Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Best Practices
Click an icon or link below to access a resource.
Resources for Getting Started
The Academic Program Survey (APS) is designed to help schools analyze the extent to which they are providing a coherent instructional program to support improved student achievement. It is based on the nine Essential Program …
This toolkit provides a variety of practical materials to assist external teams in providing technical assistance and conducting needs assessments of districts. The materials are intended to support improving district organizational …
On August 2, 2010, the California State Board of Education adopted the California Common Core Standards. Pursuant to Senate Bill X5 1 (January, 2010), California established the Academic Content Standards Commission to develop …
The California English Learner (EL) Roadmap: Strengthening Comprehensive Eductsaional Policies, Programs, and Practices for English learners (CA EL Roadmap) was unanimously approved by the …
In this video, Tom Adams, Deputy Superintendent from the California Department of Education, shares selected State resources that can assist in local planning efforts regarding the implementation of the ELA/ELD Framework.
This section of the Digital Chalkboard includes many resources to support Migrant Programs across California and assist in the implementation of quality services for migrant students. These resources provide access to state standards …
In this video, Tami Wilson from the Sacramento County Office of Education shares a graphic from the California ELA/ELD Framework that represents the conceptual design and organization of this document. The “circles of …
In this video, Tami Wilson from the Sacramento County Office of Education provides information from the Executive Summary of the California English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework. Learn about essential …
The purpose of the District Assistance Survey (DAS) is to help a district analyze its capacity to support a coherent instructional program at all schools and for all students. It is intended to guide a team’s conversation about …
The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Justice (DOJ) released joint guidance on January 7, 2015, reminding states, school districts and schools of their …
In this video, Alejandro Hernández from the California Department of Education provides an overview of State resources that support English Learners and the five key themes of the ELA/ELD Framework. This information is useful …
This document is intended to help district and site administrators enable powerful, equitable learning for all students. The ideas and tools identified are based on research literature, examples of leadership in action, and a case …
In this video, Graciela García-Torres from the Sacramento County Office of Education shares ideas for analyzing data for English learners and provides an overview of a useful tool, the English Learner Subgroup Self-Assessment …
This California Department of Education (CDE) Web portal focuses on middle schools and provides a wide range of extensive resources. Much of the information relates to 12 major recommendations, each of which has its own chapter. As a …
This document, developed by the CCSSO, offers a framework to help states use ESSA to close opportunity and achievement gaps. Although the intended audience is state leaders, school districts may find helpful advice for ESSA planning …
The ArtsScan website hosts a searchable database of State policies supporting education in and through the arts from all 50 States and the District of Columbia. You can find:
- policy language excerpted directly …
This website hosts the nation's first online research and policy clearninghouse focused on student and teacher outcomes associated with arts learning in and outside of school. Research studies are vetted for rigor and provide …
This website of the California Department of Education provides access to listings of all K-8 instructional materials that have been adopted by the State Board of Education. The names of adopted programs can be found by subject area …
On August 2, 2010, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the California Common Core State Standards (CCCSS). The CCCSS address the content areas of English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. Based on the Common Core State …
This resource consists of a variety of tools and orientation materials to help California educators become familiar with the California Common Core State Standards (CCCSS) and start to plan for their implementation. On August 2 …
This website of the California Department of Education provides access to all of the frameworks adopted by the California State Board of Education (SBE):
- Career Technical Education
- Foreign …
This document describes “foundations” (competencies)—knowledge and skills—for 4- and 5-year old children. The term “foundations” is used rather than “standards” to convey that learning …
On August 2, 2010, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), with some additions unique to California. The CCSS address the content areas of English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. These …
The CSSESA Arts Initiative Curriculum Committee agreed to review current educational methodology and research in the area of arts curriculum and arts integration. The committee reviewed literature and developed a current working …
The Web site of the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) provides access to research-based information, resources, research, and professional development to support instruction of English learners (EL). The Center designs and …
This Web site provides access to research-based materials, resources, and Internet links to support instruction and intervention for English language learners. The site includes exemplary delivery models and professional development …
The Center on Instruction offers materials and resources on Literacy and English Language Arts that help educators improve academic outcomes for students, address the problem of struggling readers, and meet instructional challenges …
The Center on Instruction offers materials and resources on Mathematics and Science instruction and assessment that help educators improve academic outcomes for all students in the content areas of Mathematics and Science. We also …
This document identifies commonalities among improved school districts and is intended to help districts review and revise their current policies, programs and practices to improve student learning. Based on a review and analysis of …
This article identifies characteristics of school districts that have been exceptionally successful in closing gaps in achievement among diverse groups of students, including students in challenging circumstances. Evidence for the …
The Wisconsin Department of Education's Characteristics of Successful Districts offers a set of rubrics that can help guide districts as they build on their unique strengths and plan improvement efforts. Building …
This website of the California Department of Education provides access to content standards for all subjects, as adopted by the State Board of Education:
- Career Technical Education
- English Language …
The Council of the Great City Schools advocates for shared standards across districts to set high expectations for students and enable districts to leverage resources so that students achieve them.
