HINSDALE TOWNSHIP
High School District 86
Board Briefs Logo
June 9, 2021
Special Board Meeting
Board Discussion and Action - Math Curriculum Alignment
During its meeting on May 26, the board received an update on the status of the curriculum alignment work being conducted by the Math Pathways Team. At that time, four of the board members requested that the continued development of the integrated math core sequence be brought back to the special meeting on June 9 for further discussion and possible action. 

During the special meeting on June 9, members of the Math Pathways Team shared a proposed compromise to the integrated math sequence that it presented at previous meetings, and that the board approved on Oct. 29, 2020. Below is additional information about this compromise.



  • Similarities between the integrated math sequence and the sequence shared during the meeting.
  1. All levels of learners continue to have block options to accelerate their trajectory.
  2. All math standards are explicitly taught over three years.
  3. Integration of algebra and geometry will give teachers the chance to incorporate real-world connections and applications, while still preparing them for upper level courses and helping to serve the needs of the students in the middle.
  4. There is space created in the curriculum to address identified areas of focus from the SAT. 

  • Differences between the integrated math sequence and the sequence shared during the meeting.
  1. The Integrated Algebra and Geometry course name matches a current course at both campuses.
  2. Maintains a "silo" approach to math instruction - the majority of the standards in the first two courses are taught in the corresponding traditional course.
  3. Two years of deliberate integration instead of three (prior to Precalculus).
  4. Redundancies reduced in two of the three years (remain in Algebra 2).
  5. All students entering the district in Algebra 2 have no change to their current pathway to advanced math courses.

Following the discussion about the compromise to the integrated math sequence, and the shift to an integrated math sequence in general, the board voted 4-3 to "reverse the October 2020 District 86 Board of Education decision to approve the development and implementation of an integrated math curriculum."

Update on Goal 1 of the Strategic Plan - Science Curriculum Alignment 
Dr. Chris Covino, the assistant superintendent for academics, Eric Martzolf, the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction for Hinsdale South, and Dr. Julie Gaubatz and Julie May, the chairs for the district's science department, gave a presentation to the board that included:

  • A brief history of the work that has been done to align the district's science curriculum.
  • An overview of the Illinois State Science Standards.
  • Details about the development of the district's science program, including an update on the work that has been done and is scheduled to occur in the future.
  • An analysis of the district's science program based on the goals created by the science department in conjunction with the strategic plan.

Below is a detailed summary of the information included in the presentation.

History of Science Curriculum Alignment in District 86

  • Key dates in the process, including:
  1. Development of Science Essential Curriculum (DuPage Regional Office of Education initiative) - 2007-2015. 
  2. Adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as the Illinois Science Standards - 2014.
  3. Development of the District 86 Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum - 2016-2018. 
  4. A civil rights complaint that was filed by residents claiming discrimination against Hinsdale South families based on the assignment of attendance areas and availability of course offerings (claim was ultimately dismissed by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights) - 2018-19.
  5. The board of education adopts the strategic plan - 2018.
  6. The board directs department chairs to develop provisional curriculum alignment plans - December 2018.
  7. The science program team initiated program sequence options - March 2019.
  8. The science sequence proposal presented to students, teachers and parents/guardians for feedback - May 2019.
  9. Board/community presentations - October 2019; Nov. 11 and 13, 2019; November 2019; Jan. 23, 2020; FAQ sheet.

  • Information about Hinsdale Central's prior open enrollment program.
  1. No sequence for the science courses.
  2. Classes could be taken in any order based on meeting prerequisites.
  3. Benefits - allowed for choice; provided flexibility based on student interest and need; featured a robust earth science curriculum at multiple levels.
  4. Drawbacks - no vertically aligned sequence that built upon skills or content from ninth through 11th grade; students from different grade levels and with differing levels of academic maturity were in the same course; many students did not experience the four core content areas featured in NGSS; students and parents/guardians experienced confusion when trying to choose the “right” courses.

  • Information about Hinsdale South's prior Physics-Chemistry-Biology (PCB) program.
  1. Implemented in 2008.
  2. Students took a sequence of courses from ninth grade through 11th grade, with most AP and elective science courses offered in 11th and/or 12th grade.
  3. Benefits - teachers and students experienced vertically aligned courses on a year-to-year basis that allowed them to build upon skills and content; decreased confusion for students and parents/guardians about choosing the “right” courses; all students took the same core science courses at the same grade level, but at differing skill levels (i.e., regular vs. honors/AP).
  4. Drawbacks - earth science was only integrated in the regular level freshman course.
  5. Has shown a positive impact on the number of students taking and passing AP science courses.

  • Information about NGSS, including examples of what the standards will and will not involve, and details about the content area domains.

