Avery County Schools Policy Policy Code: 3100
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
The Avery County Board of Education shall set the curriculum and instructional program in accordance with state law, State Board of Education policy and State Department of Public Instruction regulations.
The board recognizes that curriculum development must be an on-going process in order to continually address the changing needs and diversity of all students and to fulfill the educational goals of the board. The board further recognizes that while educators must be responsible for developing the curriculum, parents, other governmental agencies, businesses and members of the public have valuable insights in the type of curriculum needed.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
The curriculum must be developed to meet state and board requirements, using the current statewide instructional standards as a foundation. The superintendent shall establish a curriculum committee to coordinate curriculum planning and ensure that the curriculum is aligned with the current statewide instructional standards and includes subject-area competencies for each grade level. The committee must include central office administrators, teachers and school administrators representing the various schools and grade levels. Teachers should receive appropriate training so that they may participate in curriculum development. The committee also must seek input from parents, the community and experts in order to make fully informed decisions.
The superintendent shall direct the committee to review periodically the curriculum content used in courses addressing the founding principles of our nation.
The committee may recommend that the board expand subject areas and objectives of the curriculum to meet the educational goals of the board and state and federal laws. The committee also may recommend eliminating subject areas or objectives that are not state- required or related to the educational goals of the board.
CURRICULUM MODIFICATION BY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS The principal is the instructional leader of the school and is responsible for determining whether the curriculum meets the needs of the students of the school. Accordingly, the principal or his or her designee may consider modifying the curriculum.
If a school official wishes to modify the curriculum, he or she may submit a proposal to the central curriculum committee. Unless the curriculum committee has significant concerns about the proposal, the committee will approve the changes so long as the curriculum maintains continuity. After being approved by the curriculum committee, the proposal must be submitted to the board for approval as a part of the school improvement plan process if the modifications include: (1) expanding or reducing the subject areas or objectives; (2) eliminating subject areas or objectives not required by the state; or (3)
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 3100 Page 1 of 2 waiving local board policies. The curriculum committee shall ensure that the curriculum continues to be aligned with the current statewide instructional standards.
EVALUATION The superintendent shall ensure that the methods for meeting curriculum objectives are regularly evaluated for their effectiveness. The board also encourages external curriculum audits by professional curriculum assessors.
Legal References: G.S. 115C art. 8 pt. 1; 115C-47
Cross Reference: Goals and Objectives of the Educational Program (policy 3000), School Improvement Plan (policy 3430)
Adopted: 11/06/00 Revised: 12/10/13; 3/13/18
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 3100 Page 2 of 2