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Curriculum

The primary goal of STMA’s curriculum review process is to develop a guaranteed and viable curriculum. A guaranteed and viable curriculum is one in which the agreed upon essential content and skills are covered within the allotted instructional time. STMA recognizes that a guaranteed and viable curriculum has a strong correlation to student achievement (Marzano, 2000).

To learn more about the specific curricular content areas, please see the Content Area page.

The standard curriculum review process supports the review of curricular content, common assessments, course offerings, and resource selection on a ten-year cycle. Each content area is on the cycle for one year with an opportunity to run an interim cycle in year five. In years two through ten, the district’s curriculum review process is integrated with the work of trimester curriculum support meetings. Departments also have the opportunity to participate in a continuous improvement cycle if a standard curriculum review cycle does not meet department needs at that time. 

*A content area may be placed on the cycle for two years to accommodate the review of significant changes to content standards and curriculum adoption. 

2024-2025 STMA Curriculum Review Cycle Document

Responsibilities & Expectations In Review Process

 

 

Responsibilities/ Expectations

 

 

Standard Curriculum Review Cycle
 

 
  • Construct needs assessment

  • Update curriculum maps including content, skills, learning targets and common formative & summative assessments (during year or June)

  • Report findings and recommendations to the District Advisory Committee (March)

  • Request new resources (if necessary)

  • Review state and/or national standards & test specifications

  • Determine if more time on the cycle is needed

  • Identify professional development needs

  • Review and update philosophy statement

  • Conduct surveys (if necessary)

  • Conduct a benchmarking study (if necessary)

  • Draft action plan based on identified needs

 

Interim
Cycle
 

 
  • Review and update curriculum maps including content, skills, learning targets and common formative & summative assessments

  • Conduct benchmarking study (if necessary)

  • Update course materials

  • Request new resources (if necessary)

 

Trimester Curriculum Support Meetings
 

 
  • Analyze common formative and summative assessment data

  • Update curriculum map (curriculum committee representative’s responsibility)

  • Discuss changes needed to the curriculum and common assessments and record on reflection sheet on an on-going basis (What’s working? What’s not working? What changes need to be made?)

 

Continuous Improvement Cycle

 

Model for Continuous Improvement

  • State the aim.

  • Describe the measurable outcome.

  • Define the processes currently in place using process mapping

  • Identify opportunities for improvement that exist

  • Decide what you will change in the process; determine your intervention based on your analysis

Establish goals, scope, timing, milestones, and team roles and responsibilities in evaluating department projects.

Conduct the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) steps in planning and documenting progress in evaluating department improvement projects. 
 

District Advisory Committee (DAC)

The curriculum review process is supported by the District Advisory Committee (DAC), which is an advisory committee, comprised of community members, parents, school board members, a student, and staff members. The District Advisory Committee advises on curriculum and makes recommendations to the superintendent and school board.

STMA's curriculum map

Location:

District Office/Middle School West
11343 50th Street NE
Albertville, MN 55301

If you have any questions, please contact Shari Ledahl, Supervisor of Curriculum & Student Programming at 763-497-6536.