Curriculum Development

Code No.: 602.2
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Policy: 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 or 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.
 Phase 1: Assess – What do data tell us about student learning needs?
 Phase 2: Plan – What do/will we do to meet the student learning needs?
 Phase 3: Implement & Monitor – How do/will we know that student learning has
changed?
 Phase 4: Evaluate – How will we evaluate our programs and service to ensure student
learning?
This framework will at a minimum, 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 (Guardians), students, and community members in curriculum
development decisions;
 Verify integration of local, state, and/or federal mandates;
 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 or designee to keep the board apprised of necessary
curriculum revisions, progress or each content area related to curriculum development activities,
and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum development including
recommendations to the board.
Legal Reference: Iowa Administrative Code: 281.16
Approved
Reviewed 8/21/95
Revised 12/20/99
Revised 3/01//04
Revised 10/1/07
Reviewed 1/5/09
Revised 2/1/16