Curriculum Materials Center
Livingston Lord Library

Carol Sibley, Curriculum Librarian

Curriculum Bulletins/Guides

Curriculum bulletins and guides are a written plan which includes various aspects of curriculum and instruction, such as philosophy, policies, aims, objectives, subject matter, frameworks, scope and sequence, teaching activities, assessment, and resources/bibliographies.  The plan may be narrow in scope such as a unit or topic of instruction, or as broad as the entire curriculum of a school system or a model curriculum published by a state department of education or a professional organization.

• Course of Study: general in nature and broadly defines the education programs in terms of philosophy, goals, and objectives.  Lays out what is taught in the classrooms of a school district.

• Frameworks: developed by state departments of education to help school districts develop their courses of study.

• Curriculum Guide: suggestive in nature and gives ideas on how a subject or area might be taught.  More specific than a course of study.

• Curriculum Bulletin: provides information on a particular focus area.  Provides school personnel with background to develop and implement curriculum programs.  Usually produced by state departments of education.

Last modified 05/28/04 by selzler@mnstate.edu                         
Comments to sibley@mnstate.edu