ASD Connect — APRIL 2012
Graduation is quickly approaching
 A hearty congratulations to the Class of 2012!
Graduations begin April 26 and continue through May 16. View the complete list of graduation ceremonies, including dates, times, and locations.
Live coverage of each of the eight comprehensive ASD high schools will be available online once again this year. The link to the streaming video will be posted online.
The graduations also will be shown live on ASD-TV cable channel 14, which is available to GCI cable subscribers.
Thank you to GCI, UAA's Journalism and Public Communications students and ASD-TV staff for providing the resources and expertise to make these videos available.
Graduations Web page
Community discussions: graduation requirements
 The district is reviewing its current graduation and diploma requirements and is asking for feedback.
A task force was created to develop a proposal that would revise course requirements so students have a flexible yet well-rounded educational experience and are encouraged to excel.
The task force focused its review around four primary themes put forward by the Anchorage School Board:
- Increase rigor, but consider the realities of the needs of our special populations (Special Education, English Language Learners, etc.),
- Increase flexibility,
- Continue to provide a well-rounded education, and
- Increase access to and remove barriers related to accessing Career & Technology Education classes, particularly at the King Career Center.
The district will hold three community meetings during the week of April 16 to gather input regarding the task force's draft proposal.
The meetings will be held:
- Monday, April 16 in the ASD Education Center boardroom (map)
- Wednesday, April 18 in the Service High School cafeteria (map)
- Thursday, April 19 in the Eagle River High School cafeteria (map)
All meetings will take place from 6-8 p.m.
View the meeting flier (PDF)
Read the current and proposed new requirements (PDF)
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Read previous stories from ASD Connect in the ASD Connect archive.
More April 2012 ASD Connect stories
Superintendent Comeau discusses bonds, Common Core State Standards and spring
First and foremost, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff who helped with our informational bond program. As you all know, our school bond package was passed by Anchorage voters at the municipal election earlier this month. The bond passed with strong community support, and students and staff in more than 40 schools will benefit greatly from these important projects and improvements. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community and to the voters for supporting education and making this investment in our students.
The election season also brings changes to the Anchorage School Board. I want to thank outgoing board members Jeff Friedman and Crystal Kennedy for their many years of public service and their commitment and advocacy to our students. They leave a great legacy for our incoming board members, Tam Agosti-Gisler and Natasha Von Imhof. Congratulations to Kathleen Plunkett, who begins her second term on the school board.
Read the rest of Superintendent Comeau's letter
School board adopts Common Core State Standards
Adoption will spur curriculum realignment
 The Anchorage School Board recently approved and adopted the Common Core State Standards. The district will now begin a curriculum realignment process, within the current budget limits, in order to ensure effective implementation of these standards.
The standards are a set of rigorous, evidence-based standards that are clear, consistent and aligned with college and career expectations. The Common Core standards aim to do to the following:
- Ensure that all students, no matter where they live, are prepared for success in postsecondary education and the workforce-an issue that is critically important for a transient community like Anchorage.
- Ensure that students are receiving a high quality education consistently from school to school and state to state.
- Capitalize on assessment items and curriculum material developed to match the Common Core standards, greatly improving the scope and quality of assessment and curriculum materials.
- Provide the ability to compare the performance of ASD students to students in other states and the nation.
Read the full press release
Learn more about the Common Core standards
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