WFISD Board Work Session Includes Discussion On Controversial CSCOPE

CSCOPE, the controversial curriculum that is used by a large number of schools across Texas, was the main topic of discussion at a regular Wichita Falls ISD Board work session yesterday.  The board holds work sessions at noon on the Tuesday prior to every regular board meeting.  Wednesday, board member Trey Sralla and WFISD Public Information Officer Renae Murphy appeared on “The Rise and Shine Show” to discuss WFISD Superintendent Dr. John Frossard’s ideas on CSCOPE.    Sralla stated that no action was taken yesterday.  Dr.  Frossard will officially make his recommendations at Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting.  Sralla indicated that “there is no consensus to keep CSCOPE or to throw it out”.  Frossard will likely recommend that CSCOPE be kept, at least for the short term, and be used “as a vendor”:

CSCOPE was created by the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative (TESCCC).  The program has come under fire over the past year by parents, teachers and even some administrators over a lack of transparency, a lack of oversight by the State Board of Education and for saddling faculty members with what one teacher described as “impossible goals” for some students.  Back in March, The Blaze reported that the Texas CSCOPE Review, an independent watchdog group, uncovered an out-of-date, optional CSCOPE lesson-plan on terrorism — “World History Unit 12 Lesson 07″ — which allegedly likens the Boston Tea Party to “an act of terrorism.”  Other controversial elements included lessons on designing a flag for a new socialist nation and lessons on Islam.  Officials say that all of these concerns are being addressed.  A look at the CSCOPE website shows that some changes have been made for public access to parts of the curriculum.   Sralla went on to say that, given the states requirements under TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills), districts must have a curriculum to guide them:

The next board meeting is at 6:00 pm at the WFISD Administration Building, located at 1104 Broad Street.  The meeting is, of course, open to the public.