| Mt. Pleasant Public Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2210 - CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility for the quality of the educational program of the schools. To this end, the curriculum shall be developed, evaluated, and adopted on a continuing basis and in accordance with a plan for curriculum growth established by the Superintendent.
For purposes of this policy and consistent communication throughout the District, curriculum shall be defined as all the planned activities of the schools, including formal classroom instruction and out-of-class activity, both individual and group, necessary to accomplish the educational goals of the District.
The Board directs that the curriculum of this District:
| A. | provides instruction in courses required by statute and State Department of Education regulations; | |
| B. | be consistent with the District's philosophy and goals and ensure the possibility of their achievement; | |
| C. | incorporate State-recommended performance standards for students as the bases for determining how well each student is achieving the academic outcomes for each area of the District's core curriculum; | |
| D. | at the high school level, consider alternatives to the Carnegie Unit as a method for determining student progress toward receiving course credit; | |
| E. | utilizes a variety of learning resources to accomplish the educational goals; | |
| F. | provides for multi-cultural education by including, at each level, courses or units which help students understand the culture and contributions of various ethnic groups comprising American society, including, but not limited to Euro-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native-Americans. |
As educational leader of the District, the Superintendent shall be responsible to the Board for the development and evaluation of curriculum and the preparation of courses of study.
The Superintendent shall make progress reports to the Board periodically through the annual PSC report.
Curriculum - Innovative programs
The Board is responsible to the Mt. Pleasant School community to provide the best possible educational opportunity within available resources for all school student. To achieve this goal, the professional staff is:
| A. | charged with responsibility for the design and implementation of soundly based curriculum content and the demonstrably effective teaching methodologies appropriate to each instructional level; | |
| B. | encouraged to introduce new programs and techniques which show promise of improvement in educational services; | |
| C. | address the criteria in the strategic parameters: |
| 1. | meets a clearly demonstrated mission - related need | ||
| 2. | addresses the impact on other programs/courses/services | ||
| 3. | survives a cost/benefit analysis | ||
| 4. | provides for adequate staffing, and effective staff development | ||
| 5. | sets in place an evaluation procedure |
The Board delegates authority for approval of pilot programs which do not affect the total educational program or the program of a total grade level or department of any one school to the Superintendent. A report of all pilot programs to be carried out within the District shall be given to the Board. Prior to general dissemination throughout the district, all new programs shall be submitted to the Board for approval.
The Superintendent is responsible for the development of written guidelines outlining the procedures and conditions under which innovative programs may be proposed and carried out. Students shall not be involved in a pilot program without prior knowledge and consent of parent or guardian, a description of the course offering or project, methods of evaluation to be used, and educational benefits expected to accrue to the students as a result of the proposed innovation.
Proposals for experimental/innovative programs should be referred to the Professional Study Committee, following established guidelines.
M.C.L.A. 380.1282
Revised 10/17/94