1. What is curriculum?

Curriculum describes (in writing) the most important outcomes of the schooling process; thus, the curriculum is a document in which resides the district’s “collected wisdom” about what is most important to teach … Curriculum is based on Standards; as a result, curriculum and standards are linked.  Curriculum specifies how standards are met.  Standards are not curriculum.  

Rather, Standards provide a vision of the appropriate content and processes (usually for a subject area, such as mathematics) or the what students should know and be able to do across a range of grade levels.

…A curriculum is a plan that focuses and guides classroom Instruction and Assessment … Assessments answer the question of how much knowledge and skill are good enough to meet the standards aligned in a unit.  Teachers use assessments to determine how good is good enough.  Classroom assessment is inexorably linked to curriculum.

(Squires, D. 2004. Aligning and Balancing the Standards-Based Curriculum).

2. What is the difference between curriculum and teacher lesson plans?

Curriculum is like a blueprint. The blueprint outlines the standards-based sequences of planned experiences in which students need to achieve proficiency. Educators use curriculum as a central guide as to what is essential for teaching and learning, so that every student has access to rigorous academic experiences. Curriculum identifies the necessary goals, methods, materials and assessments to effectively support teachers in teaching and learning.  However, the curriculum is not the same as a teacher’s lesson plans.  

Meanwhile, lesson plans are an individual teacher’s plan designed with knowledge of the curriculum in order to account for the more specific needs of individual learners in the class.  

3. What is the role of professional development in Curriculum & Instruction?

Professional development is the link between the design and implementation of education reforms and the ultimate success of reform efforts in schools.

... According to the research, high-quality professional learning opportunities for teachers contain the following five characteristics:

• • Aligns with school goals, state and district standards and assessments, and other professional-learning activities
  • Focuses on core content and modeling of teaching strategies for the content
  • Includes opportunities for active learning of new teaching strategies
  • Provides the chance for teachers to collaborate
  • Includes follow-up and continuous feedback
  • (DeMonte, J. 2013. High Quality Professional Development for Teachers)

4. How is the curriculum developed and adopted in Franklin Lakes Public Schools?

Franklin Lakes Board Policies govern the curriculum development, content and adoption process. Certified educators/ administrators in the Franklin Lakes Department of Curriculum & Instruction are charged with ensuring the requirements in accordance with FLPS Policy and New Jersey requirements described following.  The Department of C&I seeks to assure the curriculum is designed to yield alignment between what is written, taught, and assessed.  

Curriculum evaluation typically includes stakeholder input (educators, parents, etc.) in combination with research on evidence-based practices.  Curriculum writing typically involves the collective work of educators across the district collaboratively working to determine a developmentally-appropriate progression of learning in which students will acquire the content and skills that is befitting of the particulars of our unique District/ community and also meets learning requirements in the state of New Jersey. The final written product of this process is then presented to the Franklin Lakes Board of Education for adoption.

5. Is there a schedule of planned curriculum revisions in FLPS? 

The NJ State Board of Education sets the timelines by which public schools must implement curriculum aligned with any new set of standards or requirements. In recent years standards have been updated by the NJDOE for every discipline.

6. What are the requirements for curriculum in Franklin Lakes Public Schools?

Since Franklin Lakes is a New Jersey public school district, the district is obligated to meet the requirements set forth for all students learning in New Jersey public schools. 

In the state of New Jersey, the standards (student performance expectations) are called the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.  The standards identify the habits of mind, skills, and content in which students should be proficient by certain timeframes. 

The NJSLS are developed by the NJ Department of Education.  The New Jersey State Board of Education is the governing body responsible for adopting the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for the following content areas:

• • Mathematics;
  • English Language Arts;
  • Science;
  • Social Studies;
  • Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills;
  • Comprehensive Health and Physical Education;
  • Computer Science & Design Thinking;
  • Visual and Performing Arts;
  • World Languages.

In addition to standards, all public schools are responsible for addressing a variety of New Jersey Administrative Code requirements and NJ Curriculum Mandates?

7. What are the NJ Administrative requirements for a district’s curriculum?

District boards of education are [required] to ensure that curriculum and instruction are designed and delivered in such a way that all students are able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills specified by the NJSLS and shall ensure [the] appropriate instructional adaptations are designed and delivered for students with disabilities, for MLs, for students enrolled in alternative education programs, and for students who are gifted and talented.

District boards of education [are] responsible for the review and continuous improvement of curriculum and instruction based upon changes in knowledge, technology, assessment results, and modifications to the NJSLS, according to N.J.A.C. 6A:8-2. 

1. 1. District boards of education shall include interdisciplinary connections throughout the K-12 curriculum. 
   2. District boards of education shall integrate into the curriculum 21st century themes and skills. 
   3. District boards of education shall provide the time and resources to develop, review, and enhance interdisciplinary connections, supportive curricula, and instructional tools for helping students acquire required knowledge and skills.

The tools include, but are not limited to:

1. 1. A pacing guide; 
   2. A list of core instructional materials, including various levels of texts at each grade level;
   3. Benchmark assessments; and
   4. Modifications for special education students, for MLs in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:15, for students at risk of school failure, and for gifted students.

See N.J.A.C. 6A:8-2.1 for additional information from the NJDOE about Standards and Assessment. 

8. What are the New Jersey curricular mandates for a district’s curriculum?

It is important to know that in our efforts to fulfill the below requirements, we are mindful of child development, the needs and particulars of our unique and diverse students, educators, and the community.  

For more about NJ public school requirements in code/ statute, please utilize the links that follow. 

Relevant to FLPS Grades K-8:

• • History and Contributions of African-Americans (Amistad): NJSA 18A 52:16A-88 
  • Holocaust, Genocides: NJSA 18A:35-28
  • Diversity and Inclusion:NJSA 18A:35-4.36a 
  • History and Contributions of Asian American Pacific Islanders NJSA 18A:35-4.44

Relevant to FLPS Middle School (Grades 6-8) only:

• • Laura Wooten’s Law (Civics) N.J.S.A. 18A:35-41 
  • Financial Literacy N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.34
  • History and Contributions of Individuals with Disabilities and LGBT Persons: NJSA 18A:35-4.35

Comprehensive Health & Physical Education:

Please visit the NJ Administrative Code & Statutes section of the NJSLS Comprehensive Health & Physical Education. There are many legislative requirements associated with Comprehensive Health & Physical Education, which are specific based on grade-level.