Dist. 15's first CCAC meeting to focus on new programs Sept. 25

District 15's Community Curriculum Advisory Council (CCAC) will hold its first meeting of the 2012-13 school year at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Plum Grove Junior High, 2600 Plum Grove Road, Rolling Meadows.

The meeting will showcase three new curricular initiatives the district has undertaken this year—the introduction of the Traits Writing program, the piloting of an extended-day kindergarten program, and the launch of a STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as an enrichment offering in the district's four junior highs. The meeting will feature a tour of one of the labs that was converted to accommodate the STEM program, and a brief presentation by one of the five teachers trained this summer to deliver the Gateway to Technology program's curriculum for its initial course offering, Design & Modeling.

The district created the CCAC last year to raise awareness of its instructional program and work with the community to improve its curriculum. During last year's meetings, the CCAC described the district's instructional program and presented snapshots of a student's day, explained the state's new “Common Core” standards, detailed the different standardized assessments the district administers to its students, introduced the new STEM program, and reviewed the District's report card system.

The CCAC includes representation from across the District, and it is charged with providing input in a cooperative spirit about the curriculum improvement process in District 15. CCAC meetings are open to the public, and the entire District 15 community is invited to attend them.

-- Story submitted by Community Consolidated School District 15