Curriculum development shall be an ongoing process in the school district. Each curriculum area shall be reviewed and revised when necessary according to the timelines set out by the superintendent and/or director of teaching & learning. These timelines will provide for periodic review of each curriculum area. The board delegates the curriculum development process to the superintendent/director of teaching and learning who will make curriculum development recommendations and submit them to the board for final approval.
A systematic approach to curriculum development (careful research, design, and articulation of the curriculum) serves several purposes:
- Focuses attention on the content standards of each discipline and ensure the identified learnings are rigorous, challenging, and represent the most important learning for our students.
- Increases the probability that students will acquire the desired knowledge, skills and dispositions and that our schools will be successful in providing appropriate learning experiences.
- Facilitates communication and coordination.
- Improves classroom instruction.
The superintendent/director of teaching & learning is responsible for the curriculum development process and for determining the most effective way of conducting research of the school district's curriculum needs and a long-range curriculum development program. In making recommendations to the board, the superintendent and/or director of teaching & learning shall propose a curriculum that will:
- fulfill the mission, beliefs, and vision of the school district;
reflect current research and best practice;Study the latest thinking, trends research and expert advice regarding the content/discipline;reflect the educational and operational assessments of the school district;Study the current status of the content/discipline (what and how well students are currently learning)identity Standards, Benchmarks, and Critical Objectives for each course or grade level;- Identify content standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations for the content/discipline;
- articulate courses of study from kindergarten through grade twelve;
- Describe the desired learning behaviors, teaching and learning environment related to the content/discipline;
- Identify differences in the desired and present program and develop a plan for addressing the differences;
- provide for continual assessment of a student's progress;
- improve instructional practice;
- meet the long and short range student achievement goals found in the District's School Improvement Plan;
- meet the requirements of the Iowa Department of Education in meeting General Accreditation Standards;
- ensures proposed curriculum complies with applicable laws.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board apprised of necessary curriculum changes and revisions and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum development.
Approved: 9/23/2019 Reviewed: 11/28/2022 Revised: 11/28/2022
