David Hoffman – Chief Academic Officer
215-643-8800, x8970
dhoffman@udsd.org
The Curriculum Office is responsible for curriculum review, professional development, graduation requirements, and both district and state assessments.
To review grade level and subject specific curriculum, please visit Curriculum Overview.
Curriculum Office Staff
Chief Academic Officer
David Hoffman
215-643-8800, x8970
dhoffman@udsd.org
Curriculum Office Executive Assistant
Janet Bonczkiewicz
215-643-8800, x8974
jbonczki@udsd.org
Supervisor of Teaching and Learning K-12
Meredith Penner
mpenner@udsd.org
Supervisor of Safety and Student Wellness
Kimberly Schuler
kschuler@udsd.org
Supervisor of English Language Arts 6-12
Bryna Vandergrift
215-643-8900, x2105
bvanderg@udsd.org
Supervisor of Allied Arts K-12
Chris Horn
215-643-8900, x2052
chorn@udsd.org
Supervisor of Mathematics 6-12
Margaret Kowalski
215-643-8900, x2257
mkowalsk@udsd.org
Supervisor of Science 6-12
Kimberly Small
215-576-3280, x7241
ksmall@udsd.org
Supervisor of Social Studies 6-12
Tony Giammarco
215-643-8900, x2151
tgiammar
Supervisor of World Languages 6-12
Robert Albert
215-643-8900, x2279
ralbert@udsd.org
Supervisor of Robbins Park
Lisa Fantini
(215) 641-0921
lfantini@udsd.org
Supervisor of Guidance 6-12
Donna Ward
dward@udsd.org
Technology Coach K-12
Brad Lieberman
blieberm@udsd.org
Graduation Requirements
Each student is required to earn 21 credits to be eligible for graduation. In grades 9-12, each student is required to take a minimum of 5 full credit courses and Physical Education each year. In addition, Health is taken in 10th grade and is required to graduate. Students must pass the required courses and accumulate sufficient elective credit to satisfy the minimum requirements listed below:
Academic Course Area | Credits |
English | 4 |
Social Studies | 4 |
Math | 3 |
Science | 3 |
Health & PE | 2 |
Electives | 3 |
Humanities Elective* | 2 |
Total Credits | 21 |
*Culminating Project is an additional requirement
Upper Dublin School District requires completion of a “Culminating Project” for graduation. The purpose of the Culminating Project is to provide Seniors an opportunity to apply learned skills and knowledge toward an experience that will impact their lives beyond high school and significantly enhance the meaningfulness of Senior Year. Project options include creation of a work of art, exploration of a professional field of interest, engagement in community involvement, testing of an original hypothesis or researching a significant question. Seniors are required to successfully produce a presentation, performance or demonstration, in addition to a reflective report, based upon the project option they select. Information pertaining to all aspects of the Project is provided to students during assemblies in Spring of Junior Year and Fall of Senior year.
FULL-CREDIT and PARTIAL-CREDIT COURSES
A full-credit course is taught five days a week, have a value of one credit, and count toward student GPA. A partial-credit course is taught one to four days a week, is worth a fraction of a credit, and is not calculated as part of student GPA. Each class period is valued at .2 credits.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is an alternative to public school. Act 16 of 2019, signed into law on June 28, 2019, a change in the compulsory school age from age 8 to no later than age 6 until the child reaches 18 years of age. The parent or guardian, referred to as the “supervisor,” must provide a copy of his or her high-school diploma. The supervisor may request homeschooling at any time during the school year, but after being accepted for the first time, the required items are due by August 1st.
Before beginning homeschooling, the supervisor is responsible for submitting to the Curriculum Office for approval the following items: a notarized affidavit, an outline of proposed educational objectives by subject area for a specified time, and proof of health services.
By the end of the school year, the supervisor must submit to a qualified evaluator a portfolio of records and materials, a daily log of instructional activities, and the results of a standardized achievement test for each child in Grades 3, 5, and 8. The supervisor must then submit to the Curriculum Office a copy of the written evaluation of student progress, as well as proof of the evaluator’s certification.
Please contact Jan Bonczkiewicz in the Curriculum Office for more information at (215) 643-8800 x8974 or via e-mail jbonczki@udsd.org.
Title 1 Federal Programs
What is Title I?
Title I (federal funds) provides supplemental educational programs at Thomas Fitzwater and Jarrettown Elementary Schools. A school qualifies for Title I funding based on the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch. After a school qualifies, the program is available to students based on their educational needs.
The purpose of the Title I program is to help students succeed in reading by providing smaller reading classes, a minimum of 90 minutes per week as well as a variety of teaching methods and materials to support areas of reading need.
Student Identification Process
Students must qualify on a combination of the following selection criteria each year to be included in the Title I program:
Below proficient on standardized test scores and/or the PSSA
Below proficient on the district’s local reading assessments
Teacher recommendation
Students may exit the program based upon exit criteria in the form of assessment data.
Home-School Compact
The Home-School Compact details an agreement between the teacher, student and parents describing the roles and responsibilities of each person. The Home-School Compact is sent to families with children participating in Title I.
Title I Parent Involvement Plan
The School District of Upper Dublin invites parents to become actively involved in the Title I program. The District’s Policy on Parent Involvement, jointly developed between faculty, administrators, and parents and is reviewed and revised annually.
