The School Committees will rely on the professional staff under the supervision of the Superintendent to design and implement instructional programs and courses of study that will strive to achieve the educational goals of the school system. The School Committees will encourage and support the professional staff in its efforts to investigate new curricular ideas, develop and improve programs, and evaluate results.
The Superintendent will direct curriculum development for the school system. Working with him/her will be members of the administrative and professional staff. District curricula must be consistent and sequential across grade levels and schools. Published district curriculum guides will include: mission and goals, alignment with national and state standards, alignment with the district’s Social Justice Commitment,benchmarks for student achievement, and the curriculum articulated by grade level and/or course. Instructional materials will be selected in compliance with the above principles. The Superintendent will establish appropriate curriculum committees for the development, review, evaluation and revision of curriculum guides and instructional programs.
The Superintendent will have the authority to approve new or modified programs and courses of study after they have been thoroughly studied and found to support existing educational goals of the school system.The School Committee will consider, and formally adopt, new programs and courses when they constitute an extensive alteration in instructional content or approach, or when significant new resources are required.
The School Committee wishes to be informed of all new courses and substantive revisions in curriculum. They will receive reports on changes under consideration. The acceptance of these reports, including a listing of the secondary program of studies, will constitute adoption of the curriculum for official purposes.
The School Committees consider the comprehensive and objective evaluation of the effectiveness of curriculum to be of primary importance. Program evaluation reports will be provided to the School Committee for review.
LEGAL REF:
MGL 69:1E , 71:1 , 71:2 , 71:3 , 71:13603 CMR 26:05