The education reform movement has inspired an impressive array of school improvement programs. This article categorizes these intitiatives, summarizes policy directions, explores recent state curriculum guidelines and Northwest trends, and discusses implementation challenges. According to an Education Commission of the States study, most…

The small school system of Genoa City, Wisconsin, developed a comprehensive curriculum to guide daily classroom instruction. Steps included selecting a textbook series before beginning the curriculum revision process and individualizing the guide by highlighting each teacher's areas of accountability. (MLF)

This proficiency guide was designed to serve as a resource for local school corporations in developing, reviewing, and revising curriculum documents. It was assembled in response to an Indiana State Board of Education directive to produce a guide to aid school systems in establishing proficiencies in English language arts, mathematics, social…

This guide provides curriculum developers, education faculty, veteran teachers, and student teachers with basic information on the background of early childhood curriculum, as well as current information on publications, standards, and special materials for early childhood classrooms. Following an introduction, the material is presented in 14…

This planning guide encourages reformation of the Wisconsin art education curriculum toward a less linear, sequential, and compartmentalized approach. The new program draws on recent knowledge of how students learn and how curricula components can be integrated. Focusing on themes and concept development, the guide supports independent thinking…

This handbook, which suggests resources for curriculum development, is designed to assist schools in meeting the curriculum requirements of Vermont's Public School Approval and to be a resource for local districts developing curriculum. Sections are represented on: (1) establishing the necessity for curriculum revision and/or development; (2)…

A secondary social studies model curriculum guide for Alaska is presented. The body of the guide lists topics/concepts, learning outcomes/objectives, and sample learning activities in a 3 column format. The first column, topics/concepts, describes the content area, defining the subject broadly and listing subconcepts or associated vocabulary. The…

This scope and sequence document explains the organization of secondary-level courses (grades 10-12) in Alberta, Canada. An incomplete sample framework of the scope and sequence of the 10th grade Canadian geography course is provided. The shorthand notation system commonly used in all curriculum documents in the Province of Alberta is explained.…

This curriculum guide is a resource book for designing a comprehensive health education curriculum for grades K-12. After an overview on the philosophy and goals of health education in the schools and a preview of the ten major content areas, the following topics are covered: (1) accident prevention and safety; (2) community health; (3) consumer…

The humanities framework presented in this paper is not intended to be a state prescribed curriculum, course syllabus, or study guide. Instead, the framework discussed in the paper is designed to help local schools develop their own curricula to address their own goals as well as those of the state and the nation. An introductory section of the…

This guide for superintendents, supervisors, and teachers who design curricular programs in music for the local school districts in Pennsylvania is divided into four sections. The first section can be used as a rationale for decision-making in curricular matters. Two topics in this section suggest a philosophical viewpoint for music in…

This is the first part of a two-part position paper, updating an 1986 position statement, developed by the Illinois Art Education Association for the elementary, middle-level, and secondary schools in the state of Illinois. Part 1, the "Introductory Statement," highlights the contemporary context of educational reform as an opportunity…

Designed for elementary school teachers and administrators, this guide describes instructional activities for teaching students basic water safety and swimming skills. Objectives are outlined and lesson plans for beginners and more advanced learners are offered. Appendices include an activity chart, instructor evaluation form, time sheet, student…

This guide is to be used by Wisconsin physical education curriculum planners as a model for curriculum building, an instrument for evaluating existing curricula, and as an example of what is current and defensible in the physical education field. The content of the guide deals specifically with a philosophy of physical education which is…

This document outlines a K-6, total music, instructional program for the state of Oregon. Ten comprehensive strands (valuing music, developing music literacy, performing music, creating music, studying essential learning skills, using instruments in general music, using electronics in music, performing choral music, performing band music, and…