Aberdeen School District No. 58 assures its locally developed standards for middle/junior high school student instruction meet or exceed the minimum state standards. Instruction is inclusive of subject matter, content, and course offerings. This includes special instruction that allows limited English proficient students to participate successfully in all aspects of the school’s curriculum and keep up with other students in the regular education program. It also includes special learning opportunities for accelerated, learning disabled students, and those with other disabilities.
AREAS OF INSTRUCTION
This district will provide a core of instruction at the middle/junior high school as follows:
- Language arts and communications will include instruction in reading, writing, English, literature, technological applications, spelling, speech and listening.
- Mathematics will include instruction in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and mathematical reasoning and probability.
- Each student must have met the grade 8 mathematics standards (pre-algebra) before being permitted to enter grade nine (9).
- Science will include instruction in applied sciences, earth and space sciences, physical sciences, life sciences and computer science.
- Social studies will include instruction in history, government, geography, economics, current world affairs, citizenship, and sociology.
In addition to the core of instruction set forth above, all students in middle/junior high schools in this district are required to participate in the following instruction:
- Career exploration
- Health (wellness)
- Physical Education (fitness)
- Computational thinking and digital literacy
This district will also offer the following elective courses of instruction to all middle/junior high school students:
- Fine and Performing Arts
- Career Technical Education
- Advisory Period (middle school only, encouraged in junior high school)
CAREER EXPLORATION AND PATHWAY PLAN
Every student in grade 7 or 8 must complete one (1) or more career exploration courses unless the student opts out as provided herein. All courses will align to the “first step” standards established by the State Board of Education for career technical education. The district may offer courses in-person, through virtual education programs, as online courses, or as hybrid courses consisting of a combination of online and in-person instruction. All staff teaching career exploration courses must have participated in a career exploration professional development course approved by the State Board of Education.
Students who do not wish to participate in career exploration courses must submit a form to the student’s school, signed by the student’s parent/guardian, showing that the parent/guardian consents to such opt out.
Students shall develop a parent-approved student career pathway plan for his or her high school and post-high school options. The career pathway plan will be developed by the student with the assistance of his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) and with advice and recommendation from school personnel. The plan shall include career exploration courses or workforce discovery activities. It will be reviewed annually and may be revised at any time. The student’s school will provide a personalized career pathway plan progress report to the student’s parent/guardian, which may be sent via electronic communication.
The purpose of the parent-approved student career pathway plan is to outline a course of study and learning activities to help students become successful in life. A student career pathway plan describes, at a minimum, the list of courses and learning activities in which the student will engage while working toward meeting the state and district’s graduation standards in preparation for postsecondary goals. The school district will have met its obligation for parental involvement if it makes a good faith effort to notify the parent or guardian of the responsibility for the development and approval of the career pathway plan. A career pathway plan will not be required if the parent or guardian requests, in writing, that no learning plan be developed.
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LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections
33-118 – Courses of Study – Curricular Materials
H269 (2023, ch. 243, Session Laws) – Career Exploration
IDAPA
08.02.03.103 – Instruction Grades 1-12
08.02.03.104 – Other Required Instruction
ADOPTED: July 19, 2023
AMENDED: