Policy Rec: Curriculum Development, Implementation and Assessment

Again, I recommend that we revise the policy's passive language and assign responsibility to an actor (the Supt.).  I also added language that empowers teachers; however, the policy ensures that it is the Superintendent who is ultimately responsible for teachers' success and for ensuring students have access to a quality, aligned District curriculum.

What do you think?  Your comments are much appreciated, as always.  

I recommend we change Policy IGA (at http://www.tusd1.org/contents/govboard/SectI/IGA.html) to read as follows:

Tucson, Arizona GOVERNING BOARD POLICY	POLICY TITLE: Curriculum Development, Implementation and Assessment
	POLICY CODE: IGA

Curriculum Development

The Board recognizes the need for and value of a systematic, ongoing program of curriculum development and evaluation. The design and implementation of the curriculum will be consistent with the Board’s adopted mission, long range strategic plan, state laws, and Arizona Department of Education rules.  The Board deems it essential that the school system continually develop and modify its curriculum to provide common direction of action for all instruction and programmatic efforts in the District and to meet changing needs.  This curriculum component will be an integral part of the District’s long range strategic planning process.  An environment to support curriculum delivery must be created and maintained by all functions of the organization.

The Superintendent shall supervise and assist teachers to establish and maintain a quality and effective District-wide curriculum that is (1) aligned to both Arizona standards as well assessments; (2) implemented with fidelity in every classroom; and, (3) continually evaluated using aligned, formative, and diagnostic assessments.  A quality curriculum is one that is written, taught, and tested across subject areas at all grade levels.  The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for creating a multi-grade scope and sequence document for each content area, covering all grade levels that is written, taught, and tested. 

While the TUSD curriculum will be responsive to the unique needs of individual students, it will also be common to all.  As such, there will be equitable access to the curriculum for all students.

The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for creating a District-wide curriculum framework that establishes course descriptions and exceeds statutory and regulatory requirements.  This curriculum framework shall support and reflect the District’s curriculum documents.

The District’s written curriculum shall be culturally relevant; and culturally relevant courses will be vertically and horizontally aligned within schools across grade levels and across schools.

The Superintendent shall oversee and take ultimate responsibility for establishing procedures to ensure that the written curriculum is both formatively and summatively assessed for all grades and content areas and revised as necessary to meet the needs of all students.

Subject-related and School-wide Programs

The Superintendent shall oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that all educational programs are aligned with the district’s long range strategic plan and are assessed regularly for effectiveness.  

Curriculum Framework

The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for developing a curriculum framework and making it available to schools.  The framework shall articulate learning goals and academic expectations that provide teachers with common language to gauge student mastery of common objectives.  The framework’s purpose is to assist teachers to work purposefully toward common goals, to provide parents with information regarding academic goals and expectations, and also support the District-wide curriculum mapping process.  The framework, course descriptions, curriculum maps, ancillary materials, and textbooks shall comprise the TUSD curriculum. 

Instructional Program and Curriculum Design:

The Superintendent will oversee and take ultimate responsibility for designing and implementing a basic instructional program that meets the needs of all students, Pre-K – 12, as required by law, with the goal of developing students with critical thinking skills.  The basic instructional program includes instruction in reading/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, arts and humanities, practical living, and vocational studies.

The Superintendent will oversee and take ultimate responsibility for ensuring each school has and posts on its website the curriculum framework and curriculum maps.  The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for providing professional staff development to support the instructional program.  The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that all students are college- and career-ready, that the curriculum is challenging and entails, at a minimum: reading/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, arts and humanities, practical living and vocational studies.

Implementation of Curriculum

The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that all certificated staff participate in professional and staff development to support the implementation of the curriculum.  The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that each teacher teaches and assesses the curriculum in accordance with written documents. 

Monitoring:

• The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that principals monitor the delivery of the curriculum, enlist the support of central office curricular staff, and evaluate teachers according to how effectively they deliver the curriculum and student achievement rates.
• The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for evaluating Principals, including an assessment of curricular alignment and delivery on a school wide basis.    

Alignment of Assessments

The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that teachers use assessments that are aligned with the district curriculum to gauge the effectiveness of the curriculum and its delivery according to student achievement data. The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for reviewing assessment instruments annually to ensure that the curriculum is aligned and effective according to state and district accountability measures.

Parental Engagement

The Superintendent will oversee and take utlimate responsibility for ensuring that parents have access to and information about the curriculum.

Governing Board Oversight of the Curriculum

• The Governing Board has the authority to adopt the District’s written curriculum.
• The Governing Board has the authority to adopt any new or revised curriculum.
• The Superintendent shall make an annual report to the Governing Board regarding the curriculum, its on-going development, implementation, and effectiveness.
• The Superintendent will consult and get permission from the Governing Board before adopting a curriculum or acquiring associated materials.

Adopted:        July 2, 2012

Revised:        April 14, 2015

LEGAL REF: A.R.S. 15-203

            15-341

            15-701

            15-701.01

            15-721

            15-722

CROSS REF: