CHICAGO (September 2004) - The Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools will begin phasing in a new uniform curriculum for grades pre-K through 12 during the 2004-05 academic year. The first subjects that will be introduced system-wide will be math, science, health and religion. The initiative is part an ongoing commitment to excellence by the Office of Catholic Schools to help further enhance the quality of education for families in Cook and Lake Counties who choose Catholic schools, according to Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of Archdiocese of Chicago schools. Schools throughout the Archdiocese are expected to begin adopt the new math, science, health and religion curricula as early as this coming winter.

Here are more details of the curriculum initiative:

• The new curricula will feature the latest in educational theory appropriate for grade level and subject matter. It will be consistent with the latest best practices in Catholic education and also will be aligned with State of Illinois academic standards.

• Religion will be integrated into all subjects and will have its own new curriculum, as well.

• The curricula will help facilitate a smooth transition for any student who transfers from one Catholic school to another within the system. It will also help enhance cooperation between elementary and secondary schools in terms of ensuring that students have the required knowledge to perform well in high school.

• The Office of Catholic Schools has been working closely with Loyola University’s School of Education on the new math curriculum and with Biological Sciences Curriculum Study in Colorado Springs, Colo., on the new science curriculum. In addition, development of a new health curriculum is under way with the assistance of a well-credentialed health professional who has experience with drug and HIV affected children. Several committees that include educators from Archdiocesan schools also have been involved in the development of the new curriculum.

• Teachers will be able to access the new curriculum while creating their lesson plans using special software that will be introduced during the new academic year. Parents will be able to access their child’s benchmarks under the new curriculum on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Web site.

• Several educator workshops will be held to help schools implement the new curriculum.

• A system-wide test to gauge students’ knowledge and comprehension of religion taught in Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools is in the planning stages. School leaders plan to introduce the new test sometime in the future.