STEM Focus Proposed for New King Kindergarten

With four consecutive incoming kindergarten classes at 750 students or more, Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott unveiled his plan to open a ninth elementary school in town Tuesday night.

Calling his plan "Project LEAP" (Leading Edge for Achievement Program) Scott wants to open the elementary school where his administrative offices are at the King Building on Water Street and where the former B.L.O.C.K.S Preschool program was housed before it moved to the former Juniper Hill Elementary School.

Scott's proposed plan calls for five kindergarten classes, with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focus to open in fall 2014.

The following year there school would have an additional 4 kindergarten classes and 5 first grade classes. Scott would add 4 kindergarten classes each year until that school would be a full K-4 school. Those students would then attend a proposed 5-8 Middle School at Fuller with a STEM focus.

Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to report the plan. Read details by clicking here.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Framingham School District unveiled
additional details on the proposed STEM Kindergarten program. 

"Kindergarten students enrolled at the King Building will experience a curriculum that lays the foundation for STEM education," states the proposed plan.

"The learning environment will be rigorous, and the pedagogical model will be inquiry-based instruction. The goal is to follow the Environment Integrating Context curriculum model that is based integrated interdisciplinary instruction, community-based investigations, collaborative instruction, learner centered constructivist approaches, combinations of independent and cooperative learning and local natural and community surroundings," states the document posted on the schools website. 

The document states that "Next Generation Science Standards will form the base of the kindergarten instructional content."

"Kindergarten students will develop proficiencies in asking questions developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, interpreting data, designing solutions, engaging in argument, obtaining evaluations and communicating information," states the document. "This approach will strengthen the acquisition of numeracy and literacy skills, ensuring that when students move on to grade 1, they will have a clear understanding of STEM content, skills and practices."

The document goes to to state "Kindergarten students will be actively involved in questioning and hands-on activities while they investigate and solve real world problems. Student projects will be based on student interests. The students will learn to ask and answer questions that relate to and impact their lives, and that make the real world come alive."

To read the complete document, click here.

Framingham currently uses a modified school choice program for selecting a kindergarten, as opposed to a neighborhood school model.

Students needing special programs are placed first, along with students who select the two-way English-Spanish program at Barbieri Elementary School. 

There is a sibling guarantee used during the choice process, but that would not be a factor with the new King Elementary School.

Parents typically learn about each of the town's elementary schools, take tours, and then fill out a form indicating their preferential order of schools. In late spring, they are assigned a school. Most parents have received one of their top three choices or are placed in the school closest to their home. 

The proposed King school is located down the street (0.65 miles) from Hemenway Elementary Schools, and within two miles of Dunning Elementary, Stapleton Elementary and Potter Road Elementary schools.

Students attend middle school based on their elementary school choice.

Students at Brophy, McCarthy and the new King would attend Fuller Middle.

Barbieri, Dunning and Hemenway elementary students attend Walsh Middle.

Stapleton, Potter Road and Wilson elementary students attend Cameron Middle.