DESCRIPTORS

This handbook contains specific suggestions and activities designed to assist small, rural school districts in identifying local resources for determining their readiness and capacity for curriculum renewal. State education agencies are becoming more active in curriculum issues, with new standards guiding local resources, practices, and learning outcomes. Much of the focus is moving from traditional process standards to the articulation of common curriculum goals, school performance reporting, and self-study. Careful analysis of available information can identify activities which are necessary to meet new mandates. Local curricular needs and priorities sometimes emerge from professional, regional, or national trends, which can be recast to reflect the local situation. Whatever the rationale for change, it is always necessary to review available resources in research and literature to identify current information. It is most important that district administration