Curriculum & Instruction
Welcome!
Curriculum & Instruction Team
Ms. Maggie Lazur
Director of Early Childhood
Email: mlazur@marsd.org
Director of Assessment & Evaluation
Email: jzitarosa@marsd.org
- District Curriculum
- Instructional Programs
- Enrichment & Gifted Programs
- New Jersey Learning Standards
- Letters to Parents/Guardians
- Assessment Data Presentations
- Virtual/Remote Plan 2026-2027
- School Performace Reports
District Curriculum
Welcome to the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District's Curriculum Site.
Here you will find curriculum guides for PreK-12 courses offered throughout the district. If you do not see the curriculum guide you are looking for, please be patient as we continue to update and post curricula using this digital platform provided by Rubicon Atlas.
As per N.J.A.C. 6A:3-3.1, all districts are required to board approve new and revised curricula that cleary and specifically align with the most recent State Board adopted version of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards within the timeline for implementation of curriculum for each content standard.
Revised every five years, the nine standards provide school districts with clear and specific benchmarks for student achievement in nine content areas. Developed and reviewed by panels of teachers, administrators, parents, students and representatives from higher education, business, and the community, the standards are influenced by national standards, research-based practice and student needs. The standards define a "Thorough and Efficient Education" as guaranteed in 1975 by the New Jersey Constitution.
The New Jersey Student Learning Standards include Preschool Teaching and learning Standards, as well as nine K-12 standards for the following content areas:
- Language Arts Literacy
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- World Languages
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Computer Science & Design Thinking
- Comprehensive Health and Physical Education
- Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills
Instructional Programs
Enrichment & Gifted Programs
Gifted/Enrichment Students
The Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District recognizes that all children have unique strengths and talents. We strive to provide opportunities to develop the social, emotional and academic abilities of each student. All teachers develop learning opportunities to meet these goals through individualized, differentiated learning activities across each content area.
The district recognizes that some students possess and demonstrate extraordinary levels of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers. These students may require differentiated programming opportunities beyond what are already provided in order to maximize their potential. In accordance with the NJ Department of Education and the "Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act", Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District has developed an Identification process for gifted and talented students that includes multiple measures to identify student strengths in various academic areas.
The high ability learner has needs that can be met in a multitude of ways. One way is through the effective differentiation of instruction in classrooms across the district. Another option to meet the needs of the academically gifted child is to provide an appropriate learning environment through inclusion and self-contained programs.
The initial identification process begins in the spring of each year for the upcoming school year. However, each school reviews students’ information and data collected on a regular basis and reviews the information with the administration for an ongoing identification process. Multiple measures used for identification include assessment data, teacher and parent nominations.
According to the National Association for Gifted Children:
Because every child is different, NAGC recognizes that there is no “one perfect program” for teaching gifted students. Instead, the NAGC Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted
Programming Standards state that “a continuum of services must exist for gifted learners” at every level.
What exactly does this mean? Essentially, a “continuum of services” provides administrators, teachers, parents, and students with a menu of educational options that are respectful of individual student differences and mindful of classroom and community resources. This range of services can be organized in a variety of ways:
-
Accommodations in the regular classroom
-
Part-time assignment to both regular and special classes
-
Full-time grouping with students of similar abilities
-
Acceleration or grade advancement
Grades K-3
Students in K-3 are challenged within their classrooms through differentiation and higher level thinking skills and activities. These activities are personalized by classroom teachers who are beginning to identify motivational milestones that gifted children demonstrate.
Pull-Out Enrichment - Grades K-5
Identified students will be given opportunities to participate in higher level thinking activities/units/projects with academic peers outside of the regular classroom. Pull-out Enrichment Programs will be a minimum of 4 weeks in length. These learning experiences will address the academic and affective needs of gifted learners
Areas to include:
* Visual & Performing Arts
* STEAM
* Problem Solving/ Critical Thinking
* Creative Literacy
Grades 6-12
Honors and accelerated courses are offered at the middle school and high school levels. At the high school students have the option to join specialized academies including Performing Arts, STEM, Global Humanities, Business Academy, and a Visual Arts Academy Leadership.
- Identification of Gifted Students / Criteria
- Parent Nomination Guidelines for Enrichment / G&T
- Gifted & Talented Procedural Complaint Process
Identification of Gifted Students / Criteria
|
Bright Child |
Gifted Learner |
|
|
Identification of Gifted Students
Identification of Gifted Students in the Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District utilizes multiple pathways including: Ability, Achievement, Creativity, Teacher-Parent Input and other Considerations. The identification process must include all students including ESL & special Education Students.
