by KIM HILSENBECK
The beleaguered school curriculum, CSCOPE, created by a consortium of Texas regional collaboratives, will be back at Hays CISD next year, despite concerns by Texas legislators, teachers and parents both here in Hays and across the state.
Lessons contained in the system, which is completely online, raised a flag with legislators and others last year when they learned those lessons were not reviewed and approved by the Texas State Board of Education. All school textbooks are required to undergo an extensive review process. CSCOPE lessons, which about 75 percent of Texas public schools use, were not subjected to that kind of review.
However, new state rules for CSCOPE prevent its subscribers from using the product to function as a district’s curriculum. Instead, CSCOPE can only be used as a curriculum management tool, which was its original intent. The lessons will no longer be included. As a result, the cost of the subscription went down from $113,000 to $60,000 for Hays CISD. Last school year, the district paid $96,000 after discounts and credits.
Hays CISD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Kimbroly Pool asked the board to approve renewing the district’s CSCOPE subscription contract at a cost of $60,000. She brought in four teachers from Simon Middle School and two from Pfluger Elementary School to speak about the benefits of using CSCOPE. No teachers who oppose the program spoke at the board meeting. Pool also said district administrators want to keep CSCOPE.
“Campus leaders unanimously said, ‘keep it,’” she said.
No campus administrators spoke to the board about their opinions on the curriculum management tool.
Board member Merideth Keller asked Pool about those who do not think CSCOPE is the best product.
“We didn’t hear from the detractors – what are we doing for them?” she asked. Keller also questioned Pool on whether Hays CISD could purchase another curriculum, from, for example, Fort Bend ISD, the former district of newly minted superintendent Mike McKie. That district does not use CSCOPE.
Pool responded, saying she thinks staying the course is the best option.
McKie said he wants teachers to be candid in their assessment of the product.
“Does CSCOPE add value to the day in the life of a teacher?” he asked.
He did not offer a means by which teachers or administrators should provide such feedback.
The board approved the motion to renew the CSCOPE subscription 7-0.
