The plan for curriculum development that follows grows from a conviction that schools must create systems which support continual improvement. In the School District of Clayton, we accomplish this by articulating what we believe about teaching and learning, by nurturing individual and collective study, by setting high standards for ourselves and our students, and focusing our resources and energies to reach those standards. The Clayton plan aims at insuring our curriculum processes and products
grow from our beliefs about learning and teaching;
are responsive to student needs;
create a climate where reflective practice is expected and supported;
are ongoing, providing for continual study, review, and planning;
allow for changes, improvement, and implementation of new materials and technologies as need arises;
encompass pre-kindergarten-12 and include representation from all buildings including pre-kindergarten representation when appropriate;
include genuine parent and student input
balance teachers' classroom/building commitments and curriculum planning needs;
facilitate connections among the disciplines;
support classroom teachers in making the curriculum their own by providing ongoing professional development that encourages teachers to develop their own understandings; documents that support teacher decision-making; and curriculum which is flexible enough to meet different teaching and learning styles;
allow opportunities for piloting various strategies and materials, recognizing that some of our ideas will fail;
are reflective of the diversity of our community and district;
are developed by Clayton teachers -- commercially prepared materials should support, not drive curriculum;
include ongoing monitoring and assessment;
are adequately financed to include review, implementation, and continued support to maintain a quality program;
formalize curriculum information sharing among teachers, parents and students.
Curriculum Development & Approval Process The Board of Education, the Superintendent, the Curriculum Council, Curriculum Committees, and school faculties, work together to accomplish four major activities involving curriculum in the District:
Developing shared understandings
Planning for the future
Managing curriculum change, and
Assessing our progress
Parent/Community Involvement Parents participate actively in the curriculum development process in three ways: by serving as parent representatives on the curriculum committees; by serving as associate members who provide specific expertise in meeting a curriculum goal; or by participating in activities designed to gather broad-based parent input.
Student Involvement Student involvement in exploring curriculum issues is solicited in the form of surveys, interviews, dialogues and advisory groups. All curriculum committees are expected to maintain student participation in curriculum discussions on a biannual basis.
