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 and/or superintendent’s designee 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. This framework may include, describe the processes and procedures for the following curriculum development activities to:
• Study the latest thinking, trends research and expert advice regarding the content/discipline;
• 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;
• Verify integration of local, state, and/or federal mandates (MCNS, 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 is the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board apprised of curriculum revisions, progress or each content area related to curriculum development activities, and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum.
Date Board Adopted: 12/19/2017
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
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.
Without careful and continuing attention to implementation, planned changes in curriculum and instruction rarely succeed as intended. How change is put into practice, to a large extent, determines how well it fares.
Implementation refers to what actually happens in practice as compared to what was supposed to happen. Curriculum implementation includes the provision of organized assistance to staff in order to ensure that the newly developed curriculum and the most powerful instructional strategies are actually delivered at the classroom level. There are two components of any implementation effort that must be present to guarantee the planned changes in curriculum and instruction succeed as intended:
The superintendent and/or superintendent’s designee is responsible for curriculum implementation and for determining the most effective way of providing organized assistance and monitoring the level of implementation. A curriculum framework will describe the processes and procedures that will be followed to assist all staff in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement the developed curriculum in each content area. This framework may include, at a minimum, describe the processes and procedures for the following curriculum implementation activities to:
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board apprised of curriculum implementation activities, progress of each content area related to curriculum implementation activities, and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum implementation.
Date Board Adopted: 12/19/2017
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
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. 12.8.
Regular evaluation of the total curriculum is necessary to ensure that the written and delivered curriculum is having the desired effect for students.
Curriculum evaluation refers to an ongoing process of collecting, analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting information to aid in understanding what students know and can do. It refers to the full range of information gathered in the school district to evaluate (make judgments about) student learning and program effectiveness in each content area.
Curriculum evaluation must be based on information gathered from a comprehensive assessment system that is designed for accountability and committed to the concept that all students will achieve at high levels, is standards-based, and informs decisions which impact significant and sustainable improvements in teaching and student learning.
The superintendent or superintendent’s designee is responsible for curriculum evaluation and for determining the most effective way of ensuring that assessment activities are integrated into instructional practices as part of school improvement with a particular focus on improving teaching and learning. A curriculum framework will describe the procedures that will be followed to establish an evaluation process that can efficiently and effectively evaluate the total curriculum. This framework may include, at a minimum, describe the procedures for the following curriculum evaluation activities:
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board apprised of curriculum evaluation activities, the progress of each content area related to curriculum evaluation activities, and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum evaluation.
Date Board Adopted: 6/16/2014
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
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. 12.8.
The board welcomes new ideas in curriculum. Proposals for pilot or experimental projects will first be reviewed and analyzed by the superintendent. Pilot and experimental projects approved by the superintendent may be utilized in the education program, as long as they abide by Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidelines.
Students, who may be or are asked to participate in a research or experimental project or program, must have their parents' written consent on file prior to participating in the project or program. A research or experimental program or project requiring parents' prior written consent is a program or project designed to explore or develop new or unproven teaching methods or techniques. These programs or projects are designated as research or experimental projects or programs. The educational materials of a program or project designated as a research or experimental program or project may be inspected and reviewed by the parents of the students participating or being considered for participation in the program or project. The inspection and review by the parents is in accordance with board policy 605.2, "Instructional Materials Inspection."
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy and to keep the board informed.
Date Board Adopted: 12/19/2017
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. § 1232h (2010).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 98 (2010).
Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .10; 280.3 (20113).
281 I.A.C. 12.5, .8.