502 Alignment of School District Curricula to the State Content Standards

Delaware General Assembly : Delaware Regulations : Administrative Code : Title 14 : 500

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500 Curriculum and Instruction

502 Alignment of School District Curricula to the State Content Standards

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this regulation is to provide a process through which all Delaware school districts demonstrate the alignment of their curricula with the State Content Standards in the content areas specified in the 14 DE Admin. Code 501 as required by 14 Del.C. §122(b)(6).

17 DE Reg. 916 (03/01/14)

27 DE Reg. 518 (01/01/24)

2.0 Definitions

"Alignment" means meeting the expectations or outcomes outlined in each of the content area standards in 14 DE Admin. Code 501.

"Curricula" means a coherent set of high-quality instructional materials, academic lessons, and content implemented for a particular subject and designed for teachers to facilitate learning that leads to students' mastery of standards.

“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.

"Equitable access" means every student has the opportunity to engage with grade-level and course-level materials regardless of any subgroup designation.

“Evidence” means the documents maintained by the district that its curriculum is aligned to the State Content Standards.

"High quality instructional materials" means comprehensive materials that are aligned with the adopted Delaware content standards. The materials are written with clear purpose, effective lesson structure, and pacing to provide equitable access to the grade-level or course-level content, when used in accordance with their intended design and align to the Department's definition of high quality.

"Implemented" means using aligned materials according to their intended design and with processes in place for continuous improvement, including initial and sustained professional learning to support the educators who are using or leading the use of the instructional materials.

"Supports" means professional learning and feedback required to successfully implement high quality instructional materials and curricula.

17 DE Reg. 916 (03/01/14)

27 DE Reg. 518 (01/01/24)

3.0 Alignment Requirement

Each school district shall provide evidence to the Department that their curricula are aligned with the State Content Standards. State Content Standards exist in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, World Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, Health, Physical Education, Computer Science, Career and Technical Education Programs of Study, Financial Literacy, Media Literacy, and Driver's Education. Content standards adopted by the Department in the future shall also be included under this section.

12 DE Reg. 216 (08/01/08)

17 DE Reg. 916 (03/01/14)

27 DE Reg. 518 (01/01/24)

4.0 Documentation of Curriculum Alignment

4.1 Alignment of school district curricula to the State Content Standards shall be certified annually by the district through an assurance in the consolidated grant application.

4.2 Upon the request of the Department, documentation demonstrating alignment of school district curricula shall be given to the Department and include: curriculum maps or scope and sequence of instructional topics, unit plans, lesson plans, and assessments. Included in the documentation shall also be the names of the implemented instructional resources including high quality instructional materials when applicable, a description of the alignment process, and level of involvement by building administrators, teachers, and specialists.

4.3 Documentation for Career and Technical Education programs of study shall follow requirements in 14 DE Admin. Code 525 Requirements for Career and Technical Education Programs of Study.

17 DE Reg. 916 (03/01/14)

27 DE Reg. 518 (01/01/24)

5.0 Documentation for Specific Student Populations

Each school district shall also certify annually through an assurance in the consolidated grant application that alignment and equitable access to the grade-level or course-level State Content Standards is provided to subgroups such as students with disabilities, gifted students, and Multilingual Learners. Upon the request of the Department, the school district shall explain the supports provided in its curricula for these subgroups.

17 DE Reg. 916 (03/01/14)