Code No. 602.1
SOUTHEAST WEBSTER-GRAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL
PRAIRIE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL
SOUTHEAST VALLEY SCHOOL
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.
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 is responsible for curriculum development and for determining the most effective method of conducting research and design activities. A curriculum framework will describe the processes and procedures that will be followed in researching, designing, and articulating each curriculum area.
NOTE: This is a mandatory policy but the content is discretionary to the extent somewhere in the board policy the board describes its process for establishing content standards, benchmarks, performance levels, and annual improvement goals aligned with needs assessment information.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. § 1232h (2010).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 98 (2010).
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 256.7, 279.8; 280.3 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.5, .8.
Cross Reference: 101 Educational Philosophy of the School District
103 Long-Range Needs Assessment
602 Curriculum Development
603 Instructional Curriculum
605 Instructional Materials
Approved September 19, 2018 Reviewed Revised