MAUMEE, OH (WTOL) – A local school district is getting to work tackling some new state requirements. Maumee City Schools presented its plan to undertake several initiatives.
Technology is just one of the many areas that will be changing.
The year 2014 might seem far away, but Ohio schools have a great deal of changes to implement before then.
"We have to start doing it now. It's actually the school year after next," said Gregory Smith, Maumee City Schools' superintendent.
School officials have already laid out their plan of action. Students should expect a tougher curriculum.
"Our competition is now global. So our students really need to work harder and smarter," explained Smith.
The Department of Education has created a new "common core." Schools should have already adopted the new reading, math and language arts requirements. Science and social studies requirements are in the process.
"The curriculum is being shrunk down and we're getting deeper and more in depth, more critical thinking skills, more application processes," said Dwight Fertig, director of student services.
The common core is the same as 44 other states. Educators hope this will make moving from one state to another seamless for kids.
Fertig said this is the first time it has been updated since the early 2000s.
Teachers will also be evaluated more often and more extensively.
"It's not a matter of walking in and walking out. There's a pre-conference, post-conference, a lot of process involved," Fertig explained.
State assessment tests will be moving online. The online tests will be piloted in the 2013-2014 school year and will be implemented everywhere the following year.
Money is still an issue. The district does not currently have the ability to get hundreds of students online at once.
"Anytime you make these changes, you have to look at your curriculum, which means textbooks. You have to look at staff development," said Smith.
District officials are starting now so they will be ready for 2014.
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