Curriculum and Instruction
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Marietta City Schools provides leadership and support for teaching and learning in grades K-12, as well as the supervision and professional development of local school faculty and administration.
The department led by Dr. Debra McCracken, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, is organized into three areas: K-12 Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology, and State and Federal Programs. Together the departmental team ensures effective and efficient K-12 curricular and instructional support in accordance with local and state school board policies and procedures.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction is committed to providing an instructional program that supports academic achievement for all students in the Marietta City Schools community.
Academic Notes
The Georgia State Department of Education (GADOE) has announced the new four-year high school graduation rate. Adhering to a 2008 update to federal education regulations, the Georgia Department of Education today released the new, four-year public high school graduation rate -- 67.4%. The new calculation, known as the adjusted cohort rate, will allow states to uniformly compare graduation rates across the nation. More»
GADOE Four-year Adjusted Cohort High Schools Graduation Rate FAQThe State Board of Education recently approved State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge's plan to phase out the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT). Students who enter high school in fall 2011 will no longer take the GHSGT in English, math, social studies and science, in order to graduate. This new plan will require students to pass all required courses, and the End-of-Course Tests (EOCT) will now count 20% of a student's final grade, rather than the current 15% weight. More»
Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) Study Guides are now available to help prepare students for the GHSGT. These study guides provide an overview of the purpose of the test, preparation tips, and practice quizzes.
The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) will offer a free Online ExPreSS (Exam Preparation for Science and Social Studies) Tutorial Program for High School Students. Online ExPreSS modules are self-paced. For more information, visit Online ExPreSS.
CSI Mathematics is an online mathematics resource for parents, teachers, and students. Contents include concepts investigated in class, suggestions for activities to explore at home, vocabulary used in the unit, grade-appropriate readings related to the math content, and links to other Web site resources.
The Move On When Ready Program (MOWR) is a dual enrollment opportunity for Marietta High School students to attend a postsecondary institution on a full-time basis during their junior and/or senior year of high school.
Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) Study Guides available for teachers and families to help prepare students in grades one through eight for the CRCT. These study guides provide an overview of the purpose of the test, preparation tips, and practice quizzes.
Online Assessment SystemImplementation of the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) math curriculum at Marietta High School began in 2008-09.
About the Georgia Performance Standards
Performance Standards
Performance standards identify what students should know, understand, and be able to do. They provide clear performance expectations for assessment, instruction, and student work. With the implementation of the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), Marietta City Schools will administer GPS benchmark tests that directly correlate to the Georgia Performance Standards. For more information regarding GPS, visit www.georgiastandards.org.
The GPS includes elements, sample student work, suggested tasks, and teacher commentary.
- Elements: Parts of the content standard that identify specific learning goals associated with the standard. They are the specific parts of a content standard that should be learned by all students in a specific grade or course.
- Tasks: Provide a sample performance that demonstrates to teachers what students should know and be able to do by the end of the course.
- Student Work: Student work samples are included in the GPS to specify what it takes to meet the standard and to enable both teachers and students to see what meeting the standard “looks like”.
- Teacher Commentary: Enables students to see why they did or did not meet the standard and enables them to take ownership in their learning.
What is Standards-Based Education?
- The focus is on student learning
- Expectations are the same for all students
- Standards are expressed through essential questions and supporting skills and knowledge
- Assessments are used to guide and modify instruction
- The effectiveness of instruction is judged on whether or not students meet the standard
About the Common Core State Standards
Georgia has joined with more than 40 other states and territories to develop a set of core standards for K-12 in English language arts and mathematics. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a consistent framework to prepare students for success in college and/or the 21st century workplace.
English language arts and mathematics teachers are currently are being trained in the new standards in preparation for the August 2012 transition from the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) to the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). Science and Math CCGPS will roll out in subsequent years.
A Parents' Guide to Student Success in Common Core is available at http://www.pta.org/4446.htm.
