Curriculum Department

The mission of the CSDR Curriculum Department is to guide and support instruction and to assist teachers in meeting the expectations of the State in providing rigorous, standards-based instruction to all students.
DIRECT INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT

• Curricular planning, pacing, assessment, and documentation

• Subject area articulation

• Peer observation and feedback

Curriculum specialists are assigned specific curricular areas of responsibility. They meet frequently with teachers either individually or in small groups to provide guidance and support in the delivery of the curriculum. They assist teachers with short- and long-range planning, content clarification and pacing, materials selection, assessment development, documentation procedures, and IEP writing. Specialists attend subject area meetings and facilitate articulation among departments and disciplines. At teachers’ request, specialists provide peer observation of lessons and feedback on instruction.
STANDARDS-BASED EDUCATION

• Training

• Form development

• Standards-based IEPs

When the State of California adopted rigorous content and performance standards, the CSDR Curriculum Department took on the responsibility of training all instructional staff in the many aspects of Standards-Based Education. The department has developed forms for Standards and Assessment Plans (SAPs), and Content Pacing Guides (CPGs) to assist teachers in meeting State expectations. The Curriculum staff has worked collaboratively to identify key standards and help teachers focus instruction and monitor and document student progress. The department also plays a major role in the IEP process, providing training, form development and revision, and IEP review services to the entire campus.

MATERIALS, RESOURCES, AND TEXTBOOKS

• Textbook adoptions

• Textbook and resource circulation

• Purchasing of instructional materials

• Vender demonstrations and training

The Curriculum Department maintains an extensive resource library of books, kits, models, equipment, videos, maps, globes, software, and other supplementary materials to support the core curriculum. All resource and textbook circulation is handled through the Curriculum Department. The specialists work with teachers and venders to identify appropriate textbooks for on-site evaluation, adoption, and eventual purchase. Specialists work with teachers to identify suitable support materials and to facilitate purchase requests and purchase orders. As in-house curricula are developed, department staff organize files and binders of new curriculum and supporting resources. When new textbook series or materials are purchased, specialists arrange and facilitate vender demonstrations and training for teachers.

CURRICULUM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Curriculum research

• Curriculum development and revision

• Standards development

Curriculum development is a continuous process at CSDR. Department staff research curriculum, assessments, rubrics, and documentation via the Internet, through sharing with other educational agencies, and through contacts with curriculum publishers. During the school year and also in summer projects, curriculum staff collaborate with classroom teachers in developing and updating curricula and modifying them to meet the needs of deaf students. Curriculum staff work with instructors to identify appropriate standards for instructional areas not addressed in State of California standards documents.

CURRICULUM-BASED ASSESSMENT

• STAR Mathematics assessment

• Think, Learn, & Communicate (TLC) assessment of written English

• PM Benchmark miscue analysis reading assessment

Assessment of student progress in meeting curricular goals and achieving mastery of State standards is a high priority of the School. The Curriculum Department assists this process by facilitating curriculum-based assessments. Examples of these include: STAR Math assessment for placement and monitoring of mathematics students; Think, Learn, & Communicate (TLC) for analyzing students’ use of English language structures; and PM Benchmark miscue analysis for assessment of students’ use of reading strategies.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

• Early release day staff development activities

• Off-campus training and conferences

• Re-certification of staff for mandated trainings

• ASL skill development

Staff development for the Instructional Division is coordinated through the Curriculum Department. This includes all aspects of the process: announcements of training opportunities; facilitation of registration at off-campus trainings and conferences; documentation of attendance for accountability or continuing education purposes; re-certification of staff for mandated trainings; evaluation; and sharing sessions. Curriculum specialists work closely with principals to schedule and provide training and staff development activities on reduced student contact days. ASL skill development activities for staff are also coordinated through the department.

STUDENT DATA MANAGEMENT

• Centralization of student and faculty data

• Standardization of transcripts and records

• Organization of data for school improvement purposes

The Curriculum Department is in the process of implementing a new, cross-platform, web-based Student Information System (SIS). The SIS will serve as a central repository for all student and faculty data including - schedules, grades, attendance, test scores and complex demographic information necessary for state reporting. The system includes an integrated electronic grade book that seamlessly communicates with a secure, central server. This allows teachers to input grades and attendance directly from their classroom computers, and have that information immediately available to anyone with the appropriate security access.

CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

• Instructional software

• Classroom computers and peripherals

• SmartBoards, document cameras, digital cameras, LCD projectors

The Curriculum Department is responsible for all classroom technology. This includes: software, SmartBoards, document cameras, digital cameras, laptops, and LCD projectors. The Curriculum Department assists teachers in identifying appropriate educational software and Internet resources to support instruction. It also assists with equipment requests for assemblies, trainings, meetings, and presentations.

INSTRUCTIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Instructional Leadership Team (ILT)

• Educational Pathways Task Force (EPTF)

• Star Schools Project

The Curriculum Department plays an integral part in instructional leadership on campus. The Curriculum Director is a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet and the Instructional Management Team. The Curriculum Director and curriculum specialists serve on the Instructional Leadership Team and the Educational Pathways Task Force. Two curriculum specialists coordinate all Star Schools Project activities on campus. One member of the department represents CSDR on the Region 10 Coordinating Council and is also an Area Director for the California Reading Association. Another serves on the CSUN teacher training program advisory panel. Curriculum staff are regularly asked to serve as on-site supervisors or mentors for teachers clearing or renewing their credentials.

Curriculum Director

(951) 782-6565 v/tty

Curriculum Specialist - ASL, Deaf Studies, Early Childhood

(951) 782-3267 tty

Curriculum Specialist - Alternate Curriculum, Applied Academics

(951) 320-2051 v/tty

Curriculum Specialist - English, Star Schools Project

(951) 320-7458 tty

Curriculum Specialist - CTE, Health, Math, P.E., Science

(951) 320-2154 tty

Curriculum Specialist - Fine Arts, History/Social Science, Literature

(951) 782-6593 v/tty