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IV. B. 1. Curriculum Guides
Curriculum guides and monographs shall be prepared in harmony with the legal requirements of the state and the purpose of the program of instruction adopted by the West Warwick School Committee.
The superintendent shall have general coordinating authority for the formation and implementation all curriculum guides and monographs.
References
Policy adopted: 4/23/81
Time Lines
All subject disciplines of grades 7 to 9 inclusive will have curriculum guides by September of 198____ Grades 10 to 12 will have curriculum guides by June of 198____ Grades 1 to 6 will have curriculum guides by September of 198_____. These guides will be updated periodically with major revisions not less than every six (6) years.
Said guides will contain main concepts, objectives and goals. Subject matter, skill development, etc., will be a part of these guides.
When work is completed on a guide, the committee responsible for its development will present it to the principal, to the Office of the Superintendent, then forward it to the West Warwick School Committee.
The guides will be used to map the logical sequence of instruction. In subjects where sequence is important, such as mathematics, teachers shall be expected to adhere to the guide. In subjects where sequential learning is less important, the teacher may be given a greater degree of freedom in respect to sequence. Each newly appointed teacher will be furnished a guide or guides and will follow them as much as possible in the presentation of subject matter and development of lessons.
In all cases sufficient latitude shall be permitted to provide the teacher with time to teach the current, topical matter, and incidentals which add to motivation and meaningful teaching and learning.
The principals, department chairpersons, coordinators and directors shall see that optimum use is made of available curriculum guides.
References
Policy adopted:4/23/81
Content
Curriculum guides are the basic method by which a uniform philosophy of instruction can be insured in the elementary and secondary grades of the various public schools in West Warwick.
The following rules and regulations of the West Warwick School Department implement the policies of the West Warwick School Committee relating to courses of study and curriculum guides in the public schools of the Town.
1. All courses of study in the elementary, junior high, and senior high schools will have curriculum guides approved by the West Warwick School Committee.
2. No new course of study shall be initiated in any school unless such a curriculum guide has been approved in accordance with the procedures established in these regulations.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the principal of each school to supply each teacher in his or her school with a curriculum guide For each course of study taught by that teacher.
4. Principals, department chairpersons, coordinators and directors working under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools, shall insure that optimum use is made of curriculum guides furnished to teachers.
5. Curriculum guides shall be specific enough in content to provide a common philosophy of instruction for all teachers yet broad enough in scope to provide for the individual student differences found within each classroom.
6. Each curriculum guide shall be a brief document consisting of a minimum of three major components:
a. Course objectives - a series of statements describing the major tasks students can be expected to perform as a result of knowledge and skills acquired from working in the course of study.
b. Course description - a general, brief statement describing the nature and purpose of the course of study.
c. Scope and sequence - a listing in outline form of the major topics, concepts and/or activities contained in the course of study.
7. Curriculum guides shall be reviewed periodically and shall be updated and revised no less than every six (6) years.
8. The Superintendent shall be responsible for the construction of all guides. To this end he or she shall establish committees, formats, procedures, and deadlines for the development of all curriculum guidelines, subject to-the approval of the Superintendent.
9. All teachers, department chairpersons, coordinators, directors and principals who feel curricula changes are desirable or warranted should communicate their concerns to the Superintendent.
10. Curriculum guides for elementary schools shall be developed by committees of teachers working under the guidelines and supervision of principals.
11. Curriculum guides for junior high school shall be developed by committees of teachers working under the direction and guidance of department chairpersons and/or the principal.
12. Curriculum guides for the senior high school shall be developed by committees of teachers working under the direction and guidance of department chairpersons and/or the principals with input from advisory committees, students, etc. as deemed appropriate.
13. Department chairpersons, coordinators, directors and committee chairmen will submit progress reports as deemed necessary to the principal, superintendent and/or school committee as required.
14. When curriculum guide committees have completed their work, the documents shall be immediately forwarded through channels to the Superintendent for his or her review and approval. Each superior in line shall review the completed document and forward it with appropriate comments.
15. After review and approval, the superintendent will forward guides, in turn, to the West Warwick School Committee for final review.
16. After approval by the West Warwick School Committee, sufficient copies of curriculum guides will be printed and distributed to teachers through the principals.
References
Policy adopted: 4/23/81