Curriculum Coordinating Council

The Curriculum Coordinating Council is in charge of all district curriulum and assessments.

Curriculum Coordinating Council Bylaws

Bylaws and Operating Procedures

1.These bylaws shall be approved by the board of education and shall be consistent with board of education policies and best parliamentary practice.

2. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the total CCC membership, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been presented to this council at a previous regular meeting. These amendments shall be approved by the board of education.

3. These operating procedures may be amended by a majority vote of the total CCC membership.

4. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the total CCC membership. A quorum must be present to conduct business.

5. Agenda items such as revisions of Curriculum Guides, proposed additions or deletions of curriculum programs, proposed pilot programs, proposed mini-grant programs, proposed textbook adoptions, and the proposed annual budget shall generally be accepted at one CCC meeting and then acted upon for recommendation to the superintendent at a subsequent meeting.

Rationale

A Curriculum Coordinating Council (CCC) is an effective means of providing leadership, coordination, and quality control of curriculum and instructional improvement efforts. The CCC helps to develop broad-based ownership and support for curriculum study and development. This council also ensures that district leadership for curriculum study and development does not change when individual leadership changes.

Definitions

Curriculum: An operational plan for instruction detailing what students need to learn; all of the learning of students which is planned and directed by the school to attain its educational goals; the sum of all the experiences of students for which our district accepts responsibility; the USD 418 curriculum; expressed in mission, purpose and goals; answers the question "what?".

Curriculum programs: Expressed in ongoing subject areas, courses of study and activities.

Instruction: Methodology; implementation of the curriculum with appropriate assessments, teachers' decisions and actions regarding the curriculum, students' behaviors, and the learning environment; answers the question "how?".

Assessment: The measurement of student learning, degree of mastery of USD 418 curriculum, evaluation of the appropriate district curriculum, and an aid to instructional strategies.

Authority

The CCC is a decision-making body that reviews and approves curriculum, instructional programs, and assessments of the district. The CCC provides recommendations and advice directly to the superintendent, and ultimately to the board of education in matters of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

1.Provides professional staff (certified teaching staff and administrators) with leadership opportunities in curriculum study and development, ensuring continuity of process and product

2.Provides a decision-making process for professional staff to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment;

3. Provides a means for continuous study of curriculum development, revision, and assessment;

4. Provides recommendations on implementation of, additions to, modifications of, or deletions from school district policies in Section I (Instruction) of the school district policy manual; and

5. Provides authorization for the chairperson of the CCC to appoint subcommittees for purposes of special study, consideration of issues, or other needs as necessary. (These subcommittees must report findings and recommendations directly to the CCC for final recommendation to the superintendent.)

If you would like to see the products of each curriculum writing team, please click here.

Duties

1. Determines curriculum areas for study and development;

2. Determines guidelines and timelines for the study, development, and revision of the curriculum and assessment process;

3. Recommends personnel for Curriculum Study Teams, Curriculum Writing Teams, Curriculum Revision/Assessment Teams, Instructional Resources (Textbook) Selection Teams, and other standing committees;

4. Receives and considers reports from Curriculum Study Teams, Curriculum Writing Teams, Curriculum Revision /Assessment Teams, Instructional Resources (Textbook) Selection Teams, and other standing committees;

5. Makes written recommendations of changes in curriculum, instruction, and assessment to the superintendent and board of education;

6.Establishes procedures for monitoring and evaluating curriculum, instruction, and assessment;

7. Receives and evaluates reports of student achievement; and

8. Issue a report of results of studies and evaluations as needed.

Membership

1.Membership shall consist of all building principals, the assistant superintendent for instruction, four regular education classroom teachers representing the middle school and high school, one regular education representative from each elementary school, one at-large regular education elementary representative, two at-large certified staff members representing special services and support services, two community representatives and a board of education member (non-voting).

2.Building principals and the assistant superintendent for instruction shall be permanent members of the CCC. Teacher and community representatives may serve up to two consecutive three-year terms; they shall serve on a three-year rotation schedule as referenced in the "Membership Rotation Schedule" section of the operating procedures.

