The board of education shall provide a comprehensive instructional program to serve the needs of the children of this district. In furtherance of this goal and pursuant to law, the board shall
annually adopt the existing courses of study. Adoption includes both content and credit allocation. The board’s policy in this respect is to:

A. Adopt those courses of study mandated by the state in a form acceptable to the state department of education. Such courses must include the New Jersey Student Learning Standards adopted by the
State Board of Education;

B. Adopt additional courses of study recommended by the teaching staff and administration in a form acceptable to the state department of education and within the financial means of the district;

C. Adapt and revise existing courses of study to meet the changing needs of pupils and the community.

Existing courses shall be reviewed at regular intervals and revised as necessary. No course of study shall be eliminated, revised or implemented without the approval of the board.

The board directs that the curriculum of this district:

A. Be consistent with written goals, objectives and identified pupil needs;

B. Develop individual talents and interests and serve diverse learning styles to motivate pupil achievement;

C. Provide for continuous learning through effective articulation;

D. Provide all pupils continuous access to sufficient programs and services of a library/media facility, classroom collection, or both, to support the educational program;

E. Provide all pupils guidance and counseling to assist in career and academic planning;

F. Provide a continuum of educational programs and services for pupils with disabilities, pursuant to law and regulation;

G. Provide bilingual programs for pupils whose dominant language is not English, pursuant to law and regulation;

H. Provide all pupils equal educational opportunity, pursuant to law and regulation;

I. Provide instruction in African-American History, including the Amistad, and the history of other cultures taught as part of the history of the United States (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-1);

J. Provide instruction on the Holocaust and other genocide curricula at all grade levels (N.J.S.A.18A:35-28);

K. Provide instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, in an appropriate place in the curriculum of middle
school and high school students as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.35);

L. Incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12. This instruction shall:

1. Highlight and promote diversity, including economic diversity, equity, inclusion, tolerance, and belonging in connection with gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities, and
religious tolerance;

2. Examine the impact that unconscious bias and economic disparities have at both an individual level and on society as a whole; and

3. Encourage safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all students regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual and gender identities, mental and physical disabilities, and religious beliefs.

M. Provide career awareness and vocational education, pursuant to law and regulation;

N. Provide educational opportunities for exceptionally gifted and talented pupils.

The chief school administrator shall maintain a current list of all courses of study offered by this district; shall furnish each member of the board of education with a copy upon request; and
shall provide a copy in the district office for public perusal.

Adoption of courses shall be by a recorded roll call majority vote of the full membership of the board. This includes the courses in the special education and ESL/bilingual programs, and those for
the adult high school.

Key Words

Curriculum Adoption, Adoption of Curriculum, Core Proficiencies, Curriculum

Legal References:

N.J.S.A. 18A:4-25 Prescribing minimum courses of study for public schools; approval of courses of study

N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.35 History of disabled and LGBT persons included in  middle and high school curriculum
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.36 Policies, procedures pertaining to inclusive instructional materials
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.36a Curriculum to include instruction on diversity and inclusion
N.J.S.A. 18A:29A-1 et seq. Teacher recognition
N.J.S.A. 18A:33-1 District to furnish suitable facilities; adoption of courses of study
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-1 et seq. Curriculum and courses
N.J.S.A. 52-16A-88 Responsibilities and duties of the Amistad Commission
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-1.1 et seq. Standards and Assessment See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1, -5.1
N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.1 General requirements
N.J.A.C. 6A:15-1.1et seq. Bilingual education See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 6A:15-1.3, -1.4, -1.5
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.1et seq. Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts

The Comprehensive Equity Plan, New Jersey State Department of Education

Possible Cross References:

*6141 Curriculum design/development
6141.1 Experimental/innovative programs
*6142 Subject fields
*6142.2 English as a second language; bilingual/bicultural
*6143 Curriculum guides
*9325.4 Voting method
*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.