5-Year Curriculum Renewal Cycle

 

 

Rationale

 

The Glen Ridge Public Schools maintains and implements approximately 230 curricula in 13 content areas.  By statute, all districts are required to evaluate and, if necessary, revise all district curricula every 5 years.  Glen Ridge meets and exceeds this standard. Additionally, changes in state and national standards, state and national assessment practices, available curriculum materials, district leadership, and trends in the field can cause more frequent modifications to district programs. 

 

It is absolutely critical that teachers are provided the support, training, instructional resources and positive educational climate to successfully implement district programs in all content areas.  This is why we have a systematic process in place to evaluate, develop, and implement all curricula in a manner that allocates district resources wisely and effectively.  The Glen Ridge Public School 5-Year Curriculum Renewal Cycle is a systematic process.

 

 

Overview

 

Curriculum renewal is a 4-step cyclical process by which all district curricula is analyzed and designed in a systematic and collaborative manner.   The process provides for a comprehensive evaluation of each district program content, an inclusive development process, a thoughtful and careful implementation, revision based on experience, and time for program effectiveness to be realized. 

 

This model will assure that only one major content area is revised or developed in a given year.  This has several benefits.  The model will facilitate effective and fiscally responsible use of district resources.  Budget allocations for supplies and materials, textbooks and staff development can be focused on the successful implementation of the revisions or new program.  Additionally, this phased approach to curriculum renewal will facilitate teachers’ focus in implementing new programs by allowing them to concentrate on one major content area at a time rather than attempting to manage multiple initiatives.  This model will be phased in according to the following table. 


GLEN RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FIVE YEAR CURRICULUM/PROGRAM

REVIEW SCHEDULE

CURRICULUM AREAS

Content Area

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

Social Studies

M

M

R

W

I

M

M

Language Arts

R

W

I

M

M

R

W

World Languages

W

I

M

M

R

W

I

Mathematics

M

R

W

I

M

M

R

Science

I

M

M

R

W

I

M

Technology Education

R

W

I

M

M

R

W

Visual Arts

W

I

M

M

R

W

I

Practical Arts

I

M

M

R

W

I

M

Music

W

I

M

M

R

W

I

Physical Education

R

W

I

M

M

R

W

Health/Drug Education

I

M

M

R

W

I

M

Other Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guidance

M

M

R

W

I

M

M

Special Education

R

W

I

M

M

R

W

Study Skills

I

M

M

R

W

I

M

Media Center/Library

M

R

W

I

M

M

R

Gifted and Talented

M

M

R

W

I

M

M

Basic Skills

W

I

M

M

R

W

I

                                     

KEY

R – Review and Research  - A committee representing all levels of education in Glen Ridge is formed.  It meets after school to assess existing curriculum, research outstanding practices and national/state trends in the content area.  It reviews the literature and may make visitations.  This group decides on the extent of the revision needed.  They may begin to write a Mission/Vision statement if one is needed.

 

W – Writing – The committee then writes the components of the curriculum as indicated in “Excellence in Learning – A guide to curriculum development in the Glen Ridge Public Schools.”  Writing will occur during the summer and continue into the next school year, as materials are matched to the curriculum.  During the school year, sections of the curriculum will be piloted in grade levels.

 

I – Implementation  - Full implementation at all grade levels will be expected in September of the indicated school year.

 

M – Monitor – The curriculum will continue to be monitored for its effectiveness.  “Mid-course” adjustments will be recommended by staff and discussed by administration prior to any changes.

 

 

 

5-Year Curriculum Renewal Cycle

 

The renewal cycle includes five key stages. 

 

1.      Review and Research - This is the process of comparing the actual district program to ideal programs that may exist in other districts or the new program desired in our district. 

 

The ideal program will be determined by conducting a comprehensive review of research and recommendations of best practice, reviewing state and national standards in the given field and conducting a complete scope and sequence of the standards.   A variety of data is gathered and reviewed in determining what the  actual, new program may look like.  This data might include but would not be limited to:

·        Review of current curriculum documents

·        Results of curriculum mapping/scope and sequence exercises

·        Curriculum audits of materials

·        Assessment of staff development

·        Feedback from staff, parents and students

·        Review of standardized assessment data

·        Review of district assessment data

·        Analysis of the interrelationship between the area and other content areas

 

The evaluation is the systematic comparison of the ideal program that has been identified through research and the actual program that has been described and assessed by collecting data.  The evaluation reveals areas of strength in the current program as well as the deficiencies that need to be addressed during the curriculum development. 

 

Budget Focus:  During this phase, resources are budgeted for curriculum development during the following year.  Thus, we work on the curriculum the year prior to program and material purchase and implementation of the new curriculum that September.

 

2.      Curriculum Development – This process begins with establishing a shared vision for the program content, mission statements that will lead to the fulfillment of the vision and a completed scope and sequence/curriculum map.  The vision/goal of the program describes the shared values the school community holds regarding the program as well as those areas our students need to know to be successful upon completion of their education in Glen Ridge. The mission statements describe what needs to be accomplished on the path to fulfilling the vision/goal.  While the vision/goal is simple, enduring and never fully attained, the mission statements provide a focal point of every effort, are clear and compelling, and provide more of a short-term focus.   

 

During the curriculum development process, all program options are considered and investigated.  Pilots may take place to determine the effectiveness of options.  When pilots are used they are carefully evaluated and research-based decisions are made regarding content, scope, and sequence. 

 

This is the stage in which actual curriculum is written.  Involvement of staff and administration is absolutely critical at this stage.  We have developed a curriculum format that details the components and requirements of curriculum documents.  A major benefit of the model we use over the previous model is that curriculum will be written during the last week of June prior to implementation September.  This provides teachers with an opportunity to study the curriculum and plan for teaching over the summer. 

 

This is also the time we plan for the program evaluation.  The foundations of program evaluation should be established during this stage.  Benchmarks for program success and student success indicators have to be established during the scope and sequence portion of this process and assist us in determining if the program is working. 

 

The actual writing of the curriculum is completed during the last week of June. A Curriculum Writing Committee under the direction of the Superintendent and administrators from each level of education are responsible for completing this task.  The following timeline describes the process to be used for curriculum writing. 

 

Curriculum Review and Development Timeline:

 

Curriculum Review and Development Committee Established  (May/June, the spring prior to in-depth curriculum review) – The committee is formed by the Superintendent of Schools.  The composition and scope of the committee will be at the discretion of the Superintendent. 

 

The Curriculum Committees may be composed as follows:

·         Superintendent and Administrator(s), Committee Chairs

·        Teacher(s) from target grade/subject levels

·        Technology Director, as needed

·        Director of Student Services, as needed

·        Other Director(s) – as needed to promote curriculum integration

·        Student services representative(s), as needed

 

Major tasks of the Curriculum Review and Development Committee

 

a)      Establishes vision and missions of program (May/June)

b)      Completes vision and missions of program (September/October)

c)      Reviews evaluation data and conclusions (October/November)

d)      Establishes guidelines for writing of curriculum (October/January)

§         Scope and Sequence
      • Identifies content to be taught
      • Identifies units

e)      Researches instructional materials/programs (January/February)

f)        Identifies, pilots and selects instructional materials/programs (February)

g)      Recommends implementation budget to the Principal (February)

h)      Proposes and presents new course(s) to Board when necessary (February/March)

i)        Reviews curriculum writing products (March/April)