FILE:  ID

CURRICULUM

The Washington Parish School Board has the responsibility to establish and maintain a quality program of instruction for the elementary and secondary schools of the school district.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for coordinating and maintaining the instructional program in accordance with the provisions of the state constitution, state statutes, rules and regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), and the policies of the School Board.

The organization and scheduling of subjects in the curriculum of the school district shall conform to BESE requirements and statewide content standards for required subjects.  The curriculum shall provide learning experiences and prospective achievement for each child according to their individual needs and offer students a basic body of understanding, attitudes, knowledge, and skills.

By the end of the eighth (8th) grade, every student, with the assistance of his/her parent or other legal custodian and school counselor, and for a student with an exceptionality, except a student identified as gifted or talented and who has no other exceptionality, the student’s Individualized Education Program team, in conjunction with the student’s parent or legal guardian, if applicable, shall begin to develop an Individual Graduation Plan to guide future academic course work in order for the student to explore education and career possibilities.  The plan shall be reviewed annually and revised as necessary to identify the courses to be taken each year until all required core courses are completed.  Upon completion of the review, each student’s Individual Graduation Plan shall be signed by the student, the student’s parent or other legal guardian, and the school counselor.

Prior to revising a student's individual graduation plan, the school counselor shall meet with the student's parent or legal guardian either in person or virtually to explain the possible impacts the revisions to the plan might have on the student's graduation requirements and postsecondary education goals.  Any revisions to a student's plan shall be approved in writing by the student's parent or legal guardian.

CAREER MAJOR

The curriculum design within the high schools shall include a career major comprised of challenging academic courses and modern career and technical studies.  Such a curriculum design shall allow each high school student to choose a career option at the high school level, which includes activities designed to introduce students to occupations in demand in Louisiana.  The School Board shall develop and offer one or more career major programs aligned to state and regional workforce demands, pursuant to policies adopted by BESE.

LOCALLY-INITIATED ELECTIVES

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has granted school systems the authority to develop, review, and approve all locally-initiated electives, in accordance with the Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741.  The process shall ensure alignment with standards-based initiatives, compliance with current BESE policies, and all laws and regulations pertaining to students with disabilities.  Elective courses shall not replace, duplicate, or significantly overlap the content of core curriculum or other approved electives.

Proper documentation of all approved electives shall be maintained by the School Board.

The elective courses for the Washington Parish School System are intended to expand, enhance, and/or refine the core curriculum.  These courses support state standards and are consistent with the philosophy set forth in the Louisiana State Content Standards documents.

The Washington Parish School System will have a team to review all submitted electives. The team shall consist of a supervisor of instruction, subject area supervisor, principal, and school counselor.

After an elective course has been in effect for three (3) successive school years, the committee shall review the request with course evaluations and, upon approval, the course may become a permanent part of the curriculum.

Committee Checklist

• Electives shall enhance, expand, and/or refine the core curriculum.
  
  

• Electives shall meet specific curriculum goals of the district (incorporate assessments consistent with LEAP).
  
  

• Electives shall include challenging content that requires students to extend the knowledge and skills acquired through the core curriculum.
  
  

• Electives shall provide a variety of activities and hands‑on learning experiences that accommodate different learning styles.
  
  

• Electives shall include appropriate accommodations for addressing specific instructional assessment needs of students with disabilities, students who are linguistically and/or culturally diverse, and students who are gifted and talented.
  
  

• Electives shall incorporate assessment strategies that support statewide assessments.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:154, 17:181, 17:182, 17:183, 17:183.1, 17:183.2, 17:183.3, 17:183.5, 17:261, 17:262, 17:268, 17:2925

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, §2301, §2315, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 8-12-99, 1-14-10, 8-8-13, 12-11-14, 10-7-21

Washington Parish School Board