www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 18, Number 52
Friday, December 29, 2023
Districts frustrated, supportive of reading program By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
With fewer than half of third-graders statewide proficient readers, state leaders are implementing new curriculum requirements for school districts. But those changes, mandated in a 2021 Right to Read bill, aren’t universally popular with local school leaders.
Photo courtesy of Michael Shawn Carbaugh II, Facebook
Keeping the faith, and a tune By Michael Savino Special to The Citizen
right now,” Carbaugh said about his new business.
A local music teacher and pastor is opening up a new music studio to offer space for music lessons and recording.
Carbaugh is a pastor at the Pond Hill Baptist Church. He’s also a music teacher, giving lessons on guitar, ukulele and other similar instruments.
Michael Shawn Carbaugh II plans to open rooms at his Unison Studio for lessons and podcast recording in January. He’ll also begin construction on the recording studio after the Planning and Zoning Commission, during its Nov. 13 meeting, unanimously approved his plans for a property at 36 Broadway. “I think there’s a huge need
The studio will now give him a “brick and mortar” location for lessons, something he said the town is lacking. Music instructors either have to travel to people’s homes — a timely task — or rent space at a music shop, but local teachers have few options. Carbaugh said he plans to offer his lesson rooms to other instructors. He’ll also
have soundproof rooms for anyone looking to record a podcast. Carbaugh said he’ll also teach users how to record and edit podcasts. He hopes to also open the recording studio soon. Carbaugh, who studied music composition in college, said he hopes to help artists record their songs. “I really love that part because I’m composition minded from my degree,” he said. Aside from the studio, Carbaugh is also cofounder of Unison Games Cafe in Hamden.
This month, the state Department of Education announced which districts would be granted waivers, allowing local school systems to continue with their current curriculum. Those without waivers can make changes to bring reading instruction in line with the science of reading methods or adopt reading curricula approved by the state. Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire all applied for waivers earlier this year. Only Wallingford received one, affirming its current approach. Berlin and North Haven districts also applied but were denied a waiver, while the Plainville School District was considered “transitional,” which means the district must “add and substitute specific programmatic or curriculum components” to be approved. Local school leaders had mixed reactions to the waiver request results.
‘Science of reading’ According to the state education department, 54.5% or about 19,500 third grade students weren’t proficient in English language arts in the 2022-23 school year. About 3,000 are Black, about 8,000 are Hispanic or Latino, and about 6,600 are white. Right to Read legislation requires school districts to implement an evidencebased scientifically proven reading curriculum beginning in the upcoming school year. “The science of reading highlights the importance of teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and language comprehension,” said Melissa Hickey, director of the state education department’s Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success. “When instruction is aligned to science, this opens the door to a boundless future for students, unlocking multiple pathways, deepening knowledge, and enhancing critical thinking.” Districts could apply for a waiver earlier this year and show that the existing reading programs met the criteria of the legislation or were a “robust alternative.”
Withdrawn waiver Meriden initially submitted a waiver but later withSee Reading, A7