LAC 28:LXXXI.2101. Purpose

A. Standards and benchmarks provide a framework for local curriculum development. A school district's physical facilities, available equipment, resources, and community and business support are only a few of the factors that make the system unique and determine the curriculum offered. B. In using this framework to develop curriculum, a standard is the major outcome of a course, and benchmarks are the goals for obtaining that outcome. Local systems will select the career majors to be offered, the courses offered in these majors, and create the objectives and activities that teachers will use to direct their instruction to reach the benchmarks for the selected courses. This procedure will allow local systems to structure curriculum to meet the needs of their students, schools, and communities while remaining consistent with the overall framework for the entire state. C. Local systems will use the career majors as a guide to select the courses that will be offered for each major. Not all career majors or all courses listed with the major in this framework must be offered locally. Employment opportunities and postsecondary education availability in the local area should be considered as curriculum is developed. D. To be identified as a vocational completer, a student must successfully complete four courses in the career major-two of which must be competency courses. The other two courses must be selected from the competency courses and/or related elective courses identified in the career major. E. Following each career major are the content standards that relate to the major. The standards identify what students should know and be able to do. In the column beside each standard are benchmarks that identify specific skills and knowledge and serve as points of reference to gauge student progress toward achievement of standards. Benchmarks set the direction of instruction. F. Academic Content Standards Cross-References 1. Cross-references to academic content standards reinforce the integration of academic and technology skills. English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science academic standards are cross-referenced in the third column beside each Technology Education standard. The referenced academic standards are listed in full in Subpart 3, Appendices. a. See Subpart 3, Chapter 27 for detailed referenced Academic Content Standards. 2. Codes used in the table to identify the academic standards are given as follows. English Language Arts―ELA Standard number is given, then benchmark number Example: ELA1-M1 (Standard one, Benchmark Middle School Number One) Mathematics letter is given, then benchmark number N―Number and Number Relations A―Algebra M―Measurement G―Geometry D―Data, Discrete Math, and Probability P―Patterns, Relations, and Functions Social Studies letter is given, then benchmark letter and number G―Geography C―Civics E―Economics H – History Science letter is given, then benchmark letter and number SI―Science as Inquiry PS―Physical Science LS―Life Science SE―Science and the Environment Arts letter is given, then benchmark letter and number CE―Creative Expression AP―Aesthetic Perception HP―Historical and Cultural Perception CA―Critical Analysis