Curriculum Overview

Our district-wide curriculum provides all students the opportunity to meet and exceed state and national standard skills and competencies. With the whole child in mind, we strive to create opportunities that will enable each student to fulfill the following learner outcomes:

Children are ready for school.

Third graders can read at grade level.

Racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed.

Students are ready for career and college.

Students graduate from high school.

Each learner will choose to continually engage in experiences that benefit the community.

Each learner will acquire and apply knowledge and skills consistent with their goals and passions.

Each learner will articulate their dreams and create and carry out plans to achieve those dreams.

The Teaching and Learning Team invites you to become familiar with the curriculum and other programs and services that support student learning in our schools. If you have questions or suggestions, we welcome your feedback.

Curriculum Adoption

How often does the Minnesota Department of Education conduct a curriculum review cycle?

The Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards are reviewed and revised on a 10-year cycle. The review and revision process for each content area is staggered, based on a schedule approved by the Minnesota Legislature. After revisions are made to each content area, the standards go through a rulemaking process during which the implementation year is set. Also, after revisions are made to the English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science standards, the corresponding Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA / State Exam) and Alternate MCA are developed.
When the Minnesota Department of Education reviews and updates curriculum, how often can parents and the public provide input?

When the Minnesota Department of Education adopts state standards for all public schools, how long do school districts have to implement them? Can public school districts adopt portions of the State Standards or do they need to adopt all of the standards?

Once Minnesota State Standards are adopted, school districts typically have five (5) years to implement the new standards. The table below shows the most current reviews and the implementation year. Public school districts adopt the Minnesota State Standards in their entirety. School districts are not able to opt out of Minnesota State Standards. The exception to this would be content areas in which Minnesota State Standards do not exist. For example, there are no Minnesota State Standards for Health. Therefore, school districts, including ISD 728, typically utilize the national Health standards.

Content Area	Recents Reviews	Implementation Year	Assessing Student Learning
Physical Education	2016–17	2023–24* Physical Education Standards Implementation resources	Locally developed classroom assessment of student learning; district common assessments possible.
Arts	2017–18	2023–24* Arts Standards Implementation resources	Locally developed classroom assessment of student learning; district common assessments possible.
Science	2018–19	2024–25* Science Standards Implementation resources	Locally developed classroom assessment of student learning; district common assessments possible; statewide MCA-IV and Alternate MCA-IV in spring of implementation year.
English Language Arts (ELA)	2019–20	2025–26 (proposed) Currently in Rulemaking	Locally developed classroom assessment of student learning; district common assessments possible; statewide MCA-IV and Alternate MCA-IV in spring of implementation year.
Social Studies	2020–21	2026–27 (anticipated) Currently in Rulemaking	Locally developed classroom assessment of student learning; District common assessments possible; Civics Test Questions delivered by district.

* Delayed by Minnesota Legislature or rulemaking in 2021

Source: Minnesota Department of Education

ISD 728 has a Teaching and Learning team, but does it also have a curriculum review team as well? How does it function?

Once new Minnesota State Standards are adopted, a Curriculum Review Team is established for that content area. The Curriculum Review Team reviews the recently adopted standards and selects instructional resources that align with the new standards. Parents are given the opportunity to review materials and give input for each of our curriculum reviews. In addition to selecting resources to teach the new standards, best instructional practices are evaluated and a training plan for staff is developed. ISD 728 has made parent involvement in the process a major component and allows all parents to be involved before curriculum is adopted. For example and during the 2021-2022 school year, families had the opportunity to review and provide input about the new science and world language materials from home and online prior to the District’s adoption and implementation. An overview of the ISD 728 Curriculum Review Team process can be found here.

Independent School District 728

Teaching & Learning

Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Adoption

How often does the Minnesota Department of Education conduct a curriculum review cycle?

When the Minnesota Department of Education reviews and updates curriculum, how often can parents and the public provide input?

When the Minnesota Department of Education adopts state standards for all public schools, how long do school districts have to implement them? Can public school districts adopt portions of the State Standards or do they need to adopt all of the standards?

ISD 728 has a Teaching and Learning team, but does it also have a curriculum review team as well? How does it function?