K-12 HEALTH Curriculum Review

Health Mid-Cycle Review, 2008-2009

The current Beaverton School District Health program was initiated starting with the 2006-2007 school year. In February 2008 the Board directed the department of Teaching and Learning to evaluate the implementation of the program. The need to evaluate the program was based on a couple of factors. First, challenges were considerable for elementary classroom teachers preparing for further adoptions in Math (2009) and Science (2010), while trying to integrate Health into the regular education program. Second, after teaching the program for two years, secondary classroom teachers were more able to identify barriers to delivering the program as well as needs for materials and professional development.

Summer 2008
K-12 teachers of Health met by level (elementary, middle, or high) during the summer of 2008 to begin planning the review process. The Department of Teaching and Learning reviewed the work and began the coordination process.
Elementary Teacher Invitation to Review Program

Fall 2008
A survey was presented to all K-12 teachers of Health in November, 2008. Survey data was reported back from all levels and from both Health specialists and non-specialists alike. The data illuminated several key findings.

Elementary Health Survey Results
Secondary Health Survey Results

First, elementary teachers indicated great difficulty teaching to all learning targets given both the number of lessons to be taught from the adopted program, as well as length of time to teach each lesson. A work group of elementary teachers volunteered to meet in a study session to make a recommendation of modifying the program to directly align adopted learning targets to state standards by identifying essential lessons of the curricular materials. [ The Great Body Shop ]Teachers were careful to maintain the integrity of the adopted learning targets and continue to offer more than the minimum state Health education requirement. Additionally, elementary teachers overwhelmingly did not report any professional development needs in Health.

The work group shared their findings and the recommendation with all classroom teachers with an invitation to provide feedback. The response was predominantly very supportive. Next, Principals we given an opportunity to preview and give feedback on the proposed revision before submitting the recommendation to the Board.

Second, several secondary work groups at both the middle and high level met to evaluate their program needs. Middle school specialists identified minor gaps between the curriculum and learning targets. Lessons were created to address those gaps and posted for use by all teachers on the staff portal of the district webpage. [ MS Breakfast Curriculum ] High school specialists cataloged lessons from Health I and Health II courses district wide. Those lessons were also posted for all teachers on the staff portal to cover any gaps that may have existed in a school building. Additionally, secondary teachers of Health indicated a need for professional development opportunities in integrating learning targets into the classroom. Non-Health specialists teaching Health in the middle level indicated a need to connect learning targets to the materials. To fill the need, electronic samples of effective teaching from district Health teachers will be posted electronically on the staff portal, and a plan for professional development will be submitted to Human Resources to provide opportunities through the Summer Institute in August, 2009 as well as identifying opportunities on district professional development days on September 2nd and/or 3rd of the 2009-2010 school year.

Winter 2009
At this writing, the mid-cycle review report is ready for submission and consideration at the February 9, 2009 regular Board meeting. It is anticipated the Health recommendation will be an action item for approval during the March 2009 Board meeting. If approved, the revised curricular program will begin with the 2009-2010 school year.

Last Updated: Jan 23, 2009