The DoDEA Curriculum Cycle
The Education Directorate of DoDEA provides educational programs for our overseas (DoDDS) and domestic (DDESS) schools. Our academic programs follow a six-year curriculum cycle, Curriculum Development and Assessment Adoption Cycle. At each step in the cycle, different curriculum areas go through an intensive review process which includes: program review, standards review/revision, instructional materials review/adoption, implementation, and assessment review/revision. The adopted performance standards that identify what students should know and be able to do at each grade level are revised during step 2 of the cycle.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) uses an extensive six year process to evaluate and revise all subject area programs. This process is a revolving cycle that begins with evaluating the current program and ending with the implementation and assessment of new textbooks and materials. Each task of the cycle is described in the Cycle Description.
Cycle Description
Step 1
- Task Analysis/Needs Assessment/Program Evaluation
- Task Analysis: Identify tasks for all steps of the cycle according to results of needs assessment conducted and review program implementation.
- Program Evaluation: Conduct evaluation, which may include standardized test results, performance assessment results, attitudinal surveys of students, parents, and administrators, and configuration map observation results.
Step 2
- Develop/Revise Curriculum Performance Standards
- Develop Assessment Specifications
- Conduct Materials Review
- Curriculum Revision/Development: Convene work groups in districts and Headquarters to revise curriculum and develop content and performance standards.
- Materials Review: Convene to review materials for correlation with curriculum standards.
Step 3
- Compile Materials Review Results
- Implementation Buy
- Develop/Review/Purchase Assessments
- Results of Review: Compile evaluations from materials review, write integrated assesments, and compile cost-analysis completed for highest ranking materials.
- Implementation Buy: Order materials through the districts for electronic data transfer through Headquarters.
Step 4
- Pre-Implementation Training: Standards, Curriculum Materials, Instructional Strategies, and Assessments
- Pre-Implementation Training: Conduct training in districts in the content and performance standards, instructional strategies, and assessments using the newly adopted materials as tools to implement the standards.
Step 5
- Full Implementation of Curriculum/ Materials
- Implementation of Assessments
- Implementation: Implement fully the use of materials and standards for students.
Step 6
- Assess Fidelity of Implementation
- Adjust and Supplement
- Fidelity of Implementation: Assess the degree and quality of the implementation, and the use of the adopted materials to meet the standards. Make adjustments accordingly.
