Proposed Schedule and Process for Curriculum Framework Review
| To: | Members of the Board of Education |
| From: | David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education |
| Date: | August 20, 2007 |
Since passage of the Education Reform Act of 1993, the Board has approved curriculum frameworks in the core subject areas of English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science and technology engineering, history and social science, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, and health. The curriculum frameworks establish state standards for the content that Massachusetts public schools are expected to cover in locally defined curricula, and form the basis for the MCAS assessments in ELA, mathematics, science/technology engineering and history/social sciences. We can take pride in the fact that the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks are nationally recognized as being strong and sound. At the same time, we are committed to reviewing the frameworks periodically and updating them as needed. In fact, Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 69, Section 1E directs the Board to "develop procedures for updating, improving or refining" the curriculum frameworks. We propose to establish a routine schedule to ensure that all of the frameworks are systematically reviewed and revised/refined over a five-year cycle. We anticipate that the process of review and revision/refinement of each framework will take approximately one year - approximately six months for the initial review stage, and six months during which framework revisions or refinements are drafted, considered and adopted. At the conclusion of the first stage, we will report to the Board on the review process and make recommendations for revision and refinement. We will return to the Board for action on any proposed revisions at the conclusion of the second stage. We propose to launch a five-year cycle of review of the curriculum frameworks in the fall of 2007, beginning with the Commonwealth's ELA Curriculum Framework. The proposed five-year schedule is as follows: | Content Area | Review Process | Consideration of Proposed Amendments |
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| English Language Arts | Fall 2007 | Spring 2008 | | Mathematics | Winter 2008 | Fall 2008 | | Science/Technology Engineering | Fall 2008 | Spring 2009 | | Visual and Performing Arts | Winter 2009 | Fall 2010 | | History/Social Science | Fall 2010 | Spring 2011 | | Health | Winter 2011 | Fall 2011 | | Foreign Languages | Fall 2011 | Spring 2012 |
For each framework we propose to convene an advisory group composed of pre-K through grade 12 educators as well as scholars from higher education with expertise in the content areas addressed by the framework. Members of the advisory group will participate in the curriculum framework review process, and will make recommendations to the Department and the Board on proposed revisions/refinements to the framework. We will establish an open process for nomination of candidates to serve on each advisory group, with active efforts to solicit participation from individuals with expertise and experience across grade levels and subject matter and representing various kinds of schools and districts. If Board members would like to nominate candidates, please contact Acting Commissioner Jeff Nellhaus. The Commissioner will select advisory group members from among all of the well qualified nominees. We expect to have the advisory group for the ELA framework in place by early fall.
Last Updated: August 24, 2007
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