THE BALANCED CURRICULUM: A GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR SCHEDULING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NC STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL


The Instructional Services Division at NCDPI, in collaboration with members of the Exceptional Children and Instructional Technology Divisions, as well as members from the educational community, has developed a guiding document for elementary schools focused on implementing a balanced curriculum. This document focuses on the importance and value of delivering a well-rounded education which includes all areas of the Standard Course of Study. It addresses the what, why, and how for implementing a balanced curriculum including: questions and answers, guiding principles and recommendations, sample scenarios and schedules, a looking ahead section, survey results and implications, and resources.

The document incorporates and addresses many current issues and concerns from the public schools as reported via surveys and feedback through teachers, principals and administrators to the elementary curriculum committee. It is a "living" document, and additional resources, best practices, and model sites will be added as they are identified and as schools and LEA's respond to this initiative. Similar documents will be developed for the middle and high school levels in the near future.

It is the hope that as teachers, administrators, and educational leaders strive to provide the best education possible to North Carolina's young people, this document will serve as a valuable resource for addressing issues, needs and guidance for scheduling and implementing the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

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There are many ways that this document can be used as a springboard for discussion groups, professional development, and leadership at various levels. You are encouraged to share this resource with others. =============================================================================
The PDF version is available on the web at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/ (Click on the "Balanced Curriculum" link above the SCS chart). This PDF file contains the entire document, but is not hot-linked internally or externally. It will remain on the website until the new PDF (which will have the ability to follow links within and outside the document) is complete.

Hard copies of the document, which come with a cover, spine, and tabs, and can be placed into notebooks, may be ordered through NCDPI publications. The document will be available: on the web (free), and hard copy or CD through Publications.

The CD and web versions of the document will also include the Balanced Curriculum Powerpoint Overview with notes, so that you, or anyone who wants, can use it to provide an overview of the contents of the document.

An order form and additional information will be sent, once it
is available. If you know people who have been asking to see the
document, they can access the current PDF version until the others are available,
or order a hard copy through NCDPI.
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Pricing information for Balanced Curriculum materials:

web - free (document and powerpoint overview)
IS144 - Document - $11.00
IS145 - CD - $7.00 (document with links and powerpoint overview)
IS146 - Poster (sold in packs of 20) - $9.00 per set of 20

NCDPI Publications: http://149.168.35.203/publications_catalog/
email: publications@dpi.state.nc.us or
call 800-663-1250 (in North Carolina) or 919-807-3470 (outside North Carolina)