K-12 Curriculum Development

Curriculum gaps create a barrier for student learning and have a detrimental effect on students' opportunity to learn.  Gaps are created by a lack of communication among educators, varying implementation practices, available resources, and decisions about pacing.  According to English (2000), "Curriculum design and delivery face one fundamental problem in schools.  When the door is shut and nobody else is around, the classroom teacher can select and teach just about any curriculum he or she decides is appropriate" (p. 1).

All students should receive a guaranteed and viable curriculum (Marzano, 2003).  If the received curriculum greatly varies from one class to the next, then it will be difficult for teachers at the next grade level to build on prior knowledge and understandings.  One of the goals of teaching is to ensure close alignment between the intended, taught, assessed, and received curricula. 

Jacbos (1997) wrote, "If there are gaps among teachers within buildings, there are virtual Grand Canyons among buildings in a district (p. 3).
 
One of the tasks of curriculum leadership is to use the right methods to
    bring the written, the taught, the supported, and the tested curriculums
    into closer alignment, so that the learned curriculum is maximized.

                                                 -  Allan Glatthorn, Curriculum Renewal (1987), p. 4

  What strategies does your school or school system use to "Mind the Gap"?

References:

English, F.W. (2000). Deciding what to teach and test: Developing, aligning
       and auditing the curriculum. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Glatthorn, A.A. (1987). Curriculum renewal. Alexandria, VA: Association for
       Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Jacobs, H.H. (1997). Mapping the big picture: Integrating curriculum and
       assessment K-12. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
       Curriculum Development.

Marzano, R.J. (2003). What works in schools: Translating research into
       action. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
       Development.