Kinnelon Schools Expanding Let Grow Initiative To Middle School, Freshman Academy

KINNELON, NJ - Kinnelon Public Schools will expand its Let Grow student independence initiative into grades 6 through 8 next school year following a strong first year of implementation at the kindergarten through fifth grade level, district officials said at a recent Citizens Advisory Committee meeting.

The Let Grow Experience, which focuses on building independence, confidence, resilience, and real-world problem-solving skills, was originally developed through the Citizens Advisory Committee and a Board of Education goal aimed at strengthening student life readiness. After positive feedback from both staff and families in its first year, the district will adopt the Let Grow Year 2 K–5 curriculum while simultaneously rolling out age-appropriate middle school programming for grades 6 through 8.

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At the high school level, elements of the Let Grow curriculum will be incorporated into the new Freshman Academy course, helping incoming ninth graders develop independence, executive functioning, and transition skills.

The committee also previewed a proposed Biomedical Sciences Academy at Kinnelon High School. The redesigned pathway would replace the district's former Allied Health model with a more rigorous and accessible four-year program for students interested in healthcare, medicine, and biomedical sciences, with greater flexibility in advanced coursework and college preparation.

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