Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment

We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

STEP 1

CURRICULUM PROGRAM EVALUATION

PROCEDURES
EXPECTATIONS
OUTLINES

12 Kirkwood School District

 Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment
We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

PROGRAM EVALUATION
INTRODUCTION

Kirkwood School District has the responsibility to monitor the effectiveness of programs and
curriculum on a continuous basis through both qualitative and quantitative data. To meet this
challenge, the Kirkwood School District has developed a Program Evaluation Plan and a Curriculum
Evaluation Plan. The goals of the Evaluation Plans are as follows:

To provide a structured method of evaluating the effectiveness or quality of specified programs or

curriculum as it relates to student achievement.

To identify those responsible for formally evaluating programs/curriculum and student achievement.

To promote recommended improvements for specified programs/curriculum and student achievement.

To provide a means for the Board of Education to formally review data pertaining to
programs/curriculum and student achievement data.

To meet the requirements of Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) Standard 8.1.1.

The Purpose of Curriculum Evaluation

Evaluation offers opportunities to:

• Develop plans for improvement

• Determine the effectiveness of the goals and objectives
• Measure the extent to which we reach our students
• Assess levels of participation by teachers and students
• Measure how effectively students meet specific learning objectives
• Recognize overall strengths and accomplishments
• Identify weaknesses
• Measure our impact on student learning
• Study research
• Evaluate student work and attainment of skills and processes
• Make changes based on data-driven decisions
• Review requirements of the Missouri School Improvement Process

13 Kirkwood School District

 Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment
We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

Curriculum Evaluation Plan Procedures

(Summary)

Organization and Design (Steps 1-5)

Step 1 – Identify members of the curriculum committee to guide the evaluation process.
Step 2 – Select areas in which to focus for the curriculum evaluation.
Step 3 – Select the information sources that will be needed.
Step 4 – Establish a schedule.
Step 5 – Develop or select the surveys, procedures or instruments for collecting data.

Preliminary Review (Step 6)

Step 6 – Present the Evaluation Design to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
before proceeding with information collection and analysis.

Information Collection & Analysis (Steps 7 and 8)

Step 7 – Collect the information.
Step 8 – Analyze the information, summarize the results and make recommendations.

Conclusion (Steps 9-11)

Step 9– Prepare the summative report, including curriculum revision expectations
Step 10 – Share the final evaluation.
Step 11 – Begin the curriculum revision process.

Curriculum Program Evaluation Procedures

(Details)

Organization & Design – Steps 1-5

Step 1 Identify curriculum committee members.

Membership affording K-12 articulation is necessary. Community advisors and experts can be used as
a “sounding board” during the evaluation process. The job of the evaluation committee includes:
Discussing the key questions to be answered by the evaluation.
Organizing the effort, deciding who is to do what.
Conducting or directing information-gathering activities.
Analyzing the information so that it can be summarized and recommendations can be developed.

The first KEY question to address is:

What does achievement data say about the effectiveness of our curriculum?

14 Kirkwood School District

 Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment
We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

Curriculum Evaluation Procedures

(Details) continued

Step 2 Select areas in which to focus for the curriculum evaluation.

The primary focus of the evaluation is the alignment and effectiveness of our curriculum in preparing
students to demonstrate exemplary achievement. Additional areas of focus might include:
Adequacy of materials
Preparation of teachers
Views of the staff, students and parents involved with the curriculum.
Comparison of the current program with its actual program design or original goals
Comparison of the program with similar programs in other schools or districts
Requirements of Missouri School Improvement Process, grade level expectations, MAP tests, end of
course tests
Staff development

Step 3 Select the information sources that will be needed for the evaluation.
If and when possible, triangulate your information, i.e., collect information/data on the same questions
or issues from different sources to corroborate the evidence gathered. Strive to collect multiple types
of information from multiple sources, i.e., qualitative and quantitative data. Determine the types of
data needed to achieve the purposes of the evaluation. Select the best quantitative and qualitative
information sources that will inform your evaluation and the decision making process.

