USD 449 oversees all curriculum development and implementation through the District Curriculum Committee (DCC), which consists of district administrators and a teacher representative from each school building. The process of developing curriculum for grades Kindergarten through 12 is ongoing and collaborative, involving input from all teachers. Educators engage in professional development focused on updates to academic standards, conduct both horizontal and vertical curriculum reviews to ensure a coherent progression of skills throughout a student’s educational journey, and critically evaluate available instructional materials to support course objectives.

Student performance in USD 449 is measured through the Kansas State Assessments, administered to students in grades 3 through 11. The district aligns its instructional framework with the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards, which establish clear expectations for student achievement at graduation. These standards define College and Career Readiness as possessing the academic knowledge, cognitive abilities, technical skills, and employability competencies necessary to succeed in postsecondary education, attain industry-recognized certifications, or enter the workforce without requiring remediation.

You can view the curriculum standards for each grade level at this link.