Curriculum

Welcome to the  Curriculum Department. The curriculum of Pennsauken Public Schools is aligned to the NexGen Science Standards and the common New Jersey Student Learning Standards in all content areas. We offer a comprehensive Pre-K to 12 program to prepare our students for both college and careers in the 21st century.

The Curriculum Department supports teachers in continuous improvement of their knowledge and skills. Our goal is to provide a rigorous curriculum equitably across the district so that every student is thoroughly prepared for success in life. All students should have equal opportunity to have the same level of learning, and all teachers should have the tools they need to help our students achieve the learning goals.

Please find links to the Curriculum and Pacing Guides below:

Gifted and Talented Services

In accordance with the New Jersey Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-34 through 39), Pennsauken Public Schools provides services and instructional adaptations for students identified as gifted and talented.

The state of New Jersey defines gifted and talented students as those who “possess or demonstrate high levels of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers in the local district and who require modifications to their educational program in order to achieve in accordance with their capabilities.”

Pennsauken Public Schools is committed to providing equitable access to gifted and talented services for all students, including students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students from culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse backgrounds.

Identification Process

The district uses multiple-measures to identify students who are eligible for gifted and talented services. No single assessment, or score is used as the sole measure for eligibility. Decisions are based on a review of multiple sources of student data. Universal screening is used to support equitable access and to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to be considered for gifted and talented services.

Identification data includes:

• Cognitive Abilities Test results
• NJSLA Scores (when applicable)
• District benchmark assessments
• i-Ready scores
• LinkIt! assessment data
• AIMSweb Oral Reading Fluency results

and may also include:

• Slocumb-Payne Teacher Perception Inventory rating scales
• Parent recommendation
• Teacher recommendation
• Student work samples and additional performance indicators 

Process/Timeline 

• At the end of the school year, students will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test as part of Pennsauken Public School’s universal screening process. 
• Once all assessments have been given and data has been collected, the Gifted and Talented Committee will review the information to determine eligibility. 
• Parents/guardians will be notified of eligibility decisions during the summer.
• Students who qualify will begin receiving services in the fall. 

Pennsauken Public Schools provides ongoing opportunities for students in grades K–12 to be considered for gifted and talented services. Referrals may be submitted throughout the school year, including students who are newly enrolled in the district. Eligibility and placement are determined through the review of multiple data points and available programming options.

Appeals Process 

To request a review of the committee’s decision, a written appeal must be sent to the building principal by October 15th . The committee will conduct a comprehensive review of all documentation submitted, then respond within 30 days. 

If there is still disagreement after the review, the individual may contact the Assistant Superintendent, who will examine the matter and send a written response that either supports, changes, or overturns the committee’s decision.

 

Continuum of Services

Pennsauken Public Schools provides a continuum of services designed to support the diverse academic and intellectual needs of advanced learners across all grade levels.

Grades K-3

Services for students in grades K–3 include:

• Differentiation of content and instructional strategies within the general education classroom to support advanced learners.
• Pull-out gifted and talented services for identified students occur weekly. Students participate in project-based learning that sparks curiosity and fosters the development of advanced thinking skills. Lessons are focused on building critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem solving skills. 

Grades 4-5

Services for students in grades 4–5 include:

• Differentiated instruction within the general education classroom
• Accelerated coursework and advanced academic opportunities
• A dedicated instructional period focused on project-based learning, inquiry, critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving

Middle School and High School

Services for students in middle school and high school may include:

• Differentiated instruction within academic classes
• Accelerated coursework including honors and advanced placement courses
• Instruction designed to promote higher-level thinking, inquiry, creativity, and real-world problem solving

Complaints

If you believe the district is not complying with the requirements of the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act, please contact the Assistant Superintendent via email to file a complaint.  

If you are dissatisfied with the determination made, you may file an appeal with the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes. Appeals must follow the procedures outlined in N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9 and the regulations established by the State Board of Education.

 

Contact Information

Families who have questions regarding gifted and talented identification procedures or services are encouraged to contact the Assistant Superintendent for additional information.

 

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on December 10, 2015. The ESSA replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and is the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Although NCLB was designed to make changes in teaching and learning in order to increase students’ academic achievement, the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) provision under NCLB was eliminated from the ESSA. Despite this fact, all educators in New Jersey still are required to hold the appropriate state certificate/license for their given position.

Under the ESSA, all schools receiving Title I funds must inform parents of their right to ask schools about the professional qualifications of their child’s teachers and paraprofessionals. All the schools in our district receive Title I funding and we are happy to share this information with you upon your request.

New Jersey has some of the most qualified teachers in the country, and we are extremely proud of the quality of the teaching staff in the Pennsauken Public Schools. All of our regular teachers have college degrees, and many have advanced degrees. In addition, every teacher continues learning through professional development activities, and our teachers are evaluated each year to make sure that their teaching skills remain at the highest possible level.

I encourage you to support your child’s education and communicate with your child’s teacher(s) on a regular basis. For more information on ESSA, and the role of parents, please visit the United States Department of Education’s (USDE) website at http://www.ed.gov/essa. By partnering, families and educators can provide your child with the best education possible.

Right to Know Letter - English
Right to Know Letter - Spanish

Please click on the presentation below to learn more!

Please see the links below for valuable information:

• Khan Academy - Free video Language Arts lessons (and other subjects as well).
• Language Arts Collections 6-8 - Student log in for the Language Arts Textbook for grades 6-8.
• Online Graphic Calculator - Free online graphing calculator.
• Math Video Games - Free online video games based on common core standards for math.
• New Jersey Student Learning Standards

Please see the contacts below for our Curriculum & Instruction Department. Families are always encouraged to first contact their building principals for support. 

Director of Secondary Education
Dr. Angel Alexander-Cook
angel.cook@pennsauken.net

Curriculum Supervisor - Secondary
Tarah Gillespie
tagillespie@pennsauken.net

Administrative Assistant to the Director of Secondary Education
Maria Chambers
mchambers@pennsauken.net

Director of Elementary Education
Caroline Steer
caroline.steer@pennsauken.net

Curriculum Supervisor - Elementary
Jonathan Nguyen
jnguyen@pennsauken.net

Administrative Assistant to the Director of Elementary Education
Amaril Checo
amaril.checo@pennsauken.net

Director of Student Support Services
Michael McGovern
mmcgovern@pennsauken.net

Mathematics Instructional Coach
Elizabeth Bieryla
elizabeth.bieryla@pennsauken.net

Language Arts Instructional Coach
Diana Frank
dfrank@pennsauken.net