William Kritsonis, School Law, Curriculum and Instruction

1
Curriculum Instruction

• William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

2
History of Curriculum

• Since the early 80s, the state has focused
  increasingly on improving student learning.
• As a result, a host of measures are in place to
  strengthen the curriculum, measure student
  achievement, and hold school districts and
  schools accountable.

3
History of Curriculum

• As a result, more students are passing and
  graduating at their scheduled time.
• Texas passed legislation in 1981 requiring a
  well-balanced curriculum in Texas public school
  districts, including a foundation curriculum and
  an enrichment curriculum (TEC 28.00I-.022).

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The Pros to A Structured Curriculum

• The curriculum foundation includes core subjects
  such as mathematics, social studies, reading and
  science. Enrichment curriculum includes second
  languages, health, physical education, fine arts,
  economics, technology education and applications.

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The Cons to A Structured Curriculum

• Texas is a state with many immigrants and
  non-English speaking citizens and no citizens.
  The state holds everyone accountable to the
  curriculum however students with language
  barriers or special needs has to also take the
  test, but it does not have to be the same test
  administered to regular education students.

6
The Cons to A structured Curriculum

• Through an ARD or other evaluation these students
  are assigned to an alternate assessment because
  no one is exempt from the states assessment.

7
Gi Forum Image de Tejas v. Texas Education Agency

• In 1997 the Mexican American Legal Defense and
  Education Fund (MALDEF) filed a federal lawsuit
  against the states former exit test, known as
  the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS).
• This suit was filed because statistics show that
  20 of Hispanics and African Americans failed
  compared to 10 of Caucasian students.

8
Case Study for Effective Curriculum

• Students were asked to complete a comparison
  survey of lectures to the integration of
  activities in the curriculum. Each student team,
  consisting of four to five persons, was assigned
  a specified position on the comparison case.
  Other students were assigned to other different
  positions but on the same issue. The results of
  the effectiveness of cases studied were
  classified into five categories (1) focused,
  single subject, (2) resolution of conflict, (3)
  major issue, (4) concept application, and (5)
  laboratory-based problems.

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Case Study for Effective Curriculum

• The six year study led to a number of cognitive
  and effective values of these methods. Some
  conclusions were reached by comparing the
  performances of students in these experimental
  sections with that of their peers in the same
  courses. The conclusion is the higher level of
  thinking and critical analysis skills than what
  they exhibited in the past. This outcome is a
  result of the shift from classical methods of
  instruction to integrating activity

10
Curriculum CaseOfLinda K. Greensheilds

• this case involved a teacher who was fired, and
  then was force to reinstate, because the teacher
  refused to use a commercial science program.

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Conclusion

• In conclusion, all cases and case studies are
  looked upon in different a way. It was very
  fortunate states developed curriculums that
  involves every student in some way v. being fired
  trying to implement a curriculum based on the way
  you feel as an individual.