A map can be a very useful tool. It can show you the location of a city or landmark; it can also show you various routes to get there. If you already know the way, you may not need a map to get where you’re going. But a map makes it easier to show others how to get there and provide everyone an understanding of the route you’re going to take.
In that way, aligning a school district’s curriculum to state standards and benchmarks is like creating a map everyone can use to see, step by step, where we want to go in our classrooms and how we’re going to get there. For this reason, both the Minnesota Department of Education and school districts like ours review and update their curricular “maps” on a regular basis.
These updates require an investment not just of time but of financial resources, and over the past several years, budget constraints slowed down this process in Duluth. During times of budget cutting, tough decisions were made to set aside some of this work in order to maintain class sizes, provide teacher training or purchase classroom materials. Currently, about 40 percent of the details on our curricular map are aligned with the latest state changes in mathematics, English language arts, science and social studies.
Certainly our students are receiving good, quality instruction in these areas, as can be seen in recent increases in student achievement levels and graduation rates. That said, we believe even more progress can be realized.
That’s why aligning 100 percent of our curriculum to State standards is an important district-wide goal, one we included when developing Independent School District 709’s 4-Year Continuous Improvement Plan last year.
Last month, the School Board approved cost-neutral changes to our organizational structure to bring a stronger focus on our curriculum department and the work to be done. This month, the Board approved funds that will support an intense, focused effort on aligning curriculum over the summer - groups of elementary, middle and high school teachers will work together to review and revise curriculum and create the documents used to demonstrate alignment. Through professional development oppor-
tunities, teachers will then work together to ensure that all students continue to have the best learning opportunities available.
I’m excited about this renewed emphasis on curriculum. This is the real work of educators - to be in deep discussions about what we want our students to know and be able to do as a result of their educational career in ISD 709 and how we ensure all students have continued access to an excellent education. The completion of our curricular maps will help guide the way to a bright future for our students and our community.
Bill Gronseth is the superintendent of Duluth Public Schools. Contact him at (218) 336-8752 or email william.gronseth@duluth.k12.mn.us .
