10.55.603    CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

(1) Local school districts shall ensure their curriculum is aligned to all content standards and the appropriate learning progression for each grade level.

(2) School districts shall maintain their programs consistent with the state's schedule for revising standards.

(3) School districts shall assess the progress of all students toward achieving content standards and content-specific grade-level learning progressions in each program area. The district shall use assessment results, including state-level achievement information obtained by administration of assessments pursuant to ARM 10.56.101 to examine the educational program and measure its effectiveness.

(a) The examination of program effectiveness using assessment results shall be supplemented with information about graduates and other students no longer in attendance.

(b) The information obtained shall be considered in curriculum and assessment development.

(4) For content standards in all program areas pursuant to the requirements of ARM 10.55.602, school districts shall:

(a) establish curriculum and assessment development processes as a cooperative effort of personnel licensed and endorsed in the program area and trustees, administrators, other teachers, students, specialists, parents, community, and, when appropriate, tribal representatives and state resource people;

(b) review curricula at least every five years or consistent with the state's standards revision schedule, and modify, as needed, to meet educational goals of the continuous school improvement plan pursuant to ARM 10.55.601;

(c) review materials and resources necessary for implementation of the curriculum and assessment at least every five years, or consistent with the state's standards revision schedule that are consistent with the goals of the continuous school improvement plan; and

(d) review curricula and instructional materials and resources to ensure the inclusion of the distinct and unique cultural heritage and contemporary portrayal of American Indians.

(5) The school district shall develop and implement its assessment plan used to measure student progress ensuring alignment to the local curriculum in all program areas.

(a) The assessment plan shall be included in the continuous school improvement plan and be in place within two years following the development of local curriculum.

(b) School districts shall use appropriate multiple measures and methods, including state-level achievement information obtained by administration of assessments pursuant to the requirements of ARM 10.56.101, to assess student progress in achieving content standards and content-specific grade-level learning progressions in all program areas.

(c) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall develop criteria and procedures for the selection of appropriate multiple measures and methods to be used to assess student progress in achieving content and appropriate content-specific grade-level learning progressions in all program areas.

(d) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall provide technical assistance to districts to meet the criteria and procedures in (5)(c).

History: 20-2-114, 20-2-121, MCA; IMP, 20-2-121, 20-3-106, 20-7-101, MCA; NEW, 1989 MAR p. 342, Eff. 7/1/89; AMD, 1997 MAR p. 1185, Eff. 7/8/97; AMD, 1998 MAR p. 2707, Eff. 10/9/98; AMD, 2001 MAR p. 953, Eff. 6/8/01; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 2042, Eff. 7/1/13.