Blackstone‑Millville committee approves revised elementary report card and new science curriculum

The Blackstone‑Millville Regional School District school committee voted unanimously April 11 to adopt a revised elementary standards‑based report card and to approve new science curriculum materials for middle and high school.

The report‑card revisions, presented by the elementary report‑card team, keep the 4‑to‑1 performance scale but change the learner‑behavior indicators from numbers to letter codes to make expectations clearer for parents and teachers. The team also said the updated card will better represent the district’s Portrait of a Graduate competencies — communication, collaboration, critical thinking, citizenship and character — and that an FAQ will be provided to families before rollout next year. "We wanted clarity and consistency across grades so parents understand what each rating means at a point in time," the presenter said during the meeting.

Separately, the science curriculum committee recommended maintaining STEMscopes at the elementary level and adopting McGraw‑Hill programs for middle and high school (including environmental science, biology and chemistry). Committee members said the selections were driven by alignment with Massachusetts standards, teacher accessibility and the need to reduce supplemental materials. The committee approved the science adoption unanimously.

Superintendent Jason DeFalco framed both approvals as part of a broader push to align curriculum, assessment and instruction around district goals. Committee members praised the collaborative process used to vet the changes and asked that the district continue outreach to families and provide training for teachers over the summer.

Next steps: the district will finalize technical work in its student information systems (Aspen), publish FAQs and provide professional development so the revisions and new materials are in place for the 2024–25 school year.