Pennsylvania Curriculum Regulations require that a district provide a series of planned courses that are coordinated and articulated with one another. They are to be implemented in a way to teach specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors in a systematic and cumulative manner. The District recognizes that curriculum is manifested in the content, skill, knowledge, and processes to be taught and learned by all students. The curriculum, as such, exists in the form of District developed planned courses of study, state developed guides and syllabi, adopted textbooks, and other such materials as approved by the Board of School Directors. These instructional materials include audio-visual materials, computer software, reference books, etc.

In order to be effective planned courses of study, the curriculum requires updating and maintenance. Therefore, it is necessary for the administration and school board to periodically review and approve all curricula to be utilized in the district. The elementary schools shall concentrate on the basic skills and provide for consistency and clarity of instructional focus.

Curriculum shall be developed in compliance with state regulations, local board of education adoptions, and relevant federal mandates. It shall be congruent with those subject areas and skills tested by the state and locally adopted standardized tests.

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Current Happenings…

◊ aReport Card Reviewa - The Acmetonia Primary School teachers and administrators are beginning a review of the K-3 student report card.  Curriculum and assessment benchmarks in many subjects have changed since the last report card revision.  Progress in this area has caused the District to evaluate what measurements of student achievement would be most meaningful for parents.  Please take a few moments to answer the nine-question survey about the K-3 student report card.  Your input is very important to us.  If you are interested in being a part of a Report Card Revision Panel, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by June 19.

PLEASE NOTE: THE SURVEY IS FOR PARENTS OF ACMETONIA PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY. Click here to take the survey.

◊ Graduation Requirements Program - On Thursday, February 24, Superintendent Cheryl Griffith and Director of Student Achievement Janice Nuzzo presented information on "Preparing for the New System of Graduation Requirements: The Keystone Exams."  Two sessions were held to provide details to parents on how the new requirements will affect students now and in the future.

Preparing for the New System of Graduation Requirements - PowerPoint Presentation

◊ New programs throughout the District will highlight ways to improve student performance.  OnHand Schools and the Understanding by Design approach will focus staff members on how to improve strategies and learning methods for students.  The District will also continue its focus on Emergency Management and the Olweus Anti-Bullying program in all buildings. 

◊ New building items include 7th Grade Health classes and additional keyboarding classes at the high school.  The building will also offer students the choice of French as a foreign language option.  At Colfax Upper Elementary School, the administration is instituting a schedule that includes an Intervention and Enrichment period every day in every grade.  They also will begin an autistic class in the building. 

◊ In addition, the Allegheny Valley School District is…
•    Creating a committee to discuss possible changes for the high school mathematics curriculum
•    Beginning discussions with the Department Chairs about the weighting of grades at the high school level
•    Continuing the implementation of the Everyday Math series in the elementary grades