July 2023
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,
One of the core strategies for success is Quality Instruction and Achievement for All. Throughout the grade levels, students engage in a sequence of learning experiences built on learning standards in core academic, specials, and elective areas. State law requires that the Board of Education for the School District of Mauston specifically adopt the standards for our District each school year. Mauston utilizes the state-adopted Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Standards in other academic areas come from state and national organizations as well as locally established standards, for example, keyboarding. The learning experiences in our classrooms are based on academic standards adopted by the State of Wisconsin.
English Language Arts - The State of Wisconsin went through a revision process in 2019-2020 to update Wisconsin’s State Standards in the English Language Arts (ELA). The revised standards were adopted in May of 2020. Wisconsin’s ELA Standards (revised 2020) articulate rigorous grade-level expectations in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening to prepare all students to be college and career-ready. The School District of Mauston will work to update the curriculum as needed to address the revisions in these updated standards. Wisconsin continues to use the ACT for its high school assessment, which is based on the College and Career Readiness Standards for students in grades 9-12. Instruction in the School District of Mauston during the 2023-2024 school year will be based on Wisconsin’s English Language Arts Standards and ACT’s College and Career Readiness Standards.
Mathematics - The State of Wisconsin went through a revision process in 2020-21 to update Wisconsin’s Standards for Mathematics. The revised Math Standards were adopted in May of 2021. Wisconsin’s Math Standards (revised 2021) articulate rigorous grade-level expectations in mathematics to prepare all students to be college and career-ready. The School District of Mauston will work to update the curriculum as needed to address the revisions in these updated standards. Wisconsin has also adopted the ACT for its high school assessment, which is based on the College and Career Readiness Standards in grades 9-12. Instruction in the School District of Mauston during the 2023-24 school year will be based on continued use of Wisconsin’s Math Standards and the ACT’s College and Career Readiness Standards.
Science - The State of Wisconsin adopted the Wisconsin Science Standards in November of 2017 to guide instruction in the subject of Science. In addition, the K-12 Science Vertical team recommended that continue to draw from the Next Generation Science Standards (NCSS), written for grades K-12 and the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards for grades 9-12, which add more specifics for each grade level so that students in Mauston are taught with rigorous standards that today’s colleges and workplaces demand. Instruction in the School District of Mauston during the 2023-24 school year will be based on continued use of the Wisconsin Science Standards, 2017, the Next Generation Science Standards, and ACT’s College and Career Readiness Standards.
Social Studies - The State of Wisconsin published the Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies in 2018. There are five strands outlined in the new standards, Behavioral Sciences, Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science. One of the goals of the new standards is for students to investigate questions in a deep and engaging manner and work both collaboratively and individually to investigate significant questions in the social studies disciplines. Wisconsin Act 30 adopted in 2021 amends Wisconsin’s Standards for Social Studies to require instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides. Social Studies instruction in the School District of Mauston during the 2023-24 school year will be based on continued use of the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Social Studies Instruction.
Financial Literacy - Wisconsin ACT 94 was signed on November 30, 2017, requiring districts to adopt academic standards for financial literacy and incorporate these standards K-12. The School District of Mauston will review the Wisconsin K-12 Financial Literacy Standards to revise the curriculum during the 2023-24 school year.
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