Update on Curriculum Frameworks and Initial Review of Draft Revised English Language Arts Curriculum Framework
| To: | Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education |
| From: | Mitchell D. Chester, Commissioner |
| Date: | January 16, 2009 |
The purpose of this memorandum is to update you on our progress in revising the Commonwealth's curriculum frameworks, with a particular focus on the English Language Arts Framework. I am pleased to report that we are making good progress on revising the frameworks and in the process being responsive to the Report of the Board's Task Force on 21st Century Skills, which recommends that we "raise the bar on rigor by embedding complementary 21st century skills and content through the Commonwealth's curriculum frameworks in every subject."
General Process and Timeline for Framework Reviews
Since passage of the Education Reform Act of 1993, the Board has approved curriculum frameworks in the core subject areas of English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science and technology engineering, history and social science, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, and health. The curriculum frameworks establish state standards for the content that Massachusetts public schools are expected to cover in locally defined curricula, and form the basis for the MCAS assessments in ELA, mathematics, science and technology/engineering and history/social science.
We can take pride in the fact that the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks are nationally recognized as being strong and sound. At the same time, we are committed to reviewing the frameworks periodically and updating them as needed. In fact, Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 69, Section 1E directs the Board to "develop procedures for updating, improving or refining" the curriculum frameworks.
In September 2007, the Board voted to endorse a process to review and update the curriculum frameworks, and the Department has proceeded with reviews of the standards for English language arts and mathematics since that time. The process voted by the Board builds in several stages of review. In addition to the review by scholars, educators, the business community, parents, and students, I wish to add specifically a commitment to international benchmarking against the standards of high-performing countries. Therefore, each framework review will have the following stages:
First stage evaluation of the existing framework by a Review Panel. The Commissioner will appoint a panel of Massachusetts P-16 educators with expertise in the subject area and in 21st century skills, and representatives from the community to review the framework. This panel will present one or more progress reports of recommended refinements to the Board after approximately six to eight months. Second stage review draft. Approximately one year after the beginning of a review, the Commissioner will release a first draft of revised standards in order to solicit preliminary comment and international benchmarking by external reviewers including, but not limited to, the American Diploma Project of Achieve, Inc., scholars in the discipline from Massachusetts public and private universities, Board members and/or individuals or groups recommended by Board members, and representatives of the business community. The second stage review draft will be posted on the ESE website as a Board document. Third stage review draft, leading to a Board vote to seek public comment. ESE staff and panel will summarize comment from various sources and write a third stage review draft. The summary and new draft will be presented to the Board for discussion and vote to seek further public comment from Massachusetts educators, the public, and other state departments of education. Final stage review draft, leading to a Board vote to accept the revised framework. ESE staff and panel will summarize and respond to public comment and write a final draft that responds to all comments.
In September 2007, the Board voted to review curriculum frameworks in the following order:
English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Technology/Engineering, the Arts, History and Social Science, Comprehensive Health, and Foreign Languages. My recommendation is that we continue to follow this order, adding a review of the English Language Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes, the document that serves as a basis for local curriculum and instruction in the area of English language acquisition and for the Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessments (MEPA), in the 2009-2010 school year.
Table 1 on the following page summarizes the proposed timeline for remaining work on the English Language Arts Curriculum Framework, including Board actions, external reviews, local implementation, ESE Curriculum and Instruction support for districts and teacher preparation programs on the revised standards, and incorporation of the revised standards into MCAS.
Table 1. The English Language Arts Curriculum Framework Proposed Timeline
| | 1/2009-6/2009 | 7/2009-6/2010 | 7/2010-6/2011 | 7/2011-6/2012 |
| Board Actions | January
Discussion of second stage review draft,
May, June
Discussion and vote on releasing third stage review draft for public comment | November, December 09
Discussion and vote on final draft | |
| External Reviews | February-March
Reviews by Achieve, MA state colleges and universities, Board members and individuals recommended by the Board, MBAE | July-October 09
Comment solicited from the public, professional organizations such as MTA, MASS, MASC, other state departments of education | |
| Local Implementation | | Review of public comment draft; planning for implementation | Professional development and implementation |
| ESE Curriculum and Instruction support for districts, regions and educator preparation programs |
- Presentations on revision process and drafts for Commissioners' districts, regional district groups, professional organizations and educator preparation programs;
- Implementation of web-based standards/resources application
- Technical assistance with alignment
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- Technical assistance with alignment and professional development in literacy based on the standards
- Continued work with professional organizations and educator preparation programs
|
| ESE MCAS Implementation | Discussion of drafts with ELA Assessment Development Committees |
- Item development (selection of reading passages, questions, writing prompts) based on revised standards
- Field testing of items based on revised standards
| Spring 2012
Operational testing based on revised standards, beginning with the March retest |
Implications for MCAS in the Draft ELA Standards
The 2009 draft contains standards for three modes of writing: informational, persuasive, and literary. As you know, MCAS currently assesses students based on a single mode of writing in each grade: personal narrative in grade 4; expository writing in grade 7; and literary analysis in grade 10. The proposed standards prepare us to introduce additional modes at each grade. The shift from a single writing mode at each grade level will encourage writing instruction that provides students with the opportunity to hone their skills in a wider variety of written expression. Many states, along with NAEP, assess writing in a variety of modes, including personal narratives and essays, imaginative narratives, expository writing, literary analysis, and persuasive writing. I believe that this change will benefit our students and is consistent with the Partnership on 21st Century Skills recommendations to emphasize creativity and critical thinking.
Next Steps in the Review Process for the Mathematics and Science and Technology/Engineering Frameworks
Mathematics Curriculum Framework Progress Report
The Mathematics Curriculum Framework Panel has been meeting since April 2008 and has also studied and discussed the Task Force Report and other materials from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. It will bring a Progress Report to the Board in February 2009. After that, standards will be drafted and external reviews similar to those described for the English Language Arts Framework draft will be carried out.
Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework Panel Recruitment
We plan to solicit nominations for a panel to conduct a review of the Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework in February 2009, with the expectation that a panel would be appointed in March and hold its first meeting in April. As always, we welcome nominations from the Board and will notify you when application materials are posted.
  | English Language Arts Curriculum Framework Draft Overview |
| | Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework – Draft Standards by Topic |
| | Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework – Draft: Standards and Resources Arranged by Grade (Sample: Grades 3, 8, and 12) |
last updated: January 22, 2009
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