Curriculum and Instruction

For a visual presentation of the Curriculum Process in GFPS, click here

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Curriculum
Great Falls Public Schools offer a comprehensive K-12 curriculum incorporating all content and performance standards in compliance with Montana Standards of Accreditation. In accordance with ARM 10.55.602, the District has an established curriculum and assessment development process which reviews curricula in all subject areas at intervals not exceeding five years. This cooperative process involves members of the community including teachers, administrators, parents, trustees, specialists, and when available, tribal representatives and state resource people.

Implementation
While the curriculum documents provide the Board approved roadmap describing what students will learn in Great Falls classrooms, the implementation documents prescribe how the students will learn.  The implementation guides vary in style and complexity, but for most teachers, these instructional tools provide pacing guidance, vocabulary emphasis, and essential knowledge expectations.  They help teachers fulfill the promise to parents and students that students are studying the state and community approved curriculum.

Assessment

In conjunction with implementation, assessment provides meaningful data regarding student achievement using multiple measures.  Utilizing the assistance of the Office of Public Instruction, Great Falls uses a wide variety of assessments to inform our public.  Teachers use multiple measures within their classroom to insure learning. District tests provide information to teachers, administrators, and parents regarding how well the students have learned the approved curriculum. Standardized tests such as the Iowa Tests and the Criterion-Referenced Tests are state mandated. They provide valid and reliable data which inform decisions regarding curriculum and instructional changes.

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