Curriculum Development
Landscape: As of 2019 RI Law 16-22-32. High-quality curriculum and materials states that LEAs must adopt “high-quality curriculum and resources” for math and ELA by June 2023 and by June 2025 for science. This law also states that the curriculum and materials must be responsive to the LEAs cultural and linguistic needs and support culturally responsive practices.
Given this legislation, the South Kingstown School District is strategically developing PK-12 Guaranteed and Viable Curricula for all content areas, inclusive of resources, aligned to RI State Standards.
RI State Standards: (live links)
RI Early Learning and Development Standards
RI Core Standards ELA/Literacy March 2021
RI Core Standards Mathematics March 2021
RIDE Civics and Social Studies Site (the grade span documents may be a starting place)
Next Generation Science Standards
RI Comprehensive Health Outcomes Note: The Health Education Framework are scheduled to be reviewed by the Council of Education in August.
Curriculum Design Cycle
Phase One - Research and Study
Current research and best practice are reviewed to update knowledge in the field including new understandings regarding teaching and learning when appropriate. Local assessment data will be analyzed to determine how well students are performing.
Phase Two - Drafting the Curriculum Framework
A curriculum framework template is drafted and populated as components of the framework are collaboratively developed.
Phase Three – School Committee Adoption and Implementation
Once the curriculum is adopted, teachers are provided with the necessary resources and training to implement it at the classroom level. During this phase, teachers will implement appropriate differentiation techniques, curricular integration, and standards-based common assessments.
Phase Four - Monitoring
Implementation of the curriculum will be supervised by building administrators. The administrators may seek support from the appropriate leadership in understanding the particular curriculum and instructional practices associated with it.
Phase Five- Evaluation
The curriculum will be reviewed to assess the extent to which all students have met the standards of achievement it sets, and to begin planning for Phase One of the next cycle. This evaluation can be based on a variety of data, including, but not limited to, standardized assessment data, common assessments, parent and staff surveys, and performance assessments. It will also be evaluated for its compatibility with the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process.