San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 6141
Curriculum Development and Evaluation
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Board of Education desires to provide a research-based, sequential curriculum which promotes high levels of student achievement and emphasizes the development of basic skills, problem solving, and decision making. Upon recommendation of the Superintendent or designee, the Board shall adopt a written district curriculum which describes, for each subject area and grade level, the content objectives which are to be taught in all district schools.
(cf. 6000 – Concepts and Roles)
(cf. 6142.1 – Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction)
(cf. 6142.3 – Civic Education)
(cf. 6142.4 – Service Learning/Community Service Classes)
(cf. 6142.5 – Environmental Education)
(cf. 6142.6 – Visual and Performing Arts Education)
(cf. 6142.7 – Physical Education)
(cf. 6142.8 – Comprehensive Health Education)
(cf. 6142.94 – History-Social Science Instruction)
(cf. 6142.91 – Reading/Language Arts Instruction)
(cf. 6142.92 – Mathematics Instruction)
(cf. 6142.93 – Science Instruction)
(cf. 6143 – Courses of Study)
(cf. 6178 – Career Technical Education)
(cf. 6178.2 – Regional Occupational Center/Program)
(cf. 9000 – Role of the Board)
The district’s curriculum shall be aligned with the district’s vision and goals for student learning, Board policies, academic content standards, state curriculum frameworks, state and district assessments, graduation requirements, school and district improvement plans, and, when necessary, related legal requirements.
(cf. 0000 – Vision)
(cf. 0200 – Goals for the School District)
(cf. 0420 – School Plans/Site Councils)
(cf. 0520.2 – Title I Program Improvement Schools)
(cf. 0520.3 – Title I Program Improvement Districts)
(cf. 0520.4 – Quality Education Investment Schools)
(cf. 6011 – Academic Standards)
(cf. 6146.1 – High School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6162.5 – Student Assessment)
(cf. 6162.51 – State Academic Achievement Tests)
(cf. 6162.52 – High School Exit Examination)
(cf. 6171 – Title I Programs)
(cf. 9310 – Board Policies)
The Board of Education recognizes that the district’s curriculum may sometimes include instruction related to controversial issues that may arouse strong reactions based on personal values and beliefs, political philosophy, culture, religion, or other influences. Curriculum including such topics shall be relevant to the adopted course of study and should be designed to develop students’ critical thinking skills, ability to discriminate between fact and opinion, respect for others, and understanding and tolerance of diverse points of view.
(cf. 6141.2 – Recognition of Religious Beliefs and Customs)
(cf. 6142.1 – Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction)
(cf. 6142.3 – Civic Education)
(cf. 6142.8 – Comprehensive Health Education)
(cf. 6142.94 – History-Social Science Instruction)
(cf. 6143 – Courses of Study)
District curriculum shall not reflect adversely upon persons because of their race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
The Superintendent or designee shall establish a process for curriculum development, selection, and/or adaptation which utilizes the professional expertise of teachers, principals, and district administrators representing various grade levels, disciplines, special programs, and categories of students as appropriate. The process also may provide opportunities for input from students, parents/guardians, representatives of local businesses and postsecondary institutions, and other community members.
(cf. 1220 – Citizen Advisory Committees)
(cf. 1700 – Relations Between Private Industry and the Schools)
The selection and evaluation of instructional materials shall be coordinated with the curriculum development and evaluation process.
(cf. 1312.2 – Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials)
(cf. 6161.1 – Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials)
(cf. 6161.11 – Supplementary Instructional Materials)
(cf. 6163.1 – Library Media Centers)
When presenting a recommended curriculum for adoption, the Superintendent or designee shall provide research, data, or other evidence demonstrating the proven effectiveness of the proposed curriculum. He/she also shall present information about the resources that would be necessary to successfully implement the curriculum and describe any modifications or supplementary services that would be needed to make the curriculum accessible to all students.
(cf. 0410 – Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
(cf. 3100 – Budget)
(cf. 4131 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4143/4243 – Negotiations/Consultation)
(cf. 6141.5 – Advanced Placement)
(cf. 6159 – Individualized Education Program)
(cf. 6172 – Gifted and Talented Student Program)
(cf. 6174 – Education for English Language Learners)
(cf. 6179 – Supplemental Instruction)
The Board shall establish a review cycle for regularly evaluating the district’s curriculum in order to ensure continued alignment with state and district goals for student achievement. At a minimum, these reviews shall be conducted whenever 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.
In addition, the Board may require a review of the curriculum in one or more subject areas as needed in response to student assessment results; feedback from teachers, administrators, or parent/guardians; new research on program effectiveness; or changing student needs.
(cf. 0500 – Accountability)
(cf. 6190 – Evaluation of the Instructional Program)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
221.5 Equal opportunity
35160 Authority of Board of Educations
35160.1 Broad authority of school districts
51050-51057 Enforcement of courses of study
51200-51263 Required courses of study
51500-51540 Prohibited instruction
51720-51879.9 Authorized classes and courses of instruction
60000-60424 Instructional materials
GOVERNMENT CODE
3543.2 Scope of representation
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
4000-4091 School improvement programs
4400-4426 Improvement of elementary and secondary education
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Maximizing School Board Leadership: Curriculum, 1996
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Content Standards for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade 12
Curriculum Frameworks for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade 12
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: http://www.ascd.org
Association of California School Administrators: http://www.acsa.org
California Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: http://www.cascd.org
California Department of Education, Curriculum and Instruction: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci
Policy SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: 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.