Curriculum Cycle Phases

1. Research Best Practices 

   1. Professional Learning 
      1. See Appendix D of the DPDC Handbook 2024-25. Professional Development guidelines are also listed in Appendix A at the end of this document. 
      2. Departments/subject areas in Phase 1 of a program review will receive priority for attending state and national conferences. 
   2. Study local and national programming 

2. Review/Create a Vision for Content

   1. Vision/Belief Statement(s), Goals for Graduates, Power Standards 
      1. Vision Template

3. Evaluate Current Programming 

   1. Evaluate Course Scope and Sequence
   2. Gather input from various stakeholders
      1. Possible external feedback
      2. Survey Forms
      3. Evaluation Forms

1. Learning around the Curriculum Process

   1. Best Practices in Curriculum and Instruction: Understanding by Design (UbD) 
   2. Ladue Curriculum template

2. Identify Desired Results

What do we want students to know, understand, and be able to do? 

1. Learn more about Big Ideas, Enduring Understandings, and Essential Questions
2. What priority standards are explicitly taught?
3. What are the enduring understandings for students?
4. What essential questions will students consider?
5. What knowledge and skills will students acquire?
6. What culturally relevant connections will allow students to see themselves in the curriculum?
7. How will students apply what they’re learning to the real world?

3. Determine Acceptable Evidence

How will we know when each student has learned it? 

1. Consider the following questions before creating your assessment: 
   1. What evidence will be collected for the desired results in Phase 2- Step 2?
   2. What performances and products will reveal evidence of meaning-making and transfer?
   3. By what criteria will performance be assessed?
2. Consider Marzano’s best practice assessment strategies 
   1. Establish clear learning goals and use rubrics to communicate expectations and standards (Element 1).
   2. Track student progress to identify areas of strength and areas needing improvement (Element 2).
   3. Provide frequent, specific, and constructive feedback to guide student learning (Element 3). 
3. Determine Evidence: Formative and Summative
   1. Create common district assessments
   2. Link common district assessments to the Curriculum template 
4. Are the assessments aligned to all Phase 2 - Step 2 elements? 

4. Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

How will we respond when some students have not learned it yet? How will we respond when some students have already mastered it? 

1. What activities, experiences, and lessons will lead to the achievement of the desired results and success at the assessments?
2. How will the learning plan help students achieve transfer, and meaning and acquisition, with increasing independence?
3. How will progress be monitored?
4. How will the unit be sequenced and differentiated to optimize achievement for all learners?
5. Are the learning events aligned with the desired outcomes and evidence? 

5. Materials Review 

   1. Course materials are chosen to support the curriculum; they are not the curriculum. Textbooks, digital resources, and district supplemental materials will be evaluated based on the standards, curriculum, gender-fair, disability-aware, and multicultural (Policy IIA) as well as additional criteria established by the curriculum committee. Textbooks will only be adopted during the Curriculum and Instruction cycle, unless approved by the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
      1. Select vendors based on alignment to values and vision for content 
      2. Pilot, evaluate and select materials that best support the curriculum
         1. Textbook and Instructional Materials Evaluation

6. Board Approval

   1. Submit Grade Level Unit Scope and Sequence template to the Curriculum and Instruction Department for Board Approval and to place on the public-facing Curriculum and Instruction website. 
   2. Bring curriculum documents to Curriculum and Instruction Board Advisory Committee for feedback (February).
   3. Bring to Board for approval (June) 

1. Implement the Curriculum 

   1. Follow agreed-upon scope and sequence
   2. Give agreed-upon assessments
   3. Gather and analyze data and student work samples as part of the PLC process

2. Professional Development 

   1. District provides ongoing PD for all teachers in each grade/content
   2. PD supports new resource implementation, but focuses on instructional strategies
   3. Create a common understanding of best practice instruction within the content

The Ladue School District supports the professional learning of our certified staff. The following are guidelines that outline the priorities for professional development that require a teacher's absence. 

Preference for attendance at national or out-of-state conferences will be provided as determined by the Curriculum and Instruction Department through the budgeting process. Preference will be given as follows:

• Content areas in the curriculum review process
• National conferences that are being held locally
• Certified staff in curriculum, department, or committee leadership positions
• Staff who have not attended a national conference within 5 years
• Professional Development that furthers one of the district’s goals related to:
  • Inquiry-based learning
  • Real-world learning 
  • Proficiency scales
  • Performance-based assessments 
  • Marzano’s Instructional Framework 

Attendance

A staff member’s overall attendance will also be taken into consideration when approving any professional development. Administration will also take into consideration the overall amount of teachers absent in the building when determining how many people to approve for a conference.

Staff members are expected to attend and be active participants in the conference. You will be expected to share your learning after the conference as proof of attendance. Failure to provide proof may result in the staff reimbursing the district for costs. 

Staff attending conferences are expected to share information with their colleagues during faculty meetings, department meetings, professional development days, and/or collaboration days. Staff will work with their building principal to determine the appropriate time and audience to share the learning. 

Presenting at a conference is a privilege and honor. However, staff must seek approval from their building principal and/or evaluator prior to applying to present at a conference in order for buildings to budget accordingly. If prior approval is not requested, the district will not pay for any costs accrued to attend the conference if selected.    

Professional development opportunities MUST be:

• Educationally necessary;
• Fiscally prudent;
• Directly related to and within the scope of the employee’s current responsibilities and/or the school district’s professional development plan; and/or teachers in leadership positions such as department chairs and/or committee chairs; 
• Critical to the instructional or operational needs of the district.

Although recommendations may be made by building administration, final determinations related to professional development will be made by the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

Reimbursement/Payment

Registration Fees

Registration fees will be paid prior to attendance at an out-of-district professional development activity. Applicants must complete the Out of District PD form in Frontline and have full approval before completing event registration.  

Compensation

When the registration fees are paid for the district, staff will not be compensated for attending the conference/workshop. Exceptions include professional development that is required for one’s teaching position (PLTW, AP Training, etc.) and optional summer professional development provided by the district. 

Mileage

Mileage is reimbursed at the rate of .405 cents per mile. Employees are encouraged to ride together when traveling to the same conference. 

Airfare

Airfare allowances shall be based on the coach rate and shall not exceed the mileage reimbursement rate for that destination unless approved by the superintendent or designee. 

Meal Allowance

Meal reimbursement will not exceed $75.00 per day for overnight travel workshops. The district will not pay for alcohol, and gratuities will not exceed 20% of the meal cost. Original itemized receipts must be attached for reimbursement of expenses.

Travel at the conference

Staff will be reimbursed for ride-sharing or taxis to and from the airport as well as the conference venue. Rental cars will be reimbursed only with prior approval and if the applicant can prove that it will be more economical for the district. 

Lodging

Employees are expected to stay at the hotels offering the conference rate unless otherwise approved by the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Allowances may be made for other lodging arrangements that are more economical to the district, but a cost analysis must be provided and approved by administration. 

Reimbursement

All check requests for any reimbursement must be made within the fiscal year of the expense. It is encouraged that all Check Requests be submitted within 30 days of the event to help with accounting.