Basic Instruction Program

Code No.: 602.5
BASIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM
Policy: The basic instruction program will include the courses required to be offered and taught for each
grade level by the State Department of Education. For ninth through twelfth grade, a unit is equivalent to
one year long course or two semester courses. The instructional approach will be gender fair and
multicultural.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in kindergarten is designed to develop healthy
emotional and social habits, language arts and communication skills, the capacity to complete individual
tasks, character education and the ability to protect and increase physical well-being with attention
given to experiences relating to the development of life skills and human growth and development.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades one through six will include Englishlanguage
arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, human growth and development, physical
education, traffic safety, music, and visual art.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades seven and eight will include Englishlanguage
arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, human growth and development, family and
consumer, career, technology education, physical education, music, and visual art.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades nine through twelve will include
English-language arts (6 units), social studies (5 units), mathematics (6 units), science (5 units), health
(1 unit), physical education (1 unit), fine arts (3 units), foreign language (4 units), and vocational
education (12 units).
The board may, in its discretion, offer additional courses in the instruction program for any grade level.
Each instruction program is carefully planned for optimal benefit taking into consideration the financial
condition of the school district and other factors deemed relevant by the board or superintendent. Each
instruction program’s plan should describe the program, its goals, the effective materials, the activities
and the method for student evaluation.
A program of study, including identified grade-level or content area goals and standards will be
available for parents (guardians) and community.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations stating the required
courses and optional courses for kindergarten, grades one through six, grades seven and eight, and
grades nine through twelve.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. § 1232h (2010).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 98 (2010).
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 256.11; 279.8; 280.3-.14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.5.
Approved
Reviewed 11/15/99
Revised 3/15/04
Revised 5/2/05
Revised 6/20/11
Revised 2/1/16