The organization recognizes the need and value of a systematic and on-going program of curriculum review. The organization encourages and supports the professional staff in its efforts to identify and review new curricular ideas, develop and improve existing programs and evaluate all instructional programs.

The principal will continuously carry out the curriculum development and implementation process. As used in this policy, curriculum is the process, attitudes, skills and knowledge that is taught and learned at the appropriate levels.

A. Curriculum

The organization obtains its curriculum by research and best practices.

B. Curriculum Map

The principal or designee will ensure that a current curriculum map identifying the instructional objectives to be met at each grade level taught at the school. The curriculum map will be updated as necessary and be posted on the school’s website.

C. Teaching of Evolution

The school embraces a rigorous program in the natural sciences. In biology, the school will teach the theory of evolution as found in the standard high-school biology textbooks and as also taught at the college level in both secular and religious colleges. The theory of evolution is largely misunderstood today by the general public. Much of what constitutes the teaching of evolution concerns adaptation of species to their environment and change over time. A great many of these phenomena are observable. A very small percentage of evolutionary theory deals with the more controversial issue of the origins of life. This latter aspect of evolution, to the extent it is taught, will be introduced to students briefly with a great deal of circumspection; it is not a central part of the theory. Furthermore, the study of science will be confined to the investigation of the physical world. It is not the place of science to make metaphysical claims nor to confirm or deny the validity of religion or the existence of God. The school recognizes a clear distinction between science and scientism. Science is the continued research into the natural world in order to find the most plausible explanations for natural phenomena. Scientism is the belief—and it is a belief—that science is the only means of understanding our world, thus excluding other ways of interpreting the world, such as through literature or religion. Keeping in mind this distinction, the teachers at the school will leave matters of faith up to students and their parents. The role of a teacher in a public school is neither that of preacher nor of skeptic. Rather teachers of history, when called upon by the curriculum, will teach the history of religion without either advocating or undermining religion in general or any specific faith. Likewise, science teachers will teach science, without comment on religion. Teachers, students, and parents must realize that a biology class has a particular purpose and is not the proper venue for a philosophical or theological discussion on the existence of God or claims relating to the activity of God or absence thereof in the natural world.

Adopted: June 28, 2024