USD 389 Curriculum Policy
Our schoolŐs curriculum is underpinned by the values that we hold dear at our school. The curriculum is the means by which the school achieves its objective of educating children in the knowledge, skills, and understanding that they need in order to lead fulfilling lives.
USD 389 staff, teachers, and administration will utilize a revolving long-range systematic process as they work to enhance the instructional curriculum. This systematic curriculum involves the following three key elements and processes.
All three of these elements will be developed and revised continually within the district wide curriculum and throughout a three step on-going process.
Year One
á individual subject area alignment of State Standards both vertically and horizontally within the K-12
á Documentation of what is already taught within and for each standard of the 1st subject area.
Year Two
á 1st curriculum subject area clarifies and unpacks the state standards to provide teaching plans that connect state standards and clear learning outcomes to what is actually done and how it is assessed.
á Documentation of what is already taught within and for each standard of the 2nd subject area.
Year Three
á 1st curriculum subject area reviews and enhances the staff development and resources to enhance the subject curriculum for the teacher instruction. This curriculum element shall provide teachers with adequate time, educational training, and valuable resources.
á 2nd curriculum subject area clarifies and unpacks the state standards to provide teaching plans that connect state standards and clear learning outcomes to what is actually done and how it is assessed.
á Documentation of what is already taught within and for each standard of the third subject area.
This process continues to repeat throughout the years while all subject areas go through all three systematic step processes. Once curriculums have all been through the steps they continue to revisit each element process to make any adjustments. It is a continual on-going process. Each subject area curriculum will be reviewed on a cycle every five years with at least one area reported to the Board of Education every year. The review process should include, but not be limited to, use of data, benchmarking and communication.
The Board of Education expects that learning will be enhanced by adherence to a curriculum that promotes continuity and cumulative acquisition and application of skills and knowledge from grade to grade and from school to school. The Board also recognizes the need to and value of a systematic ongoing program of curriculum review and development. The board will encourage, support, and provide for the professional staff in its efforts to investigate curriculum ideas, develop and improve programs, evaluate results, and participate in staff development activities.
For reviewing and reporting purposes:
Eureka Curriculum Council:
The Eureka Curriculum Council (ECC) is a representative group of district personnel that advises the Board of Education, through the superintendent, in matters concerning curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The ECC is considered the sounding board for certified personnel in curriculum/instruction matters, facilitates communication regarding staff development needs and accreditation processes, and appoints and directs other committees necessary for the development, implementation, improvement, and long-term evaluation of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The members of the ECC shall be representatives of the district certified personnel. Member selection should provide for a variety of personal and professional traits, assuring that grade levels and subject areas are represented. All initial members will serve for 3 years. After the initial appointments, all members will serve for a three year term which will eventually stagger to be different members.
Duties of the ECC as a working group:
To advise, communicate, and make recommendations pertaining to each of the following: