Secondary Science Curriculum Council April 19, 2010

Essential Question How will the Curriculum Council system be used to address, analyze, and resolve concerns related to science curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development?

The Curriculum Council System—a Review Red Clay’s CIA-PD Decision Making Process

Board Policy 7001 It is the policy of the Board that the Superintendent shall have the overall responsibility for implementing State- and District-adopted content standards into the instructional programs of all District schools. The District will be engaged in a continuous process of: – 1. revising curriculum and programs of instruction to align with the content standards; – 2. identifying grade-level assessments which will measure each student’s progress toward achievement of the content standards; – 3. focusing on staff’s understanding of brain-based research and the impact on student learning; and – 4. extending outreach to Red Clay families in an effort to help each student meet or exceed the content standards.

Curriculum Council Flow Chart STUDENT NEEDS K-12 TEACHERS ELAMATH MULTI- DISCIPLINARY SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM CABINET SUPERINTENDENT BOARD OF EDUCATION

Why a Curriculum Council Decision-Making System? Ends ad hoc, random, arbitrary, chaotic approaches to CIA-PD Ends ad hoc, random, arbitrary, chaotic approaches to CIA-PD Assures alignment of CIA-PD decisions Assures alignment of CIA-PD decisions The Curriculum Council process is the ONLY place to address issues related in any way to CIA-PD. The Curriculum Council process is the ONLY place to address issues related in any way to CIA-PD. Implements Board Policy 7001 Implements Board Policy 7001

The Curriculum Council Content Curriculum - What do students need to know and be able to do and in what sequence? Curriculum - What do students need to know and be able to do and in what sequence? Instruction - Which instructional strategies and environments produce optimal outcomes? Instruction - Which instructional strategies and environments produce optimal outcomes? Assessment - How will teachers measure student achievement and how will it be reported? Assessment - How will teachers measure student achievement and how will it be reported? Professional Development - What skills and knowledge do the instructional staff need to better meet student needs? Professional Development - What skills and knowledge do the instructional staff need to better meet student needs?

Curriculum Council Defining Characteristics Research-Based – Council recommendations must be accompanied by evidence. Research-Based – Council recommendations must be accompanied by evidence. Inclusive Representation - teachers, principals, district office, Superintendent, and the Board of Education. Inclusive Representation - teachers, principals, district office, Superintendent, and the Board of Education. Open - meetings are public; minutes are distributed; votes are recorded. Open - meetings are public; minutes are distributed; votes are recorded. K-12, All Schools – issues are considered in the context of a K- 12 district education. K-12, All Schools – issues are considered in the context of a K- 12 district education.

The Curriculum Cabinet Cabinet Representatives are: Cabinet Representatives are: – Co-chairs of each council – teacher and supervisor – Principals – elementary, middle, high school – Special Education and ELL administrative representatives A Super-Majority vote (75 % of Cabinet) is required in order to forward recommendations to the Board. A Super-Majority vote (75 % of Cabinet) is required in order to forward recommendations to the Board. The Cabinet prioritizes funding for CIA-PD. The Cabinet prioritizes funding for CIA-PD.

Review of Data from Last Meeting 1. Pair with your Paired Pre-test partner of question #3. 2. Review the stack of index cards. These are the needs and concerns placed on the charts by you during the last meeting. 3. Ask for clarification: grade level, subject level, specific situation. You need to understand the need or concern as it relates to the whole Science Curriculum Council.

With your partner Prioritize the index cards from top to bottom. Top will be the issue the Science Curriculum Council needs to address as soon as possible. Bottom will be least urgent. In prioritizing, you must think of the entire K-12 learning community, not just your own content area, grade, or school. Also, remember that the Science Curriculum Council will ultimately be considering elementary science concerns as well.

Report out—what are the top ten? Again, with your partner, choose one of these concerns or needs and answer the following three questions: 1)Would the Curriculum Council make a decision (to move to the Cabinet) or draft a position statement about this? 2)To accomplish the product of question 1, what issues must be considered? Be specific and try to consider as many issues as possible. 3)Who are the primary stakeholders of this issue?

Moving toward a solution. Using the same need or concern, answer the following questions: A committee to work on this question. Who? How many? What research needs to be done? What parts of the solution will cost money? Timeline How will the final product be presented? To whom?

Nuts and Bolts Co-Chair: How do we decide? (Remember, the Co- chair will represent the Elementary Curriculum Council and will sit on the Curriculum Cabinet) Council membership—do we nominate and vote on members? Voting: show of hands, “signify by saying ‘aye,’” or secret ballot? Introduction of new business—how? Timelines—how long do we deliberate over a decision?