Teaching, Learning & Leadership

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 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@udsd.org

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

Homeschool Program

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 Teaching & Learning Office for more information at (215) 643-8800 x8974 or via e-mail jbonczki@udsd.org

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Can my child attend homeschool for part of the school year and re-enroll in a District building at a later time? Yes.

The homeschool supervisor must submit the notarized affidavit and other required documents to the school district before starting a homeschool program. Those students who are homeschooled for less than one semester or one-half school year must pass the courses in which they are enrolled and achieve the required twenty (20) credits for graduation.

Can the home education supervisor borrow district textbooks, workbooks and other materials to use at home? The home education supervisor may request a copy of the District’s planned courses, textbooks, workbooks and access to the core curriculum digital resource(s) appropriate to the student’s age and grade level. This may not be construed to obligate the District to provide a particular computer software program or material that is not part of the core instruction. District-issued Chromebooks are not considered textbooks or curriculum materials. A home education supervisor may request to borrow materials by contacting Jan Bonczkiewicz @ jbonczki@udsd.org.

Does the portfolio have to show all of the work of the student? Yes. The portfolio is a record of a student’s progress and achievement and must show examples of the work throughout the homeschooling period to verify that progress has been made and that an “appropriate education” has taken place. Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 must have taken a standardized test. A daily log is required (180 days of instruction or 900 hours per year at the elementary level or 990 hours of instruction at the secondary level per year), keeping in mind that a reasonable number of sick days is acceptable.

What should I know before selecting an evaluator for the my end-of-year evaluation: The evaluator may be a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a teacher certified by the Commonwealth of PA, or a nonpublic school teacher or administrator with at least two years experience within the past ten years in a PA public or nonpublic school. The evaluator may not be the supervisor or the spouse.

– If the student is in elementary school, the evaluator must be certified in elementary education.

– If the student is in secondary school, the evaluator must be certified in secondary education.

– The program and evaluation of an “identified handicapped student” requires that a teacher with a valid certificate to teach special education (or a licensed clinical psychologist or certified school psychologist) certify that the homeschool program addresses the specific needs of the student.

– PA law does not allow out-of-state teaching certificates.

Helpful Resources for Parents:

UDSD Board Policy 137; UDSD Board Regulation

Pennsylvania Department of Education

Digital library of books: https://www.getepic.com/

Upper Dublin Public Library: https://upperdublinlibrary.org/ekids/

Supplemental fact fluency: https://home.xtramath.org/

Lexile correlation information: https://www.readinga-z.com/learninga-z-levels/level-correlation-chart/

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

Testing Requirements

State Assessments:

Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA)

The State Board of Education mandates yearly participation of all school districts in the state in reading, writing, mathematics, and science assessment.

Pennsylvania Alternative System of Assessment (PASA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (IDEA) requires that States and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) ensure that all children with disabilities are included in all general state and district-wide assessment programs, including assessments used for purposes of satisfying the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). If necessary, a state or LEA may create an alternate assessment. The Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) was developed in accordance with this allowance to meet the needs of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are not able to participate in the general assessment even with accommodations.

Keystone Exams

The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, Biology. The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s statewide high school graduation requirements.

Pennsylvania Alternative System of Assessment

3/8/2021 – 5/7/2021

Pennsylvania State Assessment in English Language Arts Testing Window:

Grades 3-8

4/19/2021 – 4/23/2021

Pennsylvania State Assessment in Math Testing Window:

Grades 3-8

4/26/2021 – 4/30/2021

Pennsylvania State Assessment in Science Testing Window:

Grades 4 and 8

4/26/2021 – 4/30/2021

Makeups: 5/3/2021 – 5/7/2021

Keystone Exams Testing Window:

Winter: 12/1/2020 – 1/31/2021 and 2/1/2021- 3/30/2021

Spring: 5/17/2021 – 5/28/2021

WIDA-World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment Testing Window:

The State Board of Education mandates yearly assessment of all English Language Learning students in grades K-12.

1/4/2021 – 3/19/2021

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas. Jarrettown Elementary School 4th grade students were selected to participate in this exam during the spring 2021.

District Assessments:

Kindergarten Screening was administered to this year’s Kindergarten students in the fall of 2020, and will continue with fall administration of the screener next year.

PSAT/NMSQT 10, 11

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test is a standardized test that provides first hand practice for the SAT. Students gain access to college and career planning and also have a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship program. The test covers Critical Reading, Math, and Writing skills. The cost of the test for 10th and 11th grade students is $12,137.00. The cost will be covered by the District.

Advanced Placement Exams

AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well students mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course. Many U.S. colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement (skip the equivalent college course) for scores of 3 and above.

5/3/2021 – 5/14/2021

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT)

The NNAT is a standardized test designed to assess the reasoning ability of students and is utilized extensively in the U.S. as part of the admission process for gifted programs. The NNAT is considered culturally neutral as it contains minimal use of language and directions, and does not require reading, writing, or speaking. Instead, the NNAT incorporates abstract shapes and designs, which allow for unbiased scoring regardless of a child’s primary language, education, and socioeconomic background. The NNAT replaced the CoGAT as our universal gifted screening tool that is traditionally administered in the spring of first grade.

Opt Out Protocol State Assessment Confidentiality Agreement

Education Committee Presentations

Presented on April 7, 2021
Teaching and Learning Updates

Presented on February 3, 2021
Update on Student Learning and Student Achievement

Presented on January 6, 2021
Program of Studies 2021-2022

Presented on December 2, 2020
Highlighting Instructional Practices
Legislative Update

Presented on November 4, 2020
Blended Learning in UD: Overview of Instruction and Assessment

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