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. DISTRICT ADVISORY 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.
B. The District Advisory Committee, to the extent possible, must reflect the diversity of the district and its school sites, include teachers, parents, support staff, students, and other community residents, and provide translation to the extent appropriate and practicable. Whenever possible, parents and other community residents must comprise at least two-thirds of advisory committee members.
C. The District Advisory 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 District Advisory Committee.
E. The District Advisory 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 Assessments 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 the 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 curriculum 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 Goals; Striving for Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.12 (Read Act Goal and Interventions)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.125(f) (Planning for Students’ Successful Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment; Personal Learning Plans) Minn. Stat. § 124D.59 (Definitions)
Minn. Rules Part 3500.0550 (Inclusive Educational Program)
Minn. Rules Part 3501.0660 (Academic Standards for Kindergarten through Grade 12)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0700-3501.0745 (Academic Standards for Mathematics)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0820 (Academic Standards for the Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0900-3501.0960 (Academic 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:
Policy 604 (Instructional Curriculum)
Policy 605 (Alternative Programs) Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)
Policy 614 (School District Testing Plan and Procedure)
Policy 615 (Testing Accommodations, Modifications, and Exemptions for IEPs, Section 504 Plans, and LEP Students)
Policy 616 (School District System Accountability) Policy 618 (Assessment of Student Achievement) Policy 619 (Staff Development for Standards) Policy 620 (Credit for Learning)
Policy 623 (Mandatory Summer School Instruction)
Adopted: July 27, 2020
Revised: November 14, 2022
Revised: September 25, 2023
Revised: November 25, 2024