3.The chairperson shall be elected from the membership of the CCC. The chairperson shall serve for a term of two years.

.The chairperson of the CCC shall appoint a nominating committee of five persons by the February meeting. The nominating committee shall be responsible for recommending a chairperson and new members to the CCC at the April meeting. The CCC may make additional nominations, with prior approval from the nominee, before electing a chairperson and new members. A written ballot shall be utilized whenever there is more than one nominee for any position. Principals shall recommend classroom teachers from their building to the nominating committee. For the at-large positions, consideration shall be given to balancing representation among each building and among support programs. For the middle school and high school positions consideration will be given to balancing representation among the curriculum areas. Each school will have at least one representative.

Resources for Curriculum Study and Development

The CCC shall submit an annual budget by April to the assistant superintendent of business affairs and assistant superintendent of instructional services. Sufficient funding shall be allocated for substitute teachers; remuneration beyond the school day for CCC members attending CCC meetings; staff development resources such as consultants, workshops and materials; clerical assistance; and remuneration of Curriculum Writing Teams, Curriculum Revision /Assessment Teams, Instructional Resources (Textbook) Selection Teams, and other study teams approved by the superintendent and/or the board of education.

Meetings

1.The CCC shall meet monthly on the first Thursday of each month during the school year and additional time as needed. Additional meetings will be scheduled as needed.

2. Meetings shall be announced with printed agendas at least one week in advance. Additional agenda items may be added to the printed agenda for discussion as time permits.

Curriculum Study and Development Cycle Guidelines

1.The CCC shall develop and revise curriculum and assessments.

2.Teachers or administrators may apply to the CCC for alternatives to this curriculum study and development cycle. Written requests will be considered by the February meeting for adjustments in the next year's curriculum study and development cycle.
3.The CCC shall select curriculum areas to be studied and developed each year. At least one K-12 core curriculum area shall be included annually. The study and development of curriculum areas not involving grades K-12 shall be placed on the curriculum study and development cycle by the CCC. The criteria for selecting curriculum areas to be studied and developed are the following:

·Length of time since last curriculum study and development
·Copyright dates of textbooks and other instructional resources currently being used
·Teacher and administrative recommendations
·Curriculum changes recommended or mandated by state, regional or national agencies
·Achievement test scores
·Other student achievement data

4. Each curriculum area shall be studied, developed, and/or revised with an annual revision throughout a seven-year cycle.

If you would like to see the products of each curriculum writing team, please click here.

Curriculum Study and Development Cycle

Curriculum study and development shall be completed within three years initially. Some curriculum areas may not take three years to complete. Upon completion of the first seven-year cycle, curriculum study and development shall be completed within two years. Curriculum areas shall be studied and developed as follows:

1996-97 Art and Drama
Technical Education

1997-98 Computer
Reading
Language arts

1998-99 Math
Physical education
Drivers' education

1999-00 Social studies
Foreign language

2000-01 Library science

2001-02 Health
Guidance

2002-03 Music
Science

Year One - Curriculum Writing Process

1.0 Selection of curriculum areas for study and development

2.0 Recruitment, selection, and orientation of Curriculum Writing Team
2.1 Orientation of professional staff to curriculum writing process
2.2 Recruitment of Curriculum Writing Team
2.3 Selection of Curriculum Writing Team
2.3.1 Receives applications from professional staff
2.3.2 Selects a Curriculum Writing Team that is representative of professional staff
2.4 Orientation of Curriculum Writing Team
2.4.1 Reviews purposes of curriculum writing process and professional literature on
curriculum development
2.4.2 Reviews model curriculum documents, state guidelines and various instructional
resources
2.4.3 Follows the appropriate format and guidelines for development of these curriculum
documents.
2.4.4 Selects a chairperson
2.4.5 Determines work schedule
2.4.6 Determines clerical assistance and procedures

