Killingly Curriculum Council

VISION: As a school community we have a collective responsibility to ensure that our curriculum is well designed and implemented.  We are responsible to get all students to meet high standards and provide them with an education that equips them to be lifelong learners.

 

The Killingly Curriculum Council is a committee charged with facilitating the implementation of the curriculum review and implementation process (cycle). The Curriculum Council engages in collaborative decision-making to ensure that our students are engaged in learning through a rigorous, challenging, meaningful curriculum.   

Curriculum Council Roles and Responsibilities:

•     Develop, publicize and monitor curriculum/program review cycle for all programs;
•     Develop, publicize and monitor standards for curriculum writing including format for curriculum and lesson plans.
•     Develop, publicize and monitor use of standards for the process used to complete program evaluations, textbook and materials selection;
•     Receive updates on the progress of district curriculum committees, textbook/material selection and program/curriculum area evaluation committees;
•     Clarify subject area groups for curriculum work.
•     Identify Administrative liaison for each subject area.  
•     Share information regarding curriculum and program evaluation committees with all constituents;
•     Determine process for review of newly developed written curriculum documents/scopes based on State and local standards before BOE review;
•     Share information on best practices both inside and outside the district;
•     Monitor the effectiveness of the curriculum and instruction of the district by examining assessment data on an annual basis from the district data team.

Membership of the Curriculum Council
The representatives of the Curriculum Council should expect to serve on the council for a 2-3 year term.
Attendance at meetings will be flexible based on agenda but the full membership should include the following identified individuals:

•     Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
•     Teacher representative(s) from each school with a balance between content areas.
•     Parent representatives
•     Building administrative representation from each program (admin or designee)
•     Special education representation
•     District Supervisor(s)
•     IT coordinator, director or representation

Curriculum Sub-Committees
The work of evaluating, researching and selecting curriculum is done by a representative group based on the subject area/program being explored, reviewed or developed. The curriculum Sub-committee's composition may change in accordance with the phase of the cycle and the need for specialists.

 

Organization of Curriculum Sub-Committees
Subject area/program curriculum committee representatives are selected on an annual basis. Representatives are based on the following:

• Interest, experience and expertise of the individual relative to the specific curricular areas are considered when selecting representatives.
• Representation from each campus is required as appropriate to the scope of work. Attention will be paid to balancing representation as needed.
• A building/district administrator/supervisor or representative will serve on the committee, if applicable.
• As deemed appropriate, certified specialists in counseling, library media, technology, special education, reading,etc. will be consulted with and/or serve on the committee.
• In most cases, co-chairs will be the District Supervisors and/or teachers.

The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction will oversee and coordinate activities of all curriculum committees.

Roles and Responsibilities in the Curriculum Development Process

Committee Chair will:

•     Serve as a content and process specialist;
•     Contact local, state and national organizations for standards, goals, best practices;
•     Disseminate research data to committee members and assign reading to members, as appropriate;
•     Arrange classroom visits as needed;
•     Lead discussion groups on implications of research, as appropriate;
•     Invite other staff (technology specialist, reading specialist, librarians, etc.) to provide input as needed;
•     Seek out specialists, as appropriate, to provide input for professional discussion in the content area;
•     Work with administrator/co-chair to schedule and conduct meetings;
•     Ensure the committee incorporates ways in which technology improves instruction in the content area;
•     Share responsibility for the timely completion of the products for the committee members, materials/textbook selection, professional development, and implementation;
•     Lead discussion on qualities in text/materials which are needed to support quality instruction;
•     Oversee evaluation and identification of materials recommended for adoption;
•     Examine issues related to differentiated instruction;  This includes differentiated materials.
•     Co-lead any presentation to the Board of Education.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction will:

•     Coordinate plans for curriculum and program review
•     Serve as a process specialist
•     Establish parameters for the committee
•     Meet with the chairs regularly
•     Serve as ex-officio member of subject area committees
•     Submit information to the Board of Education for review;
•     Assist in development of budgetary items that meets the needs of the curricular area;
•     Assist with coordination of professional development;
•     Establish the committee membership with the assistance of the Curriculum Council
•     Share responsibility for coordinating the products of the committee;
•     Provide the resources and data needed to complete the responsibilities of the committee.