Curriculum & Instruction
Message from the Director
Dear Parents, Students, Administration, and Staff,
Below are academic highlights for the 2025–2026 school year.
- Administration and teachers continue to grow as educators and will strengthen our focus on supporting students so everyone can be successful. Topics will include: Positive Classroom Environments, Meaningful Assessments Focused on Standards, Targeted Instruction, Data Driving Instruction, Reflecting on Data, Writing Standards in various subject areas, and much, much more.
- The North Schuylkill School District participated in an AI presentation.
- Achievement and Growth continues to be an area of focus.
- Teachers collaborate with administration on the importance of meaningful assessments and including higher leveled questioning within those assessments while we strive to fill in any learning gaps along the way.
- SMART Futures in grades K–12 will be a blueprint for career planning and a portfolio platform to help students be ready for post-secondary success.
- Grades 3–5 ELA teachers are reviewing a variety of resources and programs through scheduled presentations and review sessions.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Thank you!
Kimberly Groody
Supervisor of Curriculum & Federal Programs
Curriculum Resources
Curriculum Maps
The North Schuylkill School District Curriculum Maps are housed on a Google Document and are aligned to the PA Core Standards. Link coming soon.
Standards Alignment System
As a tool, we use the Standards Aligned System (SAS) (opens in new window), the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s digital curriculum and instruction resource site. The SAS is a comprehensive, research-based resource to improve student achievement comprised of six distinct elements: Standards, Assessment, Curriculum Framework, Instruction, Materials and Resources, and Safe and Supportive Schools.
PA Core Standards
The State Board of Education adopted the Core Standards in July 2010. Pennsylvania educators created a set of PA Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics that mirror the content and rigor of Common Core while reflecting the organization and design of the PA Academic Standards. The Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies and Science/Technical Subjects are appended to their respective PA Academic Standards.
Standards Documents
General Standards Information
- Student Guide to PA Core Standards (PDF, opens in new window)
- PA Core Standards Parent Fact Sheet (PDF, opens in new window)
- PA Core Standards Student Fact Sheet (PDF, opens in new window)
English Language Arts PA Core Standards
Developing literacy skills in reading, writing, and listening is a collaborative responsibility of all educators. Classroom learning experiences should enhance and expand the communication and critical thinking skills that allow students to develop resiliency and positive attitudes as they grow into effective readers, writers, communicators, and life-long learners.
- PA Core — English Language Arts, Grades Pre-K–5 (PDF, opens in new window)
- PA Core — English Language Arts, Grades 6–12 (PDF, opens in new window)
Mathematics PA Core Standards
The PK–12 PA Core Standards for Mathematics cannot be viewed or addressed in isolation, as each standard depends upon or may lead into multiple standards across grades. These revised standards reflect instructional shifts that integrate content and practice. Key points include:
- Standards stress both procedural skills and conceptual understanding to ensure students are learning and applying critical information needed to succeed at higher levels.
- K–5 standards provide a solid foundation in whole numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.
- Building on K–5, students can do hands-on learning in geometry, algebra, and probability and statistics in grades 6–8.
- High school standards emphasize applying mathematical ways of thinking to real-world issues and challenges.
Social Studies PA Academic Standards
- PA Core — Reading for History and Social Studies, Grades 6–12 (PDF, opens in new window)
- PA Core — Writing for History and Social Studies, Grades 6–12 (PDF, opens in new window)
Science NGSS Standards
- PA Core — Reading for Science and Technical Subjects, Grades 6–12 (PDF, opens in new window)
- PA Core — Writing for Science and Technical Subjects, Grades 6–12 (PDF, opens in new window)
Computer Science CSTA Standards
Career Ready
PSSA / Keystone Exams
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
The PSSA includes assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics taken by students in grades 3–8. Students in grades 4 and 8 are also administered the Science PSSA. All assessments are aligned to the Pennsylvania Core Standards and Assessment Anchors/Eligible Content.
Keystone Exams
Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments in designated content areas serving as both high school accountability assessments and graduation requirements for students beginning with the class of 2017. Exams are offered in Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.
Title I
English
- Title I — Parent Right to Know Letter (PDF, opens in new window)
- Title I — District Wide Parent and Family Engagement (PDF, opens in new window)
- Title I — School Parent and Family Engagement (PDF, opens in new window)
- Title I — Parent Compact (PDF, opens in new window)