New curriculum for Hamilton Co. Schools

Hamilton County will use the Open Up program for students this fall.

They hope it will fill the gaps that students missed during the pandemic.

Schools have been closed since late march due to the covid-19 pandemic, leaving students vulnerable to learning gaps.

News 12's joeli poole spoke with hamilton county school officials, who say they're working to close those gaps.

Learning from home has become the new normal- but as most school systems announce their plans to reopen in the fall, administrators and teachers are working hard all summer on how to close the skill gaps left behind from the coronavirus shutdown.

Hamilton county schools have invested in a new program that will address specific skills missed by students during the pandemic - it's called open up and superintendent dr. bryan johnson is confident that it will get students caught up - and future ready.

Dr. bryan johnson/ superintendent of hamilton co.

Schools " a lot of times the system has gone about inquiring instructional resources but we have not provided the comprehensive pieces that are needed to teach the curriculum.

It was really important for us to find high quality instructional material focused on the science of reading."

Open up is a california based nonprofit company that helps increase equity in education.

Officials say resources like this are needed now more than ever, due to the possible impact that the school closure will have on student learning.

The ceo of open up says their curriculum is easily accessible by both the teacher and the student.

Jessica sliwershi/ ceo of open up "all of our core math and english language arts curricula are openly accessible on our website, http: any teacher in any classroom in this country can access these materials."

Superintendent of hamilton county schools says the pandemic has created challenges for them, but overall- it's taught school officials about the value of time and resources.

Dr. johnson "this isn't about the practice of teaching.

This is about the expertise in teaching and getting it right.

We don't have time to get it wrong.

These kids' futures count on it.

We believe in deferring to expertise and we believe in ensuring we have the best resources."

The new curriculum will be used by hamilton county schools, this fall.

School officials say that although they don't know what the future holds -they do know that this new program will keep students learning- both