Office of Curriculum Development
Overview

Department Role and Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the Curriculum Development Office is to oversee and support the development, publication, and revisions of K-12 curriculum guides. Specifically this means working with otherschool leaders (administrators and teachers) in the creation of a set of guides that are consistent in outline and structure while each particular in the goals and text to the various disciplines. Essential to this work is the creation of guides that are seamless in organization and presentation of curriculum and instruction from the elementary level through middle and high school. These curriculum guides must be accessible to all school constituencies while also presenting specific and concrete course expectations and descriptions for teachers as they develop units and lessons for the students in their classes. The Executive Director for Curriculum also provides district-wide oversight for summer curriculum projects K-12.

Summary of Recent Progress and Current Initiatives

• Oversaw the completion of the K-12 Curriculum Guide for Mathematics
• Began work with elementary and secondary curriculum leaders in English/language arts and science on the creation of ELA and science curriculum guides.
• Identified a process for school and community dialogue regarding social studies curriculum, in conjunction with Mark Jackson, ARHS principal.

Anticipated Next Steps

• Launch the math curriculum guide on the district website in December 2006.
• Publish the ELA and science curriculum guides in the spring of 2007.
• Support the work of a Social Studies Curriculum Review Committee chaired by MarkJackson.
• Publish the social studies curriculum guide in the summer of 2007.