Our Mission
We are a community of parents committed to academic excellence and classic education.
Connect. Meet other parents who care about academic excellence and classic education.
Advise. We have seen how other parents navigated similar situations. You may have options you have never considered.
Resources. We can recommend books, learning materials, outside classes, tutors, therapists, websites, reading material, etc.
News. Many curriculum and policy changes happen quietly. We will keep you informed about the latest news in Sharon Public School.
Academic Excellence Everywhere
In the classroom. Our children spend six or more hours each day at school. We will help parents figure out what to do when their children fall behind, or move far ahead of the curriculum. Sharon schools have many resources and options for families who know what to ask for.
At home. Learning continues at home. We have a knowledge base of excellent educational materials, local classes, and experienced tutors.
In the neighborhood. We want to build a fun community for Sharon parents who care about education. Whether we recommend books for our kids or for each other, the discussions are sure to be lively!
Achieving Equitable Instruction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
All students deserve equitable access to a Free and Appropriate Education. Numerous studies show that high quality curriculum and instructional materials has a larger effect on student outcomes than even teacher quality. Students of a 75% percentile teachers score 0.1 standard deviations higher than students of an average teacher, while a high quality curriculum will improve scores by 0.17 standard deviations for all students (Chingos & Whitehurst, 2012). For this reason, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has tasked school districts in the Commonwealth to ensure all students have access to a high quality curriculum.
DESE defines a curriculum as “a sequence of student learning experiences teachers facilitate using curricular materials as a foundation (not a script!); also called enacted or taught curriculum.” Schools need to ensure equitable access to high quality curriculum materials. Students also need equitable access to the taught curriculum, which is how the curriculum materials are actually used in the classroom. A high quality textbook does no good if it is not actually used. Students should receive equal amounts of direct instruction and opportunity to practice skills inside and outside the classroom. It is the responsibility of School Committees to both approve the enacted curriculum and purchase the instructional materials needed to execute it.
This model policy ensures that students in the same class receive a substantially equivalent educational experience. The School Committee’s responsibility to approve the curriculum requires it to review both what curriculum materials are in every classroom and approve guidelines for how they are used. This includes setting goals for direct instruction and in-class and home based practice.
Equitable Instruction Policy - IGE
The curriculum taught in a class will match the description in the program of studies. This policy defines curriculum as “a sequence of student learning experiences teachers facilitate using curricular materials as a foundation (not a script!); also called enacted or taught curriculum.”
Students in different sections of the same class in grades 6-12 will receive substantially equivalent instruction in scope, sequence, pacing, hours of direct instruction, and assessment. Homework will be equivalent in terms of workload, mathematical rigor (if applicable), and writing assignments.
Math and science classes in grades 6-12 will follow a textbook. The same textbook will be used in every section of the same class. Departments may distribute alternative reference texts for a few select sections. Textbook errata will be systematically tracked at the department level and communicated to students and staff. Individual teachers may use any appropriate outside enrichment materials, but will deviate from the official textbook only as part of an approved pilot program. Students will have access to the textbook at home either in physical or digital form.
Students will receive grades for all assignments in a timely manner so that parents are aware of student progress. Parents of elementary students will also receive regular samples of graded work in math and English. Students in math and science in grades 6-12 will receive the correct answers to their in-class work and homework in a timely manner so they can use them to study for assessments. Test review materials will include answers so that students have an equitable opportunity to prepare regardless of socio-economic background.
English classes will assign literature to students that is at grade level, models good writing, and is chosen for its literary quality. Exceptions must be approved by the department and advance curriculum goals that cannot otherwise be met with grade-level high-quality literature. The School Committee will approve reading lists for all English classes in grades 6-12.
Students have the right to test out of any high-school class by taking the equivalent of the final exam and earning a B+ or higher on all units.
The Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum will be responsible for enforcing this policy.