School Board Policy 603 -
Curriculum Development

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for continuous review and improvement of the school curriculum.

II. General Statement of Policy

Curriculum development shall be directed toward the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the education program of the school district.

III. Responsibility

The superintendent shall be responsible for curriculum development and for determining the most effective way of conducting research on the school district’s curriculum needs and establishing a long-range curriculum development program. Timelines shall be determined by the superintendent that will provide for periodic reviews of each curriculum area.

IV. Systems Accountability Committee

A. The School Board must establish an advisory committee to ensure active community participation in all phases of planning and improving the instruction and curriculum affecting state and district academic standards. The Systems Accountability Committee shall provide assistance at the request of the Superintendent.

B. The Systems Accountability Committee, to the extent possible, must reflect the diversity of the district and its learning sites, include teachers, parents/guardians, support staff, students, community residents, and administration, and provide translation to the extent appropriate and practicable. Whenever possible, parents and other community residents must comprise at least two-thirds of committee members.

C. The Systems Accountability Committee must pursue community support to accelerate the academic and native literacy and achievement of English learners with varied needs, from young children to adults, consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.59, subdivisions 2 and 2a.

D. The school district may establish site teams as subcommittees of the Systems Accountability Committee.

E. The Systems Accountability Committee must recommend to the School Board:

1. rigorous academic standards, student achievement goals and measures consistent with Minnesota Statutes, sections 120B.11, subdivision 1a, 120B.022 subdivisions 1a and 1b, and 120B.35; 

2. district assessments;

3. means to improve students' equitable access to effective and more diverse teachers;

4. strategies to ensure the curriculum is rigorous, accurate, antiracist, culturally sustaining, and reflects the diversity of the student population;

5. strategies to ensure that curriculum and learning and work environments validate, affirm, embrace, and integrate the cultural and community strengths of all racial and ethnic groups; and

6.  program evaluations.

F. School sites may expand upon district evaluations of instruction, curriculum, assessments, or programs.

V. School Site Team

Each school must establish a site team to develop and implement strategies and education effectiveness practices to improve instruction, curriculum, cultural competencies, including cultural awareness and cross-cultural communication, and student achievement at the school site. The site team must include an equal number of teachers and administrators and at least one parent. The site team advises the Board and the advisory committee about developing the annual budget and creates an instruction and curriculum improvement plan to align curriculum, assessment of student progress, and growth in meeting state and district academic standards and instruction.

VI. Curriculum Development Process

A. Students who do not meet or exceed Minnesota academic standards, as measured by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment that are administered during high school, shall be informed that admission to a public school is free and available to any resident under 21 years of age or who meets all requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.20 subdivision 1 (c). A student's plan under this section shall continue while the student is enrolled. 

B. The Superintendent shall be responsible for keeping the School Board informed of all state-mandated changes, as well as recommended discretionary changes and for periodically presenting recommended modifications for School Board review and approval.

C. The Superintendent shall have discretionary authority to develop guidelines and directives to implement School Board policy relating to curriculum development.

Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 120A.20 (Admission to Public School)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.10 (Findings; Improving Instruction and Curriculum)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.11 (School District Process for Reviewing Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement; Striving for the World's Best Workforce)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.12 (Reading Proficiently no Later than the End of Grade 3) 
Minn. Stat. § 120B.125 (f) (Planning for Students' Successful Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment; Personal Learning Plans)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.59 (Definitions)
Minn. Rule 3500.0550 (Inclusive Educational Program)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0640-3501.0655 (Graduation Standards for Language Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0700-3501.0745 (Graduation Standards for Mathematics)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0820 (Graduation Standards for the Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0900-3501.0955 (Graduation Standards in Science)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1200-3501.1210 (Academic Standards for English Language Development)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1300-3501.1345 (Academic Standards for Social Studies)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1400-3501.1410 (Academic Standards for Physical Education)
20 U.S.C. § 6301, et seq. (Every Student Succeeds Act)

Cross References:
WBLASB Policy 604 (Instructional Curriculum)
WBLASB Policy 605 (Alternative Programs)
WBLASB Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)
WBLASB Policy 614 (School District Testing Plan and Procedure)
WBLASB Policy 615 (Testing Accommodations, Modifications, and Exemptions for IEPs, Section 504 Plan, and LEP Students)
WBLASB Policy 616 (School District System Accountability)
WBLASB Policy 618 (Assessment of Student Achievement)
WBLASB Policy 619 (Staff Development for Standards)
WBLASB Policy 620 (Credit for Learning)