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Compass School Cites The Curriculum Group as Central to Success

Despite the unusual cold on February 13th, a large turnout came to celebrate and learn more about East Bridgewater High School's recognition as a 2002-03 Commonwealth Compass School. Throughout the day, guests learned about some of the programs and strategies that have helped East Bridgewater become one of only six high schools in Massachusetts to earn this distinction.

The Massachusetts Department of Education recognized fifteen schools in the state as Compass Schools last spring, granting the title based on "significant improvement in student performance over the last four years." As part of the honorary designation, Compass Schools agree to share information and ideas with other educators from around the state.

One of the strategies central to East Bridgewater's success, according to principal George F. Kelly, is the standards-based curriculum alignment process facilitated by The Curriculum Group (formerly CLASP Consulting). According to materials distributed to participants during the day, The Curriculum Group "has served as a critical tool for systematizing our curriculum benchmarks. During professional development activities…, department members have created a structured framework for the benchmarks…With the completion of this project, instructional targets will be readily accessible to our entire school community - teachers, students, and parents." Parent brochures outlining expectations for students at each grade level and discipline were included in the supplemental materials provided. The brochures were created using The Curriculum Group's software tool, the Curriculum and Standards Toolkit (CST).

In addition to East Bridgewater's strides towards achieving standards-based instruction, they also cited their unique Proficiency Team approach and the Efficacy Institute model for professional development and instruction as "opening doors to learning at high levels."

Click here for more information on how The Curriculum Group can support your district in the standards-based curriculum alignment process.