3.0 Curriculum Writing Process
3.1 Teaching staff submits requested curriculum information (i.e. suggested major
concepts to be included in the Curriculum Guide as requested by the Curriculum
Writing Team.
3.2 Curriculum Writing Team:
3.2.1 Writes a statement of philosophy for the curriculum area
3.2.2 Writes major goal statements identifying student outcomes in terms of content and
skills to be mastered and attitudes to be exhibited
3.2.3 Writes an by reviewing and coordinating each grade level's Curriculum Guides
3.2.4 Begins writing a Curriculum Guide
3.2.5 Recommends new courses of study or revisions in existing courses necessary to
support proposed ELS
3.2.6 Recommends instructional resources, facilities and equipment necessary to support
proposed ELS
3.2.7 Develops plans and timetables for completion and revision of curriculum
documents, and makes additional recommendations for curriculum development
deemed necessary

Year Two - Curriculum Revision /Assessment Development Process

4.0 Approval of curriculum documents and various recommendations by Curriculum
Writing Team
4.1 By the CCC
4.2 By the Board of Education

5.0 Orientation of professional staff to new Curriculum Guide

6.0 Recruitment, selection and orientation of Curriculum Revision/Assessment Team
6.1 Receives applications from professional staff
6.2 Determines clerical assistance and procedures

7.0 Professional staff reviews Curriculum Guide and makes recommendations for
revisions to the Curriculum Revision/Assessment Team based on the following:
7.1 Perceived gaps and overlaps in instructional objectives, activities and resources
identified in both guides
7.2 Discussion of teachers both within and among grade levels
7.3 Validations based on classroom use

8.0 Curriculum Revision /Assessment Process
8.1 Curriculum Revision/Assessment Team:
8.1.1 Revises and updates philosophy statement
8.1.2 Revises and updates major goal statements
8.1.3 Revises and updates the by reviewing and coordinating each grade level's
recommendations
8.1.4 Revises and updates the Curriculum Guide by reviewing and coordinating each grade
level's recommendations
8.1.5 Revises and updates recommended courses of study
8.1.6 Develop both authentic and traditional assessments aligned to mastery outcomes.

Year Three - Instructional Resources Selection Process

9.0 Approval of curriculum documents and various recommendations by Curriculum
Revision Team
9.1 By CCC
9.2 By Board of Education

10.0 Orientation of professional staff to revised Curriculum Guide

11.0 Recruitment, selection and orientation of Instructional Resources Selection Team
11.1 Receives applications from professional staff
11.2 Selects an Instructional Resources Writing Team representative of professional
staff
11.3 Reviews purposes of instructional resources selection process
11.4 Reviews professional literature on instructional resources selection process and then
decides on the process to be used
11.5 Selects a chairperson
11.6 Determines work schedule
11.7 Determines clerical assistance and procedures

12.0 Instructional resources selection process
12.1 Instructional Resources Selection Team previews available instructional resources
and then presents preferred resources to instructional staff to solicit input.
12.2 Recommends to the CCC the instructional resources that best match the adopted
Curriculum Guide

13.0 Approval of recommended instructional resources
13.1 By CCC
13.2 By Board of Education


Years Four, Five, and Six - Curriculum Oversight/Revision Process

4.0 Approval of curriculum documents and various recommendations by Curriculum
Writing Team
4.1 By the CCC
4.2 By the Board of Education

5.0 Orientation of professional staff to new Curriculum Guide

6.0 Recruitment, selection and orientation of Curriculum Oversight/Revision Team
6.1 Receives applications from professional staff
6.2 Determines clerical assistance and procedures

7.0 Professional staff reviews Curriculum Guide and makes recommendations for
revisions to the Curriculum Oversight/Revision Team based on the following:
7.1 Perceived gaps and overlaps in instructional objectives, activities and resources and
assessments identified in both guides
7.2 Discussion of teachers both within and among grade levels
7.3 Validations based on classroom use

8.0 Curriculum Oversight/Revision Process
8.1 Curriculum Oversight/Revision Team:
8.1.1 Reviews and updates the Curriculum Guide by reviewing and coordinating each
grade level's recommendations
8.1.2 Reviews and updates the Curriculum Guide by reviewing and coordinating each
grade level's recommendations
8.1.3 Reviews and updates recommended courses of study
8.1.4 Reviews and modifies as appropriate both authentic and traditional assessments
aligned to mastery outcomes of grade levels of study
8.2 Celebration