Select members of the Board of Directors and Administrative team will be available for members of the Eagle Ridge Academy community to discuss questions and/or concerns that may not be included in the regular agenda meeting for the month. See this month’s topic and join virtually using the information below.
For Board of Directors agendas and minutes, visit BoardDocs.
Topic: ERA Board of Directors
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81242140622?pwd=Zlp6UXhycUd1R2ZKWU12ZzVoamNaQT09
Meeting ID: 812 4214 0622 | Passcode: ERA2020 or 7147147
Eagle Ridge Academy prides itself on providing a robust high school science program and sequence. ERA students graduate with a rigorous four-year exploration of all areas of science including the required courses of chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as additional coursework in forensics, anatomy, and several AP courses. This path ensures students have a well-rounded understanding of their world from a scientific perspective.
After a long delay due to COVID, the new Minnesota Science Standards are officially in effect for the 2024-2025 school year. As part of this change, students must complete one credit to satisfy all the earth and space science standards for grades 9-12, one credit to satisfy all the life science standards for grades 9-12, and one credit to satisfy all the chemistry or physics standards for grades 9-12.
As a K-12 school, Eagle Ridge has some flexibility in the presentation order of these standards to our students. This creates an amazing opportunity for our 8th grade students! Earth and space concepts are best explained and understood with physical science concepts. Both sets of standards were integrated last school year. This ultimately means that approximately 50% of the high school earth and space credits are earned by successfully completing 8th grade science! As previously seen with the completion of Latin 2 in 8th grade, students receive high school credit. This credit will NOT affect their future high school GPA, however. Last year, the Board of Directors approved awarding .5 high school credit for the earth and science standard taught during semester two of 8th grade science.
Much of the course curriculum outlined in 8th grade science remained unchanged. This new integration, however, will allow students to explore earth and space sciences more deeply. This will be positively affected by the innate School of Logic nature of curiosity and wonder about the world around them.
Understanding the value of integration in science, the remaining 50% of the earth and space science high school standards will be split and earned in biology and physics. This means that successfully passing biology and physics will add an additional .5 total of a credit due to the extra standards covered.
While this redistribution of credits will be unique to ERA, it will provide the best opportunity for our students to experience well beyond the 3-4 years of science credit most students are typically offered in traditional public schools. Our students will be afforded the opportunity to really explore their physical world in 8th grade with rigor and wonder while setting them up for success in the School of Rhetoric.
This proposed change in credits now requires a vote from the Board of Directors. Prior to the Board Meeting and vote, there will be an opportunity for parents to ask questions and provide feedback on the recommended change by attending the Board Listening Session Tuesday, January 21, 5:30-6:00 p.m.
The following change was proposed by the science department, reviewed by the Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement group (CISA), and reviewed by the Board on January 7:
- Consider/Approve .25 Earth Science credit for AP Biology/Biology and .25 additional Earth Science credit for AP Physics/Physics