POLL: Marlboro Curriculum Shifts with New State Standards

Marlboro's 2012-13 school budget reflects changes in core curriculum standards and student assessment methods that one official describes as "the largest single change in national education since desegregation."

The district's curriculum director, Karen Kondek, said the changes are targeted to students in grades 3 through 8 and will keep Marlboro current with a national wave that has seen 45 states adopted new common core curriculum standards student assessment techniques.

The NJ ASK standardized test for elementary students will be phased out by 2014, replaced with the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. The new assessment will be split into two parts, two months apart.

The test will include digital assessment, which means results will be immediately available. Kondek said it is possible that grades 6-8 will be able to take the test online, although it is so far unclear what the standards and requirements for the test will be.

"This is the largest single change in national education since desegregation," Kondek said.

is anticipating the switch from the bubble sheet to digital, while at the same time anticipating the new wave of education.

"Your children are growing up as digital natives," Kondek said. "We have a responsibility as a school district to prepare out students."

Marlboro schools have participated in a district "Bring Your Own Device" program, which allows students in pilot schools bring in electronics, such as tablets, and use them in the classroom.

Kondek said the programs has been widely successful, and more teachers are asking for the BYOD program in their own classrooms.

Teachers are using programs such as Google Docs, blogging and electronic interactive texts.

does have a few iPads, which the district is using to test platform and assessment resources.

A proposed $719,150 of the is allotted for , which will include technology such as iPads, Google Chromebooks and Netbooks to supplement the district's existing technology.

Five wireless media carts will be in each elementary school.

The district has not decided which technology it will introduce, but Kondek said she believes introducing multiple platforms to students will only enhance education. Marlboro is waiting to see what requirements, if any, will come along with the new state curriculum standards.

Kondek said screen size and platform capabilities could be an issue when considering teaching kids to test on the technology.

Math and Language Arts literacy are the focus of the shift, which will also encompass new technology.

The district is proposing a total of $277,755, to be spent on digital assessment resources, e-books, and math and Language Arts curriculum resources. A portion of the district's budget will also go toward staff training.

Kondek said parents will begin to see a shift as their children enter third grade. Math instruction will be focused on "fewer concepts, but to a greater depth."

Language Arts literacy will be focused less on the fictional novel, and more on informational texts to prepare for "real world" reading.

Kondek said studies have shown students taught instructional reading rather than fictional outperform those with a traditional Language Arts education.

"You will see an increase in text complexity...a higher level of academic vocabulary," Kondek said.

There will be more throughout March and April, all of which can be found through the Patch Events Calendar.

The . The last day to register to vote for the election Tuesday, March 27. Information about voter registration can be found on the district website.

The Marlboro Township Board of Education , a move allowed by a new permissive state law. This means the April election ballot will also include a vote on the district budget.