(03/06/2024) Anoka-Hennepin School District families, students, staff, and community members are invited to review and provide feedback on five new curriculum options in the areas of secondary science and social studies. The district will offer both in-person and virtual open house opportunities in March.

Resources will be available for community viewing on March 20 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Educational Service Center in Anoka. For parties unable to attend the in-person meeting, resources will be available to view virtually from March 20-27.

These new curriculum review options are in the areas of:

• Physics
• Biology
• U.S. Studies - 7
• U.S. History - 10
• World History - 11

As the district reviews and adopts new materials in courses, it involves students, parents, and the community as part of a comprehensive 41-step process. Current math, language arts, science, social studies, and health materials were all adopted after community engagement and public review of the materials, and future purchases will also be reviewed publicly before official adoption.  

Open house information:

In-person: Wednesday, March 20 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka.

Virtual: March 20-27. Participants will be provided links and videos to review online. Contact the Secondary Curriculum Office at 763-506-1066.  

The review committee will present recommendations to the School Board for approval in the spring of 2024. Pending approval, the new curriculum will be implemented for the 2024-25 school year.

Physics

Anoka-Hennepin science is considering new curriculum materials for Physics, which is typically taken by students as an elective during their senior year. Some students in engineering specialty programs may take Physics as ninth or 10th graders.

The new curriculum materials will support the transition of Biology to the updated 2019 Minnesota Science Standards. The standards put an increased focus on student discussion and inquiry as they study science phenomena and use the engineering design process to solve problems.

Two sets of materials are being piloted during trimester two and three of the 2023-24 school year to support student learning through the new standards:

• Experience Physics from Savvas.
• Dimensions Physics from HMH.

Biology

Anoka-Hennepin science is considering new curriculum materials for Biology I, which is typically taken by students as juniors.

The new curriculum materials will support the transition of Biology to the updated 2019 Minnesota Science Standards. The standards put an increased focus on student discussion and inquiry as they study science phenomena and use the engineering design process to solve problems.

Two sets of materials were piloted during trimester one and two of the 2023-24 school year to support student learning through the new standards:

• New Visions Biology from New Visions for Public Schools.
• BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life from Kendall-Hunt.

U.S. Studies - 7

Anoka-Hennepin social studies is considering new curriculum materials for U.S. Studies, which is taken by students as a required seventh grade course.

The new curriculum materials will support the transition to the updated 2021 Minnesota Social Studies Standards. The standards put an increased focus on inquiry, historical thinking, and using and evaluating sources.

Three materials are being piloted in the three trimesters of the 2023-24 school year in supporting student learning through new standards:

• TCI: History Alive!
• HMH: United States History.
• National Geographic: US History American Stories.

U.S. History - 10

Anoka-Hennepin social studies is considering new curriculum materials for U.S. History, which is taken by students as a required 10th grade course.

The new curriculum materials will support the transition to the updated 2021 Minnesota Social Studies Standards. The standards put an increased focus on inquiry, historical thinking, and using and evaluating sources.

Two materials are being piloted in the three trimesters of the 2023-24 school year in supporting student learning through new standards:

• McGraw Hill: United States History.
• HMH: American History.

World History - 11

Anoka-Hennepin social studies is considering new curriculum materials for World History, which is taken by students as a required 11th grade course.

The new curriculum materials will support the transition to the updated 2021 Minnesota Social Studies Standards. The standards put an increased focus on inquiry, historical thinking, and using and evaluating sources.

Two materials are being piloted in the three trimesters of the 2023-24 school year in supporting student learning through new standards:

• McGraw Hill: World History.
• National Geographic: World History.