Quantitative data is numerical. This data could include, but not be limited to:
Student test scores
Student local assessment scores
Grades
Longitudinal achievement/enrollment trends
Attendance and tardiness
Awards received
Budgetary allocations
Enrollment, attrition, completion and placement data
Documentation/observation of program implementation
Graduate follow-up data
Rates of homework completion
Staff development
Structured observations of implementation
Survey results – numerical ratings and rankings
Time in the program/on task

Qualitative data (next page)

15 Kirkwood School District

 Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment
We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

Curriculum Evaluation Procedures

(Details) continued

Qualitative data is descriptive and is typically in narrative form. This data could include, but not be
limited to:
Case study information – to show variety and impact
Lesson plans
Focus group interviews
Observations
Parent compliments/complaints
Structured interviews
Student portfolios
Survey results – commentary sections
Visiting team reports

Step 4 Establish a schedule for the evaluation.

The curriculum committee will need to consider the time required for a thoughtful evaluation that can
guide any curriculum revision recommendations. The schedule can indicate the resources needed and
the individuals responsible for various evaluation efforts.

Questions to consider while developing the schedule:

How will the data be collected (mailed survey, one-on-one interviews, observation, student files,
student achievement data, etc.)?
How large a sample do you need, and how will the participants be identified?
Who will collect the data and how long will data collection take?
Who will analyze the data, and how long will it take?
What resources do we already have that we can readily use?
Who needs to review the rough draft?
What will the final report look like?
What are the timeline restrictions?

Step 5 Develop or select the instruments or forms for collecting quantitative and qualitative
information.
Develop a data collection plan to obtain or develop the necessary data and data collection instruments.
The following list of questions may help:

What data have already been collected we can use?

How will new information be collected?
What scoring strategies should be utilized?
What data will be needed to answer the evaluation questions?

Preliminary Review – Step 6

Step 6 Preliminary Review

Present the Evaluation Design to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction before
proceeding with information collection and analysis.

16 Kirkwood School District

 Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment
We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

Curriculum Evaluation Procedures

(Details) continued

Information Collection and Analysis – Steps 7 and 8

Step 7 Collect the information.

Once the information-gathering methods and instruments have been developed or selected, collect the
data.

Step 8 Analyze the information, summarize the results and make recommendations.
Gather the data collected. Summarize the data. Analyze the data. Develop a list of recommendations
based upon the results. Results can be reported in several ways:

Quote verbatim responses

Report results by topic or by question.
Chart/graph results using bar graphs or pie charts.
Use measures of central tendency (mean, median or mode) for reporting quantitative data.
Report the total number of respondents and when they equal 20 or more, report results to survey
questions using percentages.
Report the total population sampled from, i.e., there are approximately 1,000 students in the program,
500 surveys were distributed to their parents, and 300 or 60% responded.
Report longitudinal growth, or year to year score gains, using Normal Curve Equivalent Scores.

When writing recommendations for curriculum revisions, be as specific as possible regarding

implications for:
Grade levels
Scope and sequence
Materials
Staff development
Student outcomes

Conclusion: Steps 9, 10 and 11

Step 9 Prepare the summative report, including curriculum revision expectations.

Repeat initial evaluation questions and provide responses. Share all findings and recommendations.

Step 10 Share the final evaluation.

A report template is available. Share the results of the evaluation with appropriate teachers,
facilitators, and administrators. The report will become part of the report to the Board of Education
when the curriculum revisions are recommended.

Step 11 Begin the curriculum revision process.

This is a critical step when trying to make use of the results of the evaluation.
It is important to monitor the implementation of the action plan.

17 Kirkwood School District

 Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment
We are a research-based district in a standard-based environment, and we practice problem solving for the benefit of everyone’s learning.

Evaluation Report – Template

(NAME OF CURRICULUM/COURSE)
(Month, Year)

Context: (Briefly describe the purpose of the curriculum evaluation.)

Evaluation Process:
(Provide an overview of the procedures for the evaluation. Provide any information about the
evaluation design or data collection that should be taken into consideration when drawing conclusions
about the curriculum.)

Student Achievement Data Findings and Other Quantitative Findings:

(Include visual representations such as charts and graphs.)

Qualitative Data Findings:

(Include charts and graphs, when appropriate.)

Identified Areas for Focus During Curriculum Revision:

(Review the implications for grade levels, scope and sequence, student outcomes)

Recommendations:
(Include recommendations for grade levels, scope and sequence, materials, staff development, student
outcomes)

Report completed by: ____________________________ Date:___________

18 Kirkwood School District