Negotiating New Models of Curriculum in Changing Times: Year 1

This paper will explore the findings from the first year of our three-year study involving four boards: Halton, Lincoln, Norfolk, and Waterloo RCSSB. The study focuses on how these boards are dealing with the changes mandated in THE COMMON CURRICULUM and the TRANSITION YEARS documents. These are curriculum policy documents developed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training. The latest version of THE COMMON CURRICULUM was released in 1995 and it presents the philosophy and outcomes to be achieved by students from grades 1 to 9. The mandate of the study was to examine how each board is dealing with various aspects of the policies including: (1) outcomes-based education and alternative forms of assessment; (2) integrated curriculum; and (3) how teachers, administrators, students, and members of the community are collaborating around these issues. On analyzing the data we found that educators also discussed the change process, leadership, and stress