Development of the District 86 Science Program



  • The goals that guided the alignment process.
  1. Align courses: fees, textbooks, objectives, grading practices and assessments. 
  2. Increase student exposure to and interest in core sciences.
  3. Align courses with college and career opportunities.
  4. Create a strategic and coherent science program.
  5. Maximize teacher expertise.
  6. Provide informed student choice in coursework junior and senior year.
  7. Increase SEL considerations for students and parents/guardians.

  1. Explored a large number of possible sequences and programs; narrowed the list to nine.
  2. Team analyzed which of the nine options would best meet the program goals.
  3. Analysis led to the selection of the integrated ESS-PCB sequence (Earth and Space Science integrated Physics-Chemistry-Biology).


Program Updates and Future Work




  • Information about Physics in the Universe.
  1. Regular and honors courses partially implemented at Hinsdale Central and fully implemented at Hinsdale South in the fall of 2020; full implementation at Central will occur in 2022.
  2. During the 2020-21 school year, the Physics in the Universe teaching team shared and refined lessons, labs, remote teaching ideas and assessments; curriculum refinements based on experiences from last year are being made this summer; three more teachers from Hinsdale Central will be added to the teaching team for 2021-22.
  3. Approximately 33% of freshmen from Hinsdale Central were enrolled in Physics or Physics Honors during the 2020-21 school year; approximately 44.8% will be taking those courses next year (47.6% will be taking biology, 4.1% will be taking chemistry and 3.5% will be taking an Essential course).
  4. All freshmen from Hinsdale South were enrolled in Physics or Physics Honors last year, and will be taking those courses next year.
  5. Course descriptions and units for Physics in the Universe.

  • Information about Chemistry of Earth Systems.
  1. Chemistry and Chemistry Honors courses for sophomores will be partially implemented at Hinsdale Central next year, and will serve approximately 33% of sophomores in the first cohort. It will be fully implemented at the school in 2023.
  2. The courses will be fully implemented at Hinsdale South next year.
  3. The Chemistry of Earth Systems curriculum development and writing teams met last summer and throughout the 2020-21 school year to finalize the Chemistry and Chemistry Honors units, learning objectives, grading practices and textbooks. The teaching team is currently meeting to develop its plan for next year.
  4. Course descriptions and units for Chemistry of Earth Systems

  • Information about Biology of the Living Earth.
  1. The Biology course for juniors will be partially implemented at Hinsdale Central in 2022, and fully implemented at the school in 2024. The course will be fully implemented at Hinsdale South in 2022.
  2. The development team met in the spring of 2021 to begin planning for the aligned course, and the writing team is meeting this summer to continue this work. Both teams will meet periodically throughout the 2021-22 school year to prepare for implementation the following year.

  • Recap of the work that is currently in progress.
  1. Physics in the Universe - course alignment completed; the first cohort took the course in 2020-21; all freshmen will be enrolled in the course during the 2022-23 school year.
  2. Chemistry of Earth Systems - course alignment completed; the first cohort will take the course in 2021-22.
  3. Biology of the Living Earth - Course alignment is in progress; the development and writing teams will be working this summer and during the 2021-22 school year; the first cohort will take the course in 2022-23.

Program Analysis

  • Key performance indicators (KPIs), progress to date and future work for each of the science program goals.
  1. Align courses: fees, textbooks, objectives, grading practices and assessments
  2. Increase student exposure to and interest in core sciences.
  3. Align courses with college and career opportunities.
  4. Create a strategic and coherent science program.
  5. Maximize teacher expertise.
  6. Provide informed student choice in coursework junior and senior year.
  7. Increase SEL considerations for students and parents/guardians.

Supporting Information



  • Video of physics professors from Harvard, MIT, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Chicago explaining the benefits of Freshman Physics.

You can access the update by visiting https://bit.ly/3xfp8qH.

Approve Hiring of Personnel for Extended School Year
The board approved the hiring of certified and classified staff to work the district's Extended School Year program this summer. You can access the list of staff who were hired for the program by visiting https://bit.ly/3iteI2v.

Approve the Addition of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst for the 2021-22 School Year
The board approved the addition of a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) for the 2021-22 school year.

BCBAs use applied behavior analysis to support the behavioral and educational needs of students with autism and other disabilities. District 86 currently receives part-time BCBA assistance from an outside agency through a contract that is funded by the IDEA grant. However, the need for this support has grown due to the increase in the number of students who are enrolled in our transition program. These services also benefit students who are participating in competitive and non-competitive workplace positions. Similar to the contract with the outside agency, this position will be paid for out of the IDEA grant.

You can access additional information about the BCBA analyst position, including the job description, by visiting https://bit.ly/2TTzUo6.

The meeting adjourned at 11:12 p.m. The video for this meeting will be available in the next day or two at https://d86.hinsdale86.org/Page/556.
Future Board Meetings
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 6 p.m. 
Regular Action Meeting
Hinsdale South Library

Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 6 p.m. 
Regular Action Meeting
Hinsdale South Library

Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 6 p.m. 
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Hinsdale South Library