Curriculum could be defined broadly as those components that lead to effective learning. Toombs and Tierney (1993) define it as "the instrument of change in education." Curriculum has four interlocking components (Cayadong, n.d.):
1. Curriculum Aims, Goals and Objectives
2. Curriculum Content or Subject Matter
3. Curriculum Experience (Instructional Strategies and Methods)
4. Curriculum Evaluation
The academic core courses of study that all EUSD students have access to are: ELA (English Language Arts), Mathematics, Science and History/Social Science. The instructional minutes that students receive for these core courses equal and oftentimes exceed the state-recommended minutes. Students receive the mandated minutes of Physical Education at all grade levels.
Our K-5 and 6-8 Science Teacher Teams have been consistently working on developing and implementing NGSS-aligned units that reflect the 3-D nature of teaching and learning science. For Grades 6-8, EUSD science curriculum team has adopted a hybrid model that is focused on the integrated pathway. Grades K-5 are using Mystery Science and FOSS materials for instruction. Teachers are consistently being trained using internal experts, as well as science education experts from Placer County Office of Education and Sacramento Area Science Project. Approximately $40,000 was spent to fund planning and collaboration among our science teacher teams last summer 2018.