The Common Core State …
This guide, published by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), describes evidence-based recommendations for literacy instruction for English language learners in the elementary grades. The target audience includes administrators …
The EL Roadmap (Part 3) training slides provide an introduction to the Roadmap's vision, mission, and guiding principles.
The EL Roadmap Training (Part 4) slides highlight several examples of promising practices in school districts. The ideas are in alignment with the EL Roadmap principles.
The EL Roadmap (Part 5) slides describe how to use the Roadmap to promote coherence in local planning. A crosswalk for the LCAP can be used to align the district's actions and services to the Roadmap's principles.
The EL Roadmap (Part 6) presentation slides can be used to facilitate the use of a self-reflection rubric by a team to evaluate how well local actions and services are aligned to the Roadmap …
The EL Roadmap (Part 7) presentation slides can be used to guide a district's EL policy review, revision, and development.
The EL Roadmap (Part 8) presentation slides explain the process for submitting local promising practices for inclusion on a list of vetted, web-based resources.
EL Roadmap Training (Session 10 of 10)
This video includes an introduction to Collaboration in Common, a platform that can be used to continue the collaborative work of implementing the EL …
CA EL Roadmap Training (Part 2 of 10) This video provides an overview of the EL Roadmap project, the EL Roadmap Policy's approval process, and the parts of the California EL Roadmap: Strengthening …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 3 of 10)
This video takes a deeper look into the CA EL Roadmap and focuses on its vision, mission, principles, and elements.
EL Roadmap Training (Part 4 of 10)
This video features the Anaheim Union High School District's approach to implementing the EL Roadmap Policy. Also, the Davis Unified School District shares a …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 5 of 10)
This video provides an overview of the connections between the CA EL Roadmap and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Participants in the session have the …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 6 of 10)
This video shows how to use a self-reflection rubric to reflect on strengths and areas for growth at a district or school This rubric includes each of the CA EL …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 7 of 10)
This video shows how a large district began the process of integrating the EL Roadmap into its local EL policy. Session participants discuss the extent the …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 8 of 10)
This video includes the California Department of Education's (CDE) EL Roadmap web-based resources and shows viewers how to us a vetting tool and …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 9 of 10)
This video focuses on messaging and taking action on the CA EL Roadmap. It features the California Association of Bilingual Education's call to action video …
EL Roadmap Training (Part 1 of 10) This video features an overview of the agend and intorductory comments from leaders of educational organizations. Part I includes comments from Dr. Tom Adams, Deputy Superintendent at the California …
In this video, Alejandro Hernández from the California Department of Education provides an overview of an ELA/ELD Framework guide that supports educators in using resources from the Framework that focus on meeting the needs of …
This video segment highlights the features of systematic reading instruction and emphasizes four explicit routines: modeling, guided practice, independent student practice and repeated review of skills and concepts. Connie Tate, RTAC …
In this video, Dave Chun from the Sacramento County Office of Education shares information from the Executive Summary of the California Mathematics Framework. Learn about essential information and ideas for teachers, administrators …
The History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (HSS Framework) supports and guides the implementation of a standards-based history-social science curriculum …
A Collection of Resources for Educators Who Support English Learners
The Web page features a rigorously curated collection of resources with an …
This video segment features Dr. Wendy Harris, Director, Region 3 Regional System of District and School Support, Sacramento County Office of Education, interviewing Dr. Ronda Adams, Associate Superintendent for Educational Services …
This study, conducted by the Education Trust, describes four high schools that made greater-than-expected academic gains with previously underperforming students. The findings are summarized in the following …
This video segment provides a concise guide to hiring external consultants for provider services, including professional development activities. This segment includes nine practical tips for maximizing the efficacy of providers. This …
Connie Tate, Director of RTAC for San Joaquin County Office of Education, outlines the instructional design for ELA materials. She reviews four major components: scope and sequence, goals and objectives, lesson organization, and …
