Whose Responsibility in Curriculum?
State departments of education are becoming much more active in this area,
developing detailed standards and related high-stakes tests. At the same time,
schools using site-based management are exercising their authority to develop their
own curricula. Districts continue to assert their authority over the curriculum, and
classroom teachers close the door and teach what they wish to teach.
Because each of these parties has a part to play in the process, curriculum
developers should foster cooperation among them. As Fuhrman and Elmore (1990)
point out, curriculum work is performed most effectively when each level of authority
exercises its legitimate role in a collaborative manner.
Figure 1 summarizes the recommended functions for each level. Obviously the
allocation of these functions should be reviewed closely and critically. Although this
breakdown is based on knowledge of the literature and experience in consulting with
personnel at all four levels, the specific functions undertaken at each level should be
determined by state officials, district leaders, principals, and teachers through
consultation. Several factors will affect how these functions are best allocated in a
particular school district: the extent of state control; the school district’s size;
staffing in the central office; the principals’ competence as curriculum leaders; and
the ability of teachers to function as curriculum leaders. Thus district and school
leaders should view the analysis shown in Figure 1 only as a starting point.
Figure 1. Recommended Allocations of Curriculum Functions
State Functions
1. Develop state frameworks, including broad goals, general standards, and
graduation requirements.
2. Develop state tests and other performance measures in required academic
subjects.
3. Provide needed resources to local districts.
4. Evaluate state frameworks.
District Functions
1. Develop and implement curriculum-related policies.
2. Provide fiscal support for curriculum.
3. Develop a vision of a high-quality curriculum.
4. Develop educational goals aligned with state goals.
5. Identify the core program of studies for each level of schooling.
6. Develop the documents for a mastery curriculum for each subject, including scopeand-
sequence charts and curriculum guides. A mastery curriculum is one that specifies only
those essential outcomes that are likely to be tested and require explicit instruction.
7. Select instructional materials.
8. Develop district curriculum-based tests and other performance measures to
supplement state tests.
9. Provide fiscal and other resources needed at the school level, including technical
assistance.
10. Evaluate the curriculum.
11. Develop the structures to facilitate community and teacher input into the
curriculum.
12. Provide staff development programs for school administrators.
School Functions
1. Develop the school's vision of a high-quality curriculum, building on the district's
vision.
2. Supplement the district's educational goals.
3. Develop its own program of studies within district guidelines.
4. Develop a learning-centered schedule.
5. Determine nature and extent of curriculum integration.
6. Provide staff development for all teachers who will use the curriculum guide.
7. Align the written, tested, supported, taught, and learned curricula.
8. Monitor the implementation of the curriculum.
9. Evaluate the curriculum.
Classroom Functions
1. Enrich the curriculum.
2. Develop long-term planning calendars to implement the curriculum.
3. Develop units of study.
4. Individualize the curriculum.
5. Evaluate the curriculum.
6. Implement the curriculum, helping all students achieve mastery.
One way to analyze the curriculum responsibilities of each group is to determine
whether they are being productive at every level. School leaders should be especially
concerned with the dynamic balance of school district, school, and classroom
functions, because they can have relatively little influence on state policies and
standards. Even in a state with an active department of education, curriculum
leaders should work with teachers and principals to ensure that meaningful work is
being accomplished at the other three levels.
Whose Responsibility in Curriculum?
State departments of education are becoming much more active in this area,
developing detailed standards and related high-stakes tests. At the same time,
schools using site-based management are exercising their authority to develop their
own curricula. Districts continue to assert their authority over the curriculum, and
classroom teachers close the door and teach what they wish to teach.
Because each of these parties has a part to play in the process, curriculum
developers should foster cooperation among them. As Fuhrman and Elmore (1990)
point out, curriculum work is performed most effectively when each level of authority
exercises its legitimate role in a collaborative manner.
Figure 1 summarizes the recommended functions for each level. Obviously the
allocation of these functions should be reviewed closely and critically. Although this
breakdown is based on knowledge of the literature and experience in consulting with
personnel at all four levels, the specific functions undertaken at each level should be
determined by state officials, district leaders, principals, and teachers through
consultation. Several factors will affect how these functions are best allocated in a
particular school district: the extent of state control; the school district’s size;
staffing in the central office; the principals’ competence as curriculum leaders; and
the ability of teachers to function as curriculum leaders. Thus district and school
leaders should view the analysis shown in Figure 1 only as a starting point.
Figure 1. Recommended Allocations of Curriculum Functions
State Functions
1. Develop state frameworks, including broad goals, general standards, and
graduation requirements.
2. Develop state tests and other performance measures in required academic
subjects.
3. Provide needed resources to local districts.
4. Evaluate state frameworks.
District Functions
1. Develop and implement curriculum-related policies.
2. Provide fiscal support for curriculum.
3. Develop a vision of a high-quality curriculum.
4. Develop educational goals aligned with state goals.
5. Identify the core program of studies for each level of schooling.
6. Develop the documents for a mastery curriculum for each subject, including scopeand-
sequence charts and curriculum guides. A mastery curriculum is one that specifies only
those essential outcomes that are likely to be tested and require explicit instruction.
7. Select instructional materials.
8. Develop district curriculum-based tests and other performance measures to
supplement state tests.
9. Provide fiscal and other resources needed at the school level, including technical
assistance.
10. Evaluate the curriculum.
11. Develop the structures to facilitate community and teacher input into the
curriculum.
12. Provide staff development programs for school administrators.
School Functions
1. Develop the school's vision of a high-quality curriculum, building on the district's
vision.
2. Supplement the district's educational goals.
3. Develop its own program of studies within district guidelines.
4. Develop a learning-centered schedule.
5. Determine nature and extent of curriculum integration.
6. Provide staff development for all teachers who will use the curriculum guide.
7. Align the written, tested, supported, taught, and learned curricula.
8. Monitor the implementation of the curriculum.
9. Evaluate the curriculum.
Classroom Functions
1. Enrich the curriculum.
2. Develop long-term planning calendars to implement the curriculum.
3. Develop units of study.
4. Individualize the curriculum.
5. Evaluate the curriculum.
6. Implement the curriculum, helping all students achieve mastery.
One way to analyze the curriculum responsibilities of each group is to determine
whether they are being productive at every level. School leaders should be especially
concerned with the dynamic balance of school district, school, and classroom
functions, because they can have relatively little influence on state policies and
standards. Even in a state with an active department of education, curriculum
leaders should work with teachers and principals to ensure that meaningful work is
being accomplished at the other three levels.
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