SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  78  (FRASER-CASCADE)

 

POLICY         NO: 5400

                        DATE: 97-10-28

                        REVISED: 2004-08-24

 

SUBJECT: BOARD/AUTHORITY AUTHORIZED COURSES

 

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It is the policy of the Board of School Trustees, to provide a wide range of educational opportunities to meet the needs of all pupils in the schools in School District No. 78 (Fraser-Cascade).

 


SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  78  (FRASER-CASCADE)

 

REGULATIONS NO: 5400 R

                        DATE: 97-10-28

                        REVISED: 2004-08-24

 

SUBJECT: BOARD/AUTHORITY AUTHORIZED COURSES

 

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1.                  General

 

a)                  Proposals for any board/authority authorized course and all supporting test(s) and other instructional materials shall be forwarded to the Superintendent of Schools.

 

b)                 The Superintendent shall make a recommendation to the Board of School Trustees.

 

c)                  Approval of any board/authority authorized course and its supporting texts and other instructional material shall be by resolution of the Board.

 

2.         Course Details

 

            Submission for approval of board/authority authorized courses shall be made in writing and shall include the following:

 

a)            Course Name

 

BAA Course names should reflect the subject area and include the grade level 10, 11, or 12 in the course name.

 

b)            Grade Level

 

The grade level reflects the appropriate level of instruction.  In some cases, it may be appropriate to create several courses at the same grade level in order to treat different aspects of the subject.  This strategy may also be used in the case of a large amount of content divided into several courses.  Such courses could be labeled, for example, Psychology 11A, 11B, and 11C.

 

c)            Number of Credits

 

Credits refer to the value of a grade 10, 11, or 12 course.  The credit value reflects the length and scope of a course.  A full course is 4 credits (100 to 120 hours).

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d)            Course Synopsis

 

The course synopsis is a statement of product.  It outlines what a student has gained when the course is completed.

 

e)            Rationale

 

The rationale is a statement of the reasons for wanting to offer opportunities to study this course.  The rationale answers the questions:  Why is it important for students to take this course?

 

f)              Organizational Structure

 

The organizational structure included the curriculum organizers (the big ideas) and the specific topics or units, which include the learning outcomes, instruction and assessment components, and time allotments.

 

g)            Learning Outcomes

 

The learning outcomes are statements of what students are expected to know and be able to do within each course curriculum organizer.

 

Learning outcomes for a BAA Course must be:

 

·        written to complete the stem:  It is expected that students will…

·        appropriate to the age or grade range for which they are intended

·        understandable by students, parents, and educators

·        observable or measurable (i.e., stated in such a way that it will be readily apparent when the student has met the expectation)

·        clearly stated in terms of what will be expected of students

·        supportive of a range of instructional and assessment strategies

 

h)            Instructional Component

 

The instructional component of a course expands on and makes clear the intent of the learning outcomes.  It involves the use of activities, techniques, and methods that can be employed to meet diverse student needs and to deliver the curriculum.  The nature and features of the course will influence instructional strategies and activities.

 

i)              Assessment Component

 

The assessment component provides opportunities to assess formatively and summatively the students’ achievement of the learning outcomes.

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j)              Learning Resources

 

The learning resources selected for the course should be age appropriate and support the learning outcomes.  The selection and development of learning resources should take into account the needs of learners.  Considerations include diverse learning rates and styles, and a range of special needs.  Major learning resources, including teacher resources, should be listed.

 

Learning resources that are selected to support BAA Courses must be evaluated through the local board-approved process.

 

3.         If answers to the foregoing cannot be provided to the satisfaction of the Board, the course may not be approved or may be referred to the Superintendent for a further report and resubmission.