Formerly called the Least Restrictive Environment Survey, this self-assessment tool helps districts examine their policies, procedures, and practices in supporting educational options for students with disabilities. It supports …
Wendy Harris, Director, Sacramento County Office of Education, provides the introduction for this video segment that features two retired North Sacramento School District administrators outlining essential factors for implementing a …
This website contains free downloadable PDFs on various topics pertaining to Changing Schools. These topics are social emotional learning, school improvement, technology, diverse learners, coaching, student engagement, early …
This website, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, provides information and access to a wide range of numerous resources to support response to intervention (RtI). The Center defines RtI as integrating assessment and …
This Web site of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition provides access to a wide range of research and resources to support education of English Learners (EL). Resources are available in the …
This website of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) provides access to curriculum focal points for mathematics in prekindergarten through grade 8. The focal points serve as major instructional goals and desirable …
Wendy Harris, Director, Sacramento County Office of Education, provides the introduction to this comprehensive presentation focused on the efficacy of a districtwide principal coaching model. John Brewer, a retired administrator from …
This document describes fifteen recommendations in instruction and infrastructure to improve literacy for middle and high school students; the recommendations have a substantial base in research and/or professional opinion. The …
Federal civil rights laws and Supreme Court precedent require States to provide equal access to public education to all children – including those who are undocumented. The US Department of Education's Resource …
This website of the California Department of Education provides access to numerous resources to support Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtI2) in general education settings. Links are provided to professional development …
The Science Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (framework) supports a three-dimensional vision of science education. In the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS …
Connie Tate, RTAC Director for San Joaquin County Office of Education, outlines seven key features of effective reading instruction. She provides examples for instruction that is: explicit, systematic, coordinated, scaffolded, and …
The Smarter Balanced Assessment System has three components: summative assessments, designed for accountability purposes; interim assessments, designed to support teaching and learning throughout the year; and formative assessment …
This video segment describes strategies for differentiation in reading instruction and outlines several variables to consider: size of group, number of days of instruction per week, number of minutes per class period, lesson …
This website of the U.S. Department of Education provides access to documents related to sustaining evidence-based reading instruction. The resources provide a conceptual framework on sustainability, tools for assessing readiness to …
The Active Implementation Hub website includes the Hexagon Tool which is designed to help states, districts, and schools appropriately select evidence-based instructional, behavioral, and social- emotional innovations and prevention …
U.S. Department of Education's Newcomer Toolkit is designed to help elementary and secondary teachers, principals, and other school staff to work with immigrant students—including asylees and …
The U.S. Department of Education sponsored a series of seven webinars focused on the educational and linguistic integration of immigrants and refugees. Topics include engaging with immigrant parents and families in a variety of ways …
This study specifies a set of criteria for identifying Ca. turnaround schools and summarizes strategies that a sample of principals from these schools reported as essential to improved outcomes at their schools. Student achievement …
The Understanding Language website aims to heighten educator awareness of the critical role that language plays in the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. The long-term goal of the initiative is to …
The Visual and Performing Arts Framework is designed to help classroom teachers and other educators develop curriculum and instruction in the arts so that all students will meet or exceed the content standards in dance, music …
This video is an interview with Maureen Messier, Sheldon High School Theatre Director and VAPA Department Chair, Elk Grove Unified and Joe Demers, Choir Director. Maureen and Joe describe how the arts impact students and engage …
This document identifies 11 research-based, interrelated elements that help adolescents learn to write well and to use writing as a tool for learning. The document provides specific instructional practices that improve …
