IG, Curriculum Development
IG, Curriculum Development
The Board of Education is required by state law to determine the educational programs to be carried on in the schools of the district. The curriculum shall be aligned with the district’s academic standards to ensure that each student will have the educational experiences needed to achieve the standards or complete the requirements and goals as listed on a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), which may include modified standards.
The Thompson School District considers curriculum to be a blending of standards, content, instructional practices, career awareness, exploration and pathways, assessments, and a menu of appropriate instructional resources. Curriculum development includes standard alignment, development of competencies, design of performance based assessments, adoption, modification or deletion of specific programs or courses, the design and evaluation of proposed pilot programs or courses, and the selection of compatible and appropriate instructional materials.
The process of maintaining a relevant and up-to-date curriculum shall be guided by the district’s mission, goals, strategic plan and graduation requirements, as well as by the district’s academic standards and expectations for student achievement. The curriculum development process should embody a philosophy of continuous improvement, involve broad based input from different district constituencies, allow and encourage creativity and innovation, consider reliable and current educational research, provided for fulfillment of varied student needs, and direct the selection of instructional materials. Evaluation shall be an integral and essential component of curriculum development.
The Board shall appoint representation to the Thompson to Life (T2L) Committee, which shall bring recommendations for curricular changes to the Board for consideration and adoption. The T2L committee shall be responsible for developing and evaluating curriculum in accordance with this policy.
The T2L committee shall meet regularly during the school year. Its membership should be broad based, reflecting varied district constituencies, including parents.
Adopted: prior to 1985
Revised: July 10, 1996
Revised and recoded: December 16, 2015
Legal References
- Colo. Const. Art. IX, Sect. 15 (Board has control of instruction within the district)
- C.R.S. 22-1-104 (2) (history, culture and contributions of minorities must be taught)
- C.R.S. 22-7-407 (adoption of academic standards by district; alignment of curriculum)
- C.R.S. 22-20-101 et seq. (Exceptional Children’s Educational Act)
- C.R.S. 22-20-201 et seq. (education of gifted children)
- C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(t) (Board duty to determine educational programs and prescribe textbooks)
- C.R.S. 22-32-110 (1)(r) (exclude immoral or pernicious materials and books)
Cross References
- AEA, Standards Based Education
- IA, Instructional Goals and Learning Objectives
- KB, Family/School Partnership in Education