Press Release

For further information, contact:
Sue Swaim, 1-800-528-NMSA

October 11, 2002

NMSA Challenges Schools, Communities to Focus on Integrative Curriculum

COLUMBUS (OH) - The nation's largest organization focusing on the needs of middle school students is calling upon middle level educators and communities to "change the way we currently think about curriculum" and bring a four-prong focus to the education of young adolescents.

"The time has come to push the middle school concept substantially beyond structural concerns and school climate issues and establish a balance between the academic, physical, and social needs of middle level students," reads a new position statement on curriculum integration adopted by National Middle School Association's Board of Trustees.

Specifically, NMSA is calling for curriculum that demonstrates four components:

• Is academically challenging and exploratory
• Is relevant to students' concerns
• Holds high expectations for all students to succeed
• Meets the developmental needs of young adolescents

"NMSA recognizes that to achieve such a focus, we must encourage middle level teachers and principals to push themselves beyond the conventional, separate subject format and to expand their use of integrated curriculum," said NMSA President Debby Kasak.

Integrated curriculum focuses on teaching an instructional concept in numerous subjects. For example, students develop language arts skills in a science class when assigned to describe results of experiments through writing.

"Students participating in fully integrative programs tend to exhibit high levels of commitment, energy and performance, while assuming greater responsibility for their learning and actions," Kasak said.

By adopting this position statement, NMSA Trustees were not indicating that middle schools are not currently meeting student needs, according to Sue Swaim, executive director.

"Our intent is to provide a roadmap for communities and schools across the country-a roadmap that if followed will provide the best possible chance for each and every student to reach his or her potential. An integrative curriculum approach is being used by the best middle schools now. However, there are still some communities that believe they have a functioning middle school simply after they've changed the name over the door and altered the grade configuration."

The position statement includes 13 specific challenges for teachers, principals, and policymakers. Among other challenges, teachers are urged to:

• Begin curriculum conversations across disciplines to identify common standards and goals that can lead to a more coherent curriculum.
• Discuss ways to involve students in various phases of their education, from curriculum planning to classroom implementation to assessment.

Principals and policy makers are called upon to provide "safe teaching environments" where experimentation and exploration are valued, provide professional development in integrated curriculum for teachers, and allow discussion and planning time for teachers to design new integrated curriculum plans, among other items.

NMSA is the nation's largest professional association focusing specifically on the education and well-being of young adolescents (10 to 15 year-olds). Its 30,000 members include middle level teachers, principals, school administrators, professors, parents, and others dealing with this age group.