I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish broad curriculum parameters for Moorhead Area Public Schools that encompasses the Minnesota Academic Standards and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and are aligned with creating the world's best workforce.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT
It is the policy of Moorhead Area Public Schools to establish the "world's best workforce" in which all learning in the school district should be directed and for which all school district learners should be held accountable.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. “Academic standard” means a summary description of student learning in a required content area or elective content area.
B. “Benchmark” means specific knowledge or skill that a student must master to complete part of an academic standard by the end of the grade level or grade band.
C. “Curriculum” means district or school adopted programs and written plans for providing students with learning experiences that lead to expected knowledge, skills, and career and college readiness.
D. “Instruction” means methods of providing learning experiences that enable students to meet state and district academic standards and graduation requirements.
E. “Performance measures” are measures to determine school district and school site progress in striving to create the world’s best workforce and must include at least the following:
1. student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress where applicable;
2. the size of the academic achievement gap and rigorous course taking, including college-level advanced placement, international baccalaureate, postsecondary enrollment options including concurrent enrollment, other statutorily recognized courses of study or industry certification courses or programs and enrichment experiences by student subgroup;
3. student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments;
4. high school graduation rates; and
5. career and college readiness under Minn. Stat. § 120B.30, Subd. 1.
F. “World’s best workforce” means striving to: meet school readiness goals; have all third-grade students achieve grade-level literacy; close the academic achievement gap among all racial and ethnic groups of students and between students living in poverty and students not living in poverty; have all students attain career and college readiness before graduating from high school; and have all students graduate from high school.
A. The school board, at a public meeting, shall adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan to support and improve teaching and learning that is aligned with creating the world’s best workforce and includes the following:
1. clearly defined school district and school site goals and benchmarks for instruction and student achievement for all nine student categories identified under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and two student gender categories of male and female;
2. a process for assessing and evaluating each student’s progress toward meeting state and local academic standards and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of instruction in pursuit of student and school success and curriculum affecting students’ progress and growth toward career and college readiness and leading to the world’s best workforce;
3. a system to periodically review and evaluate the effectiveness of all instruction and curriculum, taking into account strategies and best practices, student outcomes, principal evaluations under Minn. Stat. § 123B.147, Subd. 3, and teacher evaluations under Minn. Stat. § 122A.40, Subd. 8, or 122A.41, Subd. 5;
4. strategies for improving instruction, curriculum, and student achievement, including the English and, where practicable, the native language development and the academic achievement of English learners;
5. education effectiveness practices that integrate high-quality instruction, rigorous curriculum, technology, and a collaborative professional culture that develops and supports teacher quality, performance, and effectiveness; and;
6. an annual budget for continuing to implement the school district plan.
B. School district site and school site goals shall include the following:
1. All students will be required to demonstrate essential skills to effectively participate in lifelong learning. These skills include the following:
a. reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing in the English language;
b. mathematical and scientific concepts;
c. locating, organizing, communicating, and evaluating information and developing methods of inquiry (i.e., problem solving);
d. creative and critical thinking, decision making, and study skills;
e. work readiness skills;
f. global and cultural understanding.
2. Each student will have the opportunity and will be expected to develop and apply essential knowledge that enables that student to:
a. live as a responsible, productive citizen and consumer within local, state, national, and global political, social, and economic systems;
b. bring many perspectives, including historical, to contemporary issues;
c. develop an appreciation and respect for democratic institutions;
d. communicate and relate effectively in languages and with cultures other than the student’s own;
e. practice stewardship of the land, natural resources, and environment;
f. use a variety of tools and technology to gather and use information, enhance learning, solve problems, and increase human productivity.
3. Students will have the opportunity to develop creativity and self-expression through visual and verbal images, music, literature, world languages, movement, and the performing arts.
4. School practices and instruction will be directed toward developing within each student a positive self-image and a sense of personal responsibility for:
a. establishing and achieving personal and career goals;
b. adapting to change;
c. leading a healthy and fulfilling life, both physically and mentally;
d. living a life that will contribute to the well-being of society;
e. becoming a self-directed learner;
f. exercising ethical behavior.
5. Students will be given the opportunity to acquire human relations skills necessary to:
a. appreciate, understand, and accept human diversity and interdependence;
b. address human problems through team effort;
c. resolve conflicts with and among others;
d. function constructively within a family unit;
e. promote a multicultural, gender-fair, disability-sensitive society.
V. RESPONSIBILITY
A. The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for curriculum development and for determining the most effective way of conducting research on the school district's curriculum needs and establishing a long range curriculum development program. Timelines shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee that will provide for periodic reviews of each curriculum area (Administrative Procedure 601.1: Moorhead Area Public Schools ESSA/Academic Standards Curriculum Review Cycle).
B. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or designee to keep the Moorhead School Board informed of all state-mandated curriculum changes, as well as recommended discretionary changes and to periodically present recommended modifications for School Board review and approval.
C. The Superintendent shall have discretionary authority to develop guidelines and directives to implement School Board policy relating to curriculum development.
Minn. Stat. § 120B.018 (Definitions)
Minn. Stat. 120B.02 (Educational Expectations for Minnesota Students)
U.S. Senate File S.1177 (Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA))
Moorhead School Board Policy 660: Moorhead Area Public Schools State Mandated Testing Plan and Procedure
Moorhead School Board Policy 656: Testing Accommodations, Modifications and Exemptions for IEPs, Section 504 Plans and LEP Students