- Ability: Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).
CogAT measures abilities across the symbol systems that are most highly correlated with fluid reasoning, problem solving, and success in school. With its separate measures of Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal reasoning, this research-based and proven test provides multiple perspectives on student ability.
- Achievement: iReady, LinkIt, & NJSLA.
i‑Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment designed to provide teachers with actionable insight into student needs. It offers a complete picture of student performance and growth, eliminating the need for multiple, redundant tests. By adapting to student responses and assessing a broad range of skills—including skills above and below a student’s chronological grade—the i‑Ready Diagnostic pinpoints student ability level, identifies the specific skills students need to learn to accelerate their growth, and charts a personalized learning path for each student.
LinkIt! Benchmark Assessments in Reading and Math are used to measure students' mastery towards their grade level standards.
The New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) are statewide assessments that assess students’ progress toward the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in ELA, mathematics and science. English language arts (ELA) assessments will focus on writing effectively when analyzing text. Mathematics assessments will focus on applying skills and concepts and understanding multi-step problems that require abstract reasoning and modeling real-world problems, precision, perseverance, and strategic use of tools. Science assessments will focus on students’ understanding and explanation of scientific phenomena and scenarios.
- Creativity/Teacher- Parent Input
Specials Teachers Nomination Forms, Parent Nomination Forms, ESL Teacher Nomination Forms, Teacher Observation Checklists- grades K & 1
- Other Considerations
Teacher Input, Screeners for Kindergarten, Fundations Assessments K & 1, Marking Period Grades, Writing Samples
What are the different ways gifted students are served in the classroom?
According to the National Association for Gifted Children:
Because every child is different, NAGC recognizes that there is no “one perfect program” for teaching gifted students. Instead, the NAGC Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Programming Standards state that “a continuum of services must exist for gifted learners” at every level.
What exactly does this mean? Essentially, a “continuum of services” provides administrators, teachers, parents, and students with a menu of educational options that are respectful of individual student differences and mindful of classroom and community resources. This range of services can be organized in a variety of ways:
-Accommodations in the regular classroom
-Part-time assignment to both regular and special classes
-Full-time grouping with students of similar abilities
-Acceleration or grade advancement
https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-gifted-education
Parent Nomination Guidelines for Enrichment / G&T
Parents/Guardians should complete this form if they believe their child is performing well above grade level or demonstrating exceptional strengths or talents and would like their child’s performance and achievement to be reviewed to determine eligibility for gifted education services.
Once this form is received, the District Gifted Placement Team will consult and analyze test and performance data to determine if additional assessments are warranted and if the criteria for formal identification have been met. The results of the screening process will be communicated to parents through a meeting, phone call or letter.
This does not guarantee placement but provides additional information to guide placement decisions.
Gifted & Talented Nomination Form
Gifted & Talented Procedural Complaint Process
Pursuant to A4710 1R: Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act , the following protocol must be used to file a complaint alleging that Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District is not in compliance with the provisions of the Act.
The alleged occurrence of noncompliance must have taken place within one year of filing the complaint. Please note: the complaint process is different from an appeal for placement of a student. The complaint process only deals with alleged procedural compliance as outlined in the Act. This process will yield no change to prior student placement decisions.
The complaint shall include:
- The name, address, and contact information of the complainant; and
- A statement that the identified school district is not in compliance with the provisions of this act, and the specific facts on which the allegation of non compliance is based.
An individual who believes that a school district has not complied with the provisions of this Act may file a complaint with the Superintendent or designee. Based on the decision of the Superintendent or designee to affirm, reject, or modify the the District’s action in the matter, the individual may file a petition of appeal of the written decision of the Superintendent or designee in the following order utilizing the same above described format:
- Board of Education - Based on the decision of the Board of Education to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter, the individual may file a petition of appeal of the written decision; to
- Executive County Superintendent (investigation must be completed within 60 days) - Based on the decision of the Executive County Superintendent to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter, the individual may file a petition of appeal of the written decision; to
- Commissioner of Education via Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with N.J.S.18A:6-9 and the procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations.
Should the District found to be in non compliance with the Act, remediation of the Gifted and Talented Program will take place.
New Jersey Learning Standards
Letters to Parents/Guardians
Assessment Data Presentations
Virtual/Remote Plan 2026-2027
School Performace Reports
Click here to visit the Department of Education website for School Performance Reports.