A few new programs are debuting this week in local schools, but educators say their focus for the new school year is primarily on revising and upgrading what’s already there.

Jan Breton, assistant superintendent of Westbrook schools, said “nothing of any significance” is changing in the curriculum for current students, but a whole new grade level is being added to the district.

Two pre-school classes, made up of 17 students each, has been added to the elementary school system – one at Saccarappa School and one at Prides Corner School. The school system is working in conjunction with Head Start, a program run by the Department of Health and Human Services that assists low-income families prepare their children for school.

According to Breton, surveys showed that, in Westbrook, “not all parents of children who wanted a pre-school experience could get one.”

Even with the addition of two classes, the school wasn’t able to accommodate everyone who wanted to go to pre-school. Regardless, she said, it’s a step in the right direction.

“The response has been excellent,” Breton said.

The 4-year-olds took a dry run on the buses Wednesday and were scheduled to have their first regular day of school Thursday.

Breton said another addition to the elementary schools is a social skills training program.

“We think there are some citizenship kinds of things kids need to know,” she said.

The program was initiated by Tim Walker, guidance director at the high school. Breton said the school hopes the program will help with behavioral problems and, in turn, cut back on the need for discipline.

At Bonny Eagle High School, an additional component is being worked into the home-base program. For seven minutes every day and a one-hour activity period once a month, students meet with their home-base teacher along with a group of 10 to 20 other students. On a daily basis, the groups meet for announcements, but during the activity period, they work on collecting their best work from school to add to a portfolio.

Currently, seniors make presentations of their best work, including awards, certificates and even newspaper clippings from athletic triumphs. This year, all students at the high school will have to present their collections at the end of the year.

High school Latin teacher Rebecca Manchester worked on developing the home-base program this summer. She said the yearly presentations will force the students to take on more responsibility and work harder to put their best work forward. Also, she said, it prepares them for making presentations once they join the work force.

“It’s going to be very helpful to students in the future,” Manchester said.

Though the committee that has worked developing this program has more ideas about could be added, Manchester said they will work the changes in slowly, year by year, so as not to overwhelm any one class of students.

Karen Rumery, director of curriculum and assessment for Gorham schools, said there were “no new major programs” added to this year’s curriculum.

The K-5 math program was in need of updating and was enhanced in such a way that it will “make a difference for the kids” because it will be more current, she said.

According to Rumery, overall, the concentration is on keeping up the programs that are in place.

Steve Bailey, assistant superintendent in South Portland, said fresh approaches to teaching and clearer learning targets were implemented in to the curriculum. Also, the integrated math program, a real-life application approach to math which started at the high school six years ago, was updated with new software and textbooks.

According to Scarborough School Board Chairwoman Annalee Rosenblatt, “there were no new initiatives” added to the schools there.

“That’s how we’ve kept the budget so low,” she said.

In Cape Elizabeth, the emphasis was also placed on coordinating what is already in place, rather than creating new programs.

“We’re developing consistency,” said Sarah Simmonds, professional development and curriculum facilitator for the district. “That’s the theme around all the curricular work we’ve been doing.”

Simmonds said the schools are fine-tuning the curriculum in order to guarantee that all students leave each grade with the same experience regardless of their specific teachers. By being more consistent within grades, there will also be smoother transitions for students as they get promoted.

Also, by working together between schools within the district, students can be more prepared as they graduate from one level to the next.

Simmonds said work has been done to keep tabs on all areas of the curriculum in order to make sure no subject goes too long without being revised.

“We’ll have some set steps and procedures and kind of a time line to know when it’s time to update on a regular basis,” Simmonds said about starting up the development of a curriculum management plan. By coming up with a more formal process for reviewing the curriculum, the district will be able to keep better track of where its strengths and where its weaknesses are.

“It will help us in all of our curriculum work,” Simmonds said.

Daniel Mountain of Newton, Mass., hauling his belongings into a dorm at the Gorham campus of University of Southern Maine Sunday with his mother, Ora Mountain. They were among some 1,500 students moving in as the school began the fall semester Tuesday.