603.1 Curriculum Development

Curriculum development is an ongoing process in the school district and consists of both research and design. Research is the studious inquiry and critical investigation of the various content areas for the purpose of revising and improving curriculum and instruction based on relevant information pertaining to the discipline. This study is conducted both internally (what and how we are currently doing at the local level) and externally (what national standards, professional organizations, recognized experts, current research, etc. tell us relative to the content area). Design is the deliberate process of planning and selecting the standards and instructional strategies that will improve the learning experiences for all students.

The superintendent shall be responsible for curriculum development and for determining the most effective method of conducting research and design activities. A curriculum framework shall describe the processes and procedures that will be followed in researching, designing, and articulating each curriculum area.

In making recommendations to the board, the superintendent shall propose a framework which will, at a minimum, describe the processes and procedures for the curriculum development activities that will:

• Fulfill the mission, beliefs and vision of the school district;
• Articulate courses of study from T-K/kindergarten through grade twelve;
• Study the latest thinking, trends, research, and expert advice regarding the content/discipline;
• Incorporate best practices;
• Study the current status of the content/discipline (what and how well students are currently learning);
• Identify content standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations for the content/discipline;
• 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;
• Communicate with internal and external publics regarding the content area;
• Involve staff, parents, students, and community members in curriculum development decisions;
• 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.
• Verify integration of local, state, and/or federal mandates ( Multi-Cultural/Non-Sexist, school-to-work,etc.);
• Verify how the standards and benchmarks of the content/discipline support each of the broader student learning goals and provide a K-12 continuum that builds on the prior learning of each level.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the Board apprised of necessary curriculum revisions, progress of each content area related to curriculum development activities, and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum development including recommendations to the Board.

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