The Dedham School Committee Policy Subcommittee is currently reviewing and will vote on a revised policy after three public readings of the proposed revisions. 

Current School Committee policies can be found on the District Handbook and Policies page, and also posted online with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

Proposed Revised Policy - Presented 01/21/2025

File: IGA - CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

The School Committee believes that a child's social, emotional and intellectual growth should take place in carefully planned stages. To this end, the superintendent shall oversee the development of an instructional program that is coordinated system-wide and follows an orderly and related sequence from grade to grade and school to school.

The Committee also wishes the school system´s educational program to be equitable, inclusive, and meaningful reflecting the diverse identities, cultures, and lived experiences of its students and their families. Therefore, the Committee expects that:

1.  the superintendent and all faculty are vigilant to changing conditions, including conditions of equity, systemic bias, and evolving societal norms that may require adjustments in the curriculum.

2.  all programs are under continuous evaluation to ensure they are free from systemic bias, promote inclusivity, and address inequities that may impact historically marginalized or underserved groups.

3.  all programs are under continuous evaluation to see that they are aligned to and consistent with current Massachusetts curriculum and instructional frameworks.

4.  the school system to undertake intensive curriculum evaluation and revision with an explicit focus on identifying and addressing inequities and biases as part of a broader equity agenda.

The Committee will hear regular reports on instructional programs and ongoing curriculum study and revision. Substantive revisions of or additions to the PK-12 course of study will be presented to the School Committee through the superintendent for discussion, questions, and feedback in advance of implementation.

Substantive revisions of or additions to the PK-12 course of study, especially those addressing systemic bias and equity, will be presented to the School Committee through the superintendent for discussion, questions, and feedback in advance of implementation.

LEGAL REF.:  M.G.L. 69:1E

                         M.G.L. Chapter 71, Section 1

603 CMR 26:05          

             603 CMR 26.07

             Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d)

             Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681)

             Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 20 U.S.C. § 6301)

Revised and Approved by the Dedham School Committee on 11/3/2021