Dr. Christie Whitbeck, Fort Bend ISD Deputy Superintendent, shared a comprehensive Academic Program Review with the FBISD Board of Trustees at a Called Meeting and Agenda Review Workshop on Monday that included recommendations on the implementation of House Bill 5 and addressed academic courses offered at each of the District’s 11 high school campuses.
“All students will benefit from being able to study within their areas of interest, whether they choose advanced coursework in science and mathematics or learning skills that will prepare them for jobs immediately after high school,” Dr. Whitbeck said.
A community dialogue meeting will be held at the FBISD Annex (3119 Sweetwater Blvd.), from 7-to-9 p.m. Thursday, with the board scheduled to vote on the proposal next month.
The plan would include phasing out the Digital Media, Engineering, Global Studies, International Business & Marketing, and Math & Science Academies.
The Academies are providing pathways that are currently offered at each campus or are projected to be, according to Dr. Whitbeck. The Medical Science Academy at Hightower High would remain intact.
House Bill 5, adopted last year by the Texas Legislature, places increased emphasis on career-oriented coursework through endorsement pathways. Endorsements are designed to encourage students to take sequences of courses that can culminate in earning college credits, industry certifications, or simply offer more in-depth preparation in a specific area of study.
While reviewing the District’s academic programs, Fort Bend ISD focused its efforts on determining how to best offer student choices and how to structure programs so that all students have greater access to those programs.
The review process was guided by a curriculum audit approved by the FBISD Board of Trustees almost two years ago.
The independent audit, conducted by Texas Association of School Administrators, or TASA, was developed to identify deficits in the District and determine the best steps in moving forward to optimize the District’s curricular and instructional programs. The Academic Program Review also incorporates aspects of the District’s College and Career Readiness plan, which was developed in 2013 to give students more choices in their educational pathways while providing a more holistic approach to their learning. Together, both the audit recommendations and the CCR plan provide a local framework to assist in implementing House Bill 5.
Other recommendations in the plan included:
• Strengthening and expanding course offerings throughout the District. This would be done in an equitable manner so that all students would have access to a pathway within an endorsement.
• Continuing the Gifted and Talented Academy at Quail Valley Middle School for the 2015-2016 school year. A comprehensive study of GT education would occur in the 2015-2016 school year to determine how to best challenge and stimulate the District’s gifted and talented students.
• Expanding Career and Technical Education, or CTE, offerings at each high school and through the Technical Education Center.
• Establishing a committee of community and industry leaders, District staff, and campus administrators to determine the future structure of CTE. Using funding allocated to CTE in the recently approved bond package, the committee’s recommendation may include building a separate facility, building additions at the current centralized campus, and/or additions to current campuses.