Number: 106
Section: Programs
Title: Planned Courses of Study
Date Adopted: June 12, 1978
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003

Purpose 
Public education provides planned instruction to enable students to attain State and local academic standards.  A Planned Course of Study shall be prepared for each course of study required by the State, by the Board, or both.  Once approved, it is the responsibility of all appropriate certificated staff members to successfully implement the Board approved curriculum.  Planned instruction consists of at least the following elements for each planned course of study, instructional unit, or interdisciplinary curriculum. 

Elements 

  1. Specific and measurable objectives directly related to the academic standards to be achieved by students.
  2. Content to be used to reach objectives including materials and activities.
  3. Estimated instructional time to be devoted to achieving objectives.
  4. Procedures for measurement of student progress on the objectives.
  5. An explanation of how student grades will be determined. 

Scope
The successful completion of each planned course of study shall represent the minimum requirement.  Within this framework, each teacher may supplement the approved planned course of study with the prior written permission of the Principal and the Assistant Superintendent in order to meet the identified data-based needs of students. 

Responsibility 
The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible to assure the development of planned courses of study, and shall develop a plan for such preparation, which includes: 

  • The participation of appropriate staff members and resource personnel.
  • Continuing research in instructional methods, materials, and activities.
  • Systematic review of all planned courses to insure their continuing usefulness in achieving established goals.
  • A system of administrative review to insure that planned courses are being successfully implemented by teaching staff members.

Copies of all current planned courses of study shall be kept on file in a location designated by the Superintendent or designee. 

Only those planned courses of study on file constitute courses of study officially adopted by the Board. 

Parents may exercise their right to have their child excused from specific instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs by directing a written request to their child’s building principal in timely fashion, who will then coordinate a scheduled appointment to review and act upon that request in writing.