The District shall:
- maintain an active District-wide Parent Advisory Council for Title I.
- maintain active Building Title I Committees with parent representation.
- inform parents of their child’s eligibility for Title I services.
- utilize a handbook to inform parents of the Title I programs.
- conduct informative parent meetings and workshops.
- conduct parent/teacher conferences sharing assessments results.
- share summary data on students’ academic achievements.
- seek recommendations for parent workshops and programs.
- involve parents in the planning and development of the Title I plan.
- involve parents in the review and revision of the Parent Involvement Plan.
Parent Notification
Under the provisions of the “No Child Left Behind Act” parents have the right to know the professional qualifications of the teachers and teacher aides who instruct their children. Please contact our Human Resource office for information on the following:
- teacher has met state credential or license for grade level and subject area taught
- teacher is under emergency or other provisional status
- teacher degree major and certification
- teacher aides or similar paraprofessionals’ qualifications.
Title 1 Parent Brochures Order Form
Title I Teaching Staff
Randi Windheim – Reading Specialist, Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School, rwindhei@udsd.org
Betty Eisenberg – Reading Specialist, Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School, beisenbe@udsd.org
Claire MacRae – Reading Specialist, Fort Washington Elementary School, cmacrae@udsd.org
Karen Wolkin – Reading Specialist, Fort Washington Elementary School, kwolkin@udsd.org
Testing Requirements
Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA)
The state Board of Education has mandated yearly participation of all school districts in the state reading, writing, science and mathematics assessments.
Testing Windows:
PSSA English Language Arts Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
April 20- April 24
PSSA Mathematics Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
April 27- May 8
PSSA Science Grades 4 and 8
April 27 – May 8
PSSA Make-up
Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
April 27 – May 8
Keystone Exams
Winter: December 2-5, 2019 and January 6-9, 2020
Spring: May 11-14, 2020
Opt Out Protocol State Assessment Confidentiality Agreement
WIDA – World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment
The state Board of Education has mandated yearly assessment of all English as a Second Language students in grades K-12.
ACT Explore Test
The ACT Explore Test is a measure of academic progress and is an early indicator of college readiness, an effective tool for planning high school coursework, and a useful career exploration and planning program. It is administered to all students in grade 9.
Education Committee Presentations
Presented on October 7, 2020
Educational & Legislative Updates
A Dynamic Partnership Benefitting Our Students – Mid Atlantic Equity Consortium
Presented on August 5, 2020
Virtual Learning and Student Tools
Presented on May 6, 2020
Continuity of Education Update & Essential Learning
Presented on February 5, 2020
Fountas & Pinnell Pilot Program
Presented on January 8, 2020
Program of Studies for Upper Dublin High School 2020-2021
Presented on November 11, 2019
Student Performance Data 2018-2019
Presented on October 14, 2019
Stakeholder Survey Results – Teaching & Learning
Presented on September 9, 2019
Overview of Student Data
Elementary Progress Reports
Presented on June 12, 2019
8th Grade Ultra Violet Project Based Learning
Superintendent’s Education Update
Presented on May 6, 2019
UDHS Environmental Science Project Based Learning
Presented on April 8, 2019
Montgomery County Funded Prevention & Intervention Services in UDSD
Middle School Schedule Feedback
Presented on March 11, 2019
Adolescent Sleepiness
Elementary Gifted Screening
Presented on February 11, 2019
School Start Times
Presented on December 3, 2018
Student Performance Data
Presented on November 5, 2018
Career Readiness
Telling our Data Story through the Future Ready PA Index
Presented on October 1, 2018
Excellence & Equity
Focus on Students’ Educational Experiences
Presented on May 29, 2018
Future Ready – College and Career
Presented on May 7, 2018
Personalized Learning
SRMS Scheduling Committee Update
Presented on April 2, 2018
BrightBytes
Restructuring 9th & 10th Grade Upper Dublin High School
Presented on March 5, 2018
Spanish Exchange 2017-2018
Future Ready Index
Presented on February 5, 2018
Guided Reading
Presented on January 3, 2018
Social Studies Curriculum Update 2018
English Language Arts Curriculum Update 2018
Program of Studies 2018-2019 – UDHS
Response to Intervention Data
Presented on December 4, 2017
2016-17 School District Data
Presented on October 2, 2017
Summer Scholars/Extended School Year 2017 Presentation
Presented on September 5, 2017
Preliminary Data 2016-2017
Presented on June 14, 2017
Excellence and Equity
Presented on May 30, 2017
Elementary Schedule
Presented on May 1, 2017
Elementary RtII
Presented on March 6, 2017
Restructuring: Grade 9 and 10 Update
Presented on February 6, 2017
Presented on January 3, 2017
Data Presentation, Benchmarking
UDHS Program of Studies 2017-2018
Presented on December 5, 2016
Presented on November 1, 2016
Presented on September 6, 2016
Presented on May 2, 2016
Equity and Excellence Committee
Presented on March 7, 2016
SRMS Schedule Review
SRMS Student Survey 2016
Co-Teaching and Instructional Coaching
District Data Presentation 2015
Presented on November 30, 2015
Digital Access to Support Elementary Programs
Presented on August 24, 2015
English Language Arts Curriculum Review presentation
English Language Arts Curriculum Review Roadmap
Restructuring 9th and 10th Grade Proposal
Elementary Progress Report Resources