MUSD board approves academic plans for charter, noncharter district schools

The Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board approved academic focus plans Wednesday for all nine district schools, including the six new charter schools, that emphasize different learning strategies and curriculum choices.

Students may choose which school they want to attend, provided they can arrange their own transportation.

Superintendent Steve Chestnut told board members the focus plans are meant as a “supplement” to the traditional core curriculum such as English, math and social studies.

Each school formed a committee to create focus plan recommendations to the board. The committees, made up of teachers, students and community members, met for the past several months.

Although the board did not discuss the different plans before taking a vote, board President Torri Anderson asked if the plans would become more detailed as the process goes forward.

“The plans will take about five years to get fully implemented,” Chestnut said, adding they will become more detailed. “The focus plans could shift – we have that flexibility.”

Briefly, the academic focus plans are:

Butterfield Elementary School is proposing a focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math to prepare for college and future careers.

Maricopa Elementary is proposing a leadership academy integrating principles from Stephen Covey’s book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Santa Rosa Elementary proposes to focus on a critical thinking and technology academy and Santa Cruz on an achievement academy, where the students and staff work together to set personal goals.

Saddleback Elementary is proposing a focus on “21st Century Learning” strategies.

Maricopa Wells Middle School will emphasize a science, technology, engineering, arts and math preparatory program, or on liberal/fine arts or a blended learning program that emphasizes individual-based learning.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The noncharter Pima Butte Elementary will have be a traditional academy as a school of excellence to guide students to succeed in a global society through the use of science, technology and arts across the curriculum.

Desert Wind Middle School, also a noncharter school, will create a technology preparatory program. Students will take classes in science, technology, arts, engineering and math and have the opportunity to participate in the blended learning 20+1 program, which combines teacher-led learning with online instruction.

Maricopa High School’s focus will be a college and career preparatory academy in which students will “learn a comprehensive curriculum based on the arts, humanities, technology, math and science with an emphasis on innovation, critical thinking, creativity and problem solving in all subjects,” according to a district document.

The new focus plans will go into effect in the 2014-2015 academic school year. 

For more information on the academic focus plans read InMaricopa News in mailboxes next week.