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DE501 – Curriculum Adoption and Review Committee

  • Effective: 3/9/1982
  • Revision: 1/23/2024
  • Reviewed: 12/10/2013
  1. Board Directive
    Students in the Jordan School District are entitled to a broad educational experience utilizing appropriate curriculum materials.  The Board recognizes the need for students to become proficient in the skills and competencies included in the Utah state core standards. The implementation or design of instructional materials will be consistent with community and core standards, maintaining fidelity to the core standards for Utah public schools and selecting evidence-based instructional tools and assessments. The Board delegates to the District Administration the responsibility of organizing a Curriculum Adoption and Review Committee.
  2. Administrative Policy
    Jordan School District's Curriculum Adoption and Review Committee shall be administered according to the following administrative policy provisions:

    1. Learning materials should contribute to the intellectual development of students. These materials should be:
      1. Aligned to the Utah Core Standards, specified course standards, Utah state laws and regulations, applicable USBE rules, and JSD Board policy
      2. Supported by generally accepted standards of evidence
      3. Accurate and factual
      4. Age appropriate
      5. Reflective of contributions from authors, artists, or appropriate experts in the field that represent diverse viewpoints, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and experiences
      6. Representative of diverse cultures
      7. Free of biases or stereotypes related to sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity
      8. Contributes to a balanced perspective
      9. Aligned to support personalized competency-based learning
      10. Compatible with District technology systems, of high technical quality, and easy to use
      11. In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
    2. Definitions
      1. Learning Material - any material used to deliver or support student learning.
        1. Primary Instructional Materials: learning materials that a local school board adopts and approves for use districtwide for student instruction and assessment. Primary instructional materials do not include learning materials used to teach specific electives, concurrent enrollment, advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Language Immersion (DLI), and technical education (CTE) courses.
        2. Supplemental Materials: learning materials an educator selects for classroom use that have not been adopted, approved, or prohibited by a local school board. Supplemental materials may include print and digital resources for educator or student use. Supplemental materials are used for the express purpose of providing context, support, and relevance to student learning.
    3. Primary Instructional Materials
      The Board delegates to the District Administration and the Administrator of Teaching and Learning the responsibility of organizing a Curriculum Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to provide transparency and understanding in reviewing current primary instructional materials and to provide feedback to the Board in anticipation of adopting new primary instructional materials.

      1. The Curriculum Advisory Committee will:
        1. Review program evaluation data, needs assessment, usage, possible vendors, and curriculum options in anticipation of conducting an RFP (Request for Proposal). The Committee may also review the following:  the reuse or disposal of primary instructional materials in the schools; state-recommended instructional materials (RIMs) and identification of possible primary instructional materials and support materials most appropriate for use in the District; implementation, and possible professional development needs.
        2. Provide notification and information to the Board prior to the RFP process in anticipation of adopting primary instructional materials.
        3. The Committee will meet annually to review primary instructional materials that may be needed within the following school year(s) but may be called into special session as needed.
        4. Members of the Committee will be appointed as follows:
          1) The Board will designate seven members from the community representing each administrative area.
          2)           Administrative Cabinet will designate a total of six school administrators to serve on the Committee with representation from each of the administrative areas.
          3) A District Teaching and Learning consultant will serve as a Committee member and will function as secretary of the Committee.
          4) Six teacher representatives will be nominated by the school principals and consultants.  Committee members will be selected from the lists of nominees and approved by the Administrative Cabinet.  Teacher members will be those who have demonstrated competency in the curriculum area being studied.
          5) Four community members, three principals, and three teacher representatives will serve two-year terms which will expire on the odd year. The other three community members, three principals, and three teacher representatives will also serve two-year terms which will expire on the even year, except the inaugural three-year term to provide a staggered service period.
      2. Following Board notification, specific Request for Proposal (RFP) Committees will be established around the specific curricular content.
        1. Materials requirements and selection criteria are used to develop a technical rubric.
        2. A request for proposals is sent to vendors; Online/digital materials must include in the contract that the provider must notify the District of any material changes to the content.
        3. Applications for service on the RFP committee and sub-committees are sought from the community and educators.
        4. Committee members are trained on their responsibilities, review materials, and apply the rubric to obtain a score using the criteria.
        5. As needed, a presentation phase is scheduled for committee members to hear from vendors.
        6. If scores are not conclusive, a more detailed rubric is applied to vendors with the highest scores.
        7. A pricing rubric is applied to the highest scoring vendors.
        8. Once a vendor has been selected based on the RFP process, the primary instructional materials will be shared with the Board in a public meeting.
        9. Recommended primary instructional materials will then be posted online or shared in a public open house while feedback is collected.
        10. Following the public opportunity for review, materials will be brought again to two public Board of Education meetings for comment, review, and approval.
    4. Supplemental Materials
      Supplemental materials are not specifically adopted by the Board. Teachers have discretion to select appropriate supplemental materials to enhance and enrich student learning. When selecting supplemental materials, teachers should adhere to the following practices, as applicable.

      1. For core areas that have District-wide adopted instructional materials, teachers shall utilize the District-wide adopted material as the primary instructional tool and select supplemental materials as appropriate to provide support, context, and relevance to student learning.
      2. Supplemental materials shall be aligned to the Utah Core Standards, specified course standards, Utah state laws and regulations, applicable USBE rules, and JSD Board policy.
      3. Teachers may choose novels, books to be read aloud, books used as instructional materials, and books used in literature circles from the District approved lists that are aligned with state core standards, interest levels, community standards, backgrounds, and needs of students. See administrative policy AA424 Literature Selection and Review.
      4. Teachers shall vet all instructional materials thoroughly to ensure age and developmental appropriateness and relevance.
      5. Teachers will communicate to parents the use of supplemental materials through course disclosures, welcome letters, class information materials, learning management systems, student portals, etc.
      6. As a resource, teachers should consult the RIMS database for state approved supplemental materials that meet students’ needs.
      7. Learning software or materials with a digital component must be listed as approved on Learn Platform by Teaching and Learning and approved by the Information Systems department prior to use.
      8. Online/digital materials must include in the contract that the provider must notify the District of any material changes to the content.

 

Related policies:

AA411 – Sex Education

AA424 – Literature Selection and Review

AA440 – Library Media Selection and Review

AA445 – Student Information Network Acceptable Use Policy

D200 – Philosophy of Instruction

DE500 – Curriculum Development

DE505 – Acceptable Use of Copyrighted Materials in Jordan School District