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Curriculum Update

Curriculum Review Cycle Reinstated

Our district has just recently reinstituted our curriculum review cycle.  We have spent the last few years with focused attention on reading, math, and writing because the state was placing such a great emphasis in those areas.  Science is actually on the top of the review cycle this year, so we have spent the last year reviewing new science curriculum. Next year social studies will be up for review, then math in 2007-2008.

Curriculum Alignment

One of the goals identified recently by our school board is to create a better scope and sequence and alignment of our kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum in all subject areas.  Just recently, we were able to identify a department chair representative from each of the buildings to represent their content area in discussions across grade levels.  Most of these cross-grade level meetings will take place during existing staff development days. 

Since many of our teachers have coaching responsibilities after school, it is difficult to coordinate meetings after school with full participation. To help facilitate this process, the district will add two half-day staff development workshops in 2006-2007 devoted to district-wide department meetings across all grade levels. It is our hope that this will lead to a more unified curriculum and transition between buildings. 

Minnesota State Standards

We are using the required Minnesota State Standards to base our curriculum decisions on.  By law, the standards for language arts, math, science, and social studies are required to be fully implemented by 2006. As we preview new curriculum, we look at the way various programs match the state standards. 

State Required Testing

The state has also created several common assessments for all school districts. They are tests designed to measure how well schools and districts are meeting the state standards. We are required to give the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II tests for reading and math to students in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. State science tests are being piloted this year and next for full implementation in 2007-2008. 

The MCA-II/GRAD is a pair of high school tests in reading and mathematics that all students, beginning with the Class of 2010, must pass in order to graduate from a public high school in Minnesota. The Test of Written Composition remains a test required for graduation, but moves from grade 10 to grade 9.

If you have questions or comments concerning curriculum or testing, feel free to contact Brenda Schell at 213-2005 or by email, [email protected].

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