Proposed revisions to the sixth- and seventh-grade social studies curriculums will be available for public comment on the state education department Web site until Aug. 11. In the two-year world studies, sixth-graders focus on Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia and Oceania. Seventh-graders study Africa and Asia.
State officials decided to revise the curriculums after preliminary Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests results indicated that only 20 percent to 30 percent of sixth- and seventh-graders statewide passed the social studies exams this spring.
Educators said the tests, which were administered under the more rigorous Georgia Performance Standards for the first time, did not represent the material that was taught in class.
State school Superintendent Kathy Cox threw out the results and formed a committee of 26 educators to revamp the curriculums. The review committee met for three days in Atlanta in May.
Shaun Owen, a former Columbia County teacher of the year and a 2005 state teacher of the year finalist who served on the committee, said the educators reviewed the standards four or five times.
"A lot of it had to do with just refining very broad topics," she said.
Ms. Owen, who will teach sixth-grade social studies at Stallings Island Middle School, said the refined curriculum will enable teachers to cover the material more realistically.
The revised content will go into effect in the 2008-09 school year.
Ms. Owen said the committee will reconvene in July and August to consider the public comments.
"I would love to hear what parents have to say," she said.
Once the comment period has ended, said Ms. Owen, teacher training, which will come from the state Department of Education, will be the next step.
Even though some school systems will be back in session by the time the training is determined, Ms. Owen did not anticipate any problems with implementation.
"Because it's really essentially the same curriculum that has been refined, teachers should be able to go in and do this," she said.
Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113,or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.
HOW TO COMMENT
To see the revisions and access a comment form, log on to www.doe.k12.ga.us. Go to Curriculum at the top of the page and click on Georgia Performance Standards. Click on social studies to find the proposed revisions to the sixth- and seventh-grade curriculums. Comment forms can be e-mailed to wcransha@doe.k12.ga.us.
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