Columbia Secondary School - Creative Arts Curriculum Development Process

A. Curriculum Development Framework

Stage 1 (Y0, Y1) - Curriculum adoptions or course development recommendations based on the following:

1. Focus on Science, Math, or Engineering (for all courses)
2. Writing intensiv (significant weekly writing activities)
3. Public communication intensive (require projects that use multimedia and develop speaking skills)
4. Service learning (require a service learning activity)
5. Portfolios (require student to document learning process and products into a portfolio)
6. Aligned to NY State learning standards and standardized tests.

Stage 2 (Y1, Y2) - This will be done by the full time faculty

1. Crosscurricular integration in linked courses (Science-Math, Social Studies-English)
2. Link to schoolwide themes (build 4 themes per semester)

B. Middle School Curriculum Development Committee Products Overview

1. Textbooks or instructional materials adoption recommendation (2-3 options based on protocol described below) or in some cases gather curriculum materials from various sources to create resource book.
2. Gather documents supporting above in bonder (including research articles, policy papers from professional organizations, etc)
3. Course title and descriptions for catalog
4. Curriculum maps for course(s) (weekly themes/concepts/key questions)
5. Prepare 15 minute multimedia presentation for public conference outlining CSS curriculum

C. Development protocol

1. Guiding Principles
1. The process should be publicly justicfiable - guided by a commitment to best practice and scientifically validated curricula and instructional approaches.
2. We seek academically demanding programs - rigorous, constructivist, world class.
1. Process - Steps
1. Identify relevant professional organizations - create a list and contact information.
2. Survey literature for meta-studies comparing curricula based on quality of content coverage, best practice recommendations, alignment with state or federal standards.
3. Survey literature assessing curricular (or specific subcompponents) effectiveness (in terms of student learning outcomes)
4. Survey textbook adoption recommendations of relevant professional organizations.
5. Review-copy policy position statements from professional organizations re professional standards and curricular standards.
6. Copy state/national standards in content area.
7. Purchase/Copy textbooks and representative sample of units / chapters addressing similar topic (for comarative evaluation)
2. Products (in binder)
1. Recommendations paper discussing 2-3 alternative curriculum adoption alternatives w/ documentation from above.
2. Matrix outlining key questions, theories/concepts coverage for Plan A, B, and C.
3. Course title (sexy please!) and Course Descriptions for catalog/webpage.