FILE:  ID

CURRICULUM

The Catahoula Parish School Board has the responsibility to establish and maintain a quality program of instruction for the elementary and secondary schools of the school district.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for coordinating and maintaining the instructional program in accordance with the provisions of the state constitution, state statutes, rules and regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), and the policies of the School Board.

The organization and scheduling of subjects in the curriculum of the school district shall conform to BESE requirements and statewide content standards for required subjects.  The curriculum shall provide learning experiences and prospective achievement for each child according to their individual needs and offer students a basic body of understanding, attitudes, knowledge, and skills.      

By the end of the eighth (8th) grade, every student, with the assistance of his/her parent or other legal custodian and school counselor, and for a student with an exceptionality, except a student identified as gifted or talented and who has no other exceptionality, the student’s Individualized Education Program team, if applicable, shall begin to develop an Individual Graduation Plan to guide future academic course work in order for the student to explore education and career possibilities.  The plan shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to identify the courses to be taken each year until all required core courses are completed.  Each student’s Individual Graduation Plan shall be signed by the student, the student’s parent or other legal custodian, and the school counselor.

CAREER MAJOR

The curriculum design within the high schools shall include a career major comprised of challenging academic courses and modern career and technical studies.  Such a curriculum design shall allow each high school student to choose a career option at the high school level, which includes activities designed to introduce students to occupations in demand in Louisiana.  The School Board shall develop and offer one or more career major programs aligned to state and regional workforce demands, pursuant to policies adopted by BESE.  

Assessment

In order to receive federal funding, all students enrolling in a career classes must be administered a career assessment prior to or immediately upon entering the ninth grade.  These tests are used to measure interest and ability levels.  The school counselor or principal or his/her designee shall schedule a time to administer these test batteries during the spring semester.

Career Education Handbook

As part of the orientation process, a Catahoula Parish Career Education Handbook is disseminated to all eighth grade students.  This handbook provides an overview of guidance services available at the secondary level.  It also includes a list of career course offerings with a course description of each.

ELECTIVES

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has granted school systems the authority to develop, review, and approve all locally-initiated electives, in accordance with the Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741.  The process shall ensure alignment with standards-based initiatives, compliance with current BESE policies, and all laws and regulations pertaining to students with disabilities.  Elective courses shall enhance, expand, and/or refine the core curriculum.  Elective courses shall not replace, duplicate, or significantly overlap the content of core curriculum or other approved electives.

Proper documentation of all approved electives shall be maintained by the School Board. 

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:154, 17:181, 17:182, 17:183, 17:183.1, 17:183.2, 17:183.3, 17:183.5, 17:261, 17:262, 17:2925

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, §2301 and §2315, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 1-5-10, 6-4-13

Catahoula Parish School Board