Schools

Bethel Board of Ed Plans for 2013-14 'Year of Change'

Bethel's educators approved Strategic Goals to meet the new Common Core Standards.

Dubbing the 2013-14 academic year a “Year of Change,” the Bethel School District has adopted a new plan of strategic goals to meet those changes.

Along with advancing education into the 21st century, school districts throughout Connecticut are switching from the CAPT/CMT testing framework to the Common Core Standards, requiring new teaching and testing methods.


“The goals that were adopted are ambitious and highlight the most important work that needs to be done this year to improve student achievement,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Smith said in the district’s newsletter. “These changes, as they become the norm in Bethel, will also push our students to achieve more.”

Many of the goals stated in the Board of Education’s plan [see above] include teacher development and fundamental shifts in the way classrooms and students are organized.

“If you have been following the recent trends in education then you already know that we are in an unparalleled era of change,” Smith said. “The curriculum, assessment, and accountability reforms adopted by Connecticut are dramatic and call all educators to a deeper level of understanding and higher level of performance.”

The plan also includes technological and maintenance upgrades to the school buildings (including pursuing renovations to Rockwell and Johnson elementary schools) and increased internship and college credit opportunities for students.

“There will be opportunities in the coming months for community members to gather with our Board of Education and administration to talk about these changes in more depth,” Smith said.


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