workers.

Goal 4: The Belmont Public School organization will ensure the safety and security of the school community, promote healthy choices, and support the social and emotional growth of every student; Make changes to current systems and structures so as to better address the social and emotional well-being of all students with emphasis on making healthy choices, recognizing/managing stress, and achieving a positive balance; Demonstrate positive, affirmative steps to achieving a safer and more secure school environment.

Goal 5: The Belmont Public School organization will attract and retain the most talented and effective teachers, staff and school leaders by offering them opportunities for professional growth within a positive and respectful work environment; Foster new systems and initiatives which promote selection and retention of high performing employees and provide them the professional learning required to implement the 18- month Improvement Plan.

Goal 6: The Belmont Public School organization will manage community resources in a manner that fulfills financial and academic expectations, and fosters an informed, trusting relationship with the community; Develop, communicate and report progress on an 18 Month Improvement Plan that demonstrates positive returns on investment of community resources (beyond improved standardized test scores).