OXFORD – The Board of Directors unanimously approved the SAD 17 long-range curriculum plan Monday night paving the way for its full implementation through the 2009-10 school year.

The plan was approved by the Curriculum Committee on April 14.

Curriculum Director Kathy Elkins told board members the approval will allow for the final revision of science and health curriculum in grades kindergarten through 12 next year and the start of the formal revision process in 2009-10 in English language arts and mathematics.

Mathematics curriculum development and revision is being implemented this year in kindergarten through grade five. The science curriculum development and revisions continue this year with implementation planned for the 2009-10 school year.

The overall plan covers language arts, mathematics, science and social studies, the four major content areas, plus foreign language and physical education.

The revisions are being made to ensure the curriculum is lined up with the revised Maine Learning Results, Elkins said. The Maine Learning Results, which were first written in the 1990s, identify the knowledge and skills essential to prepare Maine students for work, higher education, citizenship and personal fulfillment, according to the Department of Education. The Learning Results are built on the premises that all students should aspire to high levels of learning; achievement should be assessed in a variety of ways; and completion of public school should have common meaning throughout the state.

Elkins told the board that much of this work has already been under way. For example, the revised social studies curriculum was implemented last year and its implementation and evaluation will continue next year.

As part of that work, new materials are being purchased, but Elkins warned the purchases are limited this year due to finances.

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