Curriculum Development and Evaluation

San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education

Administrative Regulation 6141

Curriculum Development and Evaluation

 

This Administrative Regulation applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.

 

Curriculum Review Committee

 

The Superintendent or designee may establish a curriculum review committee to evaluate and recommend curriculum for Board of Education approval. This committee shall consist of a majority of teachers and may also include administrators, other staff who have subject-matter expertise, parents/guardians, representatives of local businesses and postsecondary institutions, other community members, and students as appropriate.  This committee may be the same committee charged with the evaluation and recommendation of instructional materials pursuant to Board policy and administrative regulation.

 

(cf. 1220 – Citizen Advisory Committees)

(cf. 1700 – Relations Between Private Industry and the Schools)

(cf. 6143 – Courses of Study)

(cf. 6161.1 – Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials)

 

Curriculum Development/Selection Process

 

The Superintendent or designee shall research and identify available curriculum in the subject area(s) and grade level(s) scheduled for review.  He/she may select a limited number of programs to present to the curriculum review committee for evaluation.

 

The committee shall recommend the curriculum that best meets the district’s needs based on the following criteria and any additional factors deemed relevant by the committee:

 

1. Analysis of the effectiveness of the existing district curriculum for all students, including student achievement data disaggregated by grade level and student population

(cf. 0500 – Accountability)

(cf. 6162.5 – Student Assessment)

(cf. 6162.51 – State Academic Achievement Tests)

(cf. 6162.52 – High School Exit Examination)

(cf. 6190 – Evaluation of the Instructional Program)

 

2. Alignment of the proposed curriculum with expectations established by the Board and the State Board of Education as to what students need to know and be able to do in the subject(s) and grade level(s) under consideration

(cf. 0000 – Vision)

(cf. 0200 – Goals for the School District)

(cf. 6011 – Academic Standards)

 

3. Evidence of proven effectiveness of the proposed curriculum in raising student achievement, including the research and learning theory upon which the curriculum is based
    
4. Applicability and accessibility of the curriculum to all students, including, but not limited to, students who are not currently academically successful, students with disabilities, English learners, and gifted and talented students

(cf. 0410 – Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)

(cf. 0520.2 – Title I Program Improvement Schools)

(cf. 0520.3 – Title I Program Improvement Districts)

(cf. 0520.4 – Quality Education Investment Schools)

(cf. 6159 – Individualized Education Program)

(cf. 6164.6 – Identification and Education Under Section 504)

(cf. 6172 – Gifted and Talented Student Program)

(cf. 6174 – Education for English Language Learners)

(cf. 6179 – Supplemental Instruction)

 

5. The estimated cost to purchase, adapt, and/or develop the curriculum
    
6. Resources required to implement the curriculum, such as time, facilities, instructional materials and technology, staffing, staff development, and funding

(cf. 0440 – District Technology Plan)

(cf. 3100 – Budget)

(cf. 4131 – Staff Development)

(cf. 4143/4243 – Negotiations/Consultation)

(cf. 7110 – Facilities Master Plan)

 

7. If the curriculum includes instructional materials, the extent to which the materials meet criteria established by law and the district
    
8. Any potential impact on other parts of the educational program

 

If it is determined that available prepackaged curriculum is not cost effective or is inadequate to meet the needs of the district’s students, the Superintendent or designee may adapt curriculum or develop new curriculum.  Curriculum modification or development shall be performed by teachers, school administrators, and district administrators, with support and assistance, when available, from curriculum experts from the county office of education, postsecondary institutions, and/or curriculum or professional associations. Any modified or new curriculum shall be reviewed by the curriculum committee in accordance with the above criteria prior to being recommended to the Board.

 

Upon approval by the Board, a new curriculum may be implemented in a limited number of schools or classrooms on a pilot basis so that modifications may be made as necessary before implementing the curriculum districtwide.

 

Re-Evaluation

 

At a minimum, District curriculum will be re-evaluated when the State Board of Education adopts new or revised content standards or the curriculum framework for a particular subject or when new law requires a change or addition to the curriculum.  The Superintendent may also require a review of curriculum as needed to respond to student assessment results, feedback from teachers, administrators, or parent/guardians; new research on program effectiveness or changing student needs.

 

 

 

Regulation SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved:  October 13, 2015  San Francisco, California

 

 

Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.