The Board of Education recognizes that changing student needs, new approaches to instruction, and the development of new knowledge require that the District's curriculum be revised periodically to insure that the students are provided the best education possible given the available resources.

The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for developing procedures for monitoring existing curricula and for utilizing expertise available within the school system and from outside the school system to develop new, more effective and/or appropriate curricula.

In order to maintain a relevant academic program, it is necessary that there be a regular review and appraisal of the curriculum. Curriculum change and development requires continuous, systematic study and planned revision; however, the basic goal is to utilize adopted material for a minimum period of five (5) years. Curricular materials will be reviewed during the fifth year and each succeeding year until acceptable replacement materials is identified.

Proposals to add new courses or programs or to delete existing courses or programs shall be considered by the Applied Learning and Technology Committee of the Board upon the recommendation of the Superintendent or his/her designee. Following the deliberation by the committee, the Superintendent shall make a recommendation for consideration by the full Board. New text materials to support existing curriculum shall be placed on display for a period of thirty (30) days prior to a recommendation to the Board for adoption.

Decisions regarding the introduction of new subject matter shall take into account the place of the new offering in relation to the total curriculum, requirements for special preparation of the staff, and any special demands on the budget for new personnel, equipment and supplies.

Adoption
The Superintendent shall recommend a comprehensive curriculum that is aligned with:

1. The District’s educational philosophy and goals.
2. Student needs as identified by research, demographics, and student achievement and other data.
3. The knowledge, skills, and abilities required for students to become life-long learners.
4. The minimum requirements of State and federal law and regulations for curriculum and graduation requirements.
5. The curriculum of non-District schools that feed into or from a District school, provided that the necessary cooperation and information is available. 
6. The Illinois State Learning Standards and any District learning standards.
7. Any required State or federal student testing.

The Board of Education will adopt, upon recommendation of the Superintendent, a curriculum that meets the above criteria.

LEGAL REF.:  General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1221 et seq.
105 ILCS 5/10-20.8 and 5/10-19.

CROSS REF.:  6:60 (Curriculum Content), 6:70 (Teaching About Religions), 6:80 (Teaching About Controversial Issues),  6:100 (Using Animals in the Educational Program), 6:110 (Programs for Students at Risk of Academic Failure and/or Dropping Out of School and Graduation Incentives Program), 6:120 (Education of Children with Disabilities), 6:130 (Program for the Gifted), 6:140 (Education of Homeless Children), 6:160 (English Language Learners), 6:170 (Title I Programs), 6:180 (Extended Instructional Programs), 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities), 7:15 (Student and Family Privacy Rights)

ADOPTED:  November 22, 2004             

UPDATED:   September 28, 2015