NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 203

 

November 2001

Since April 2001 when Naperville Community Unit School District 203 released the TIMSS 1999 results, many individuals and districts have called requesting the titles of the mathematics and science textbooks used. In addition, the callers wondered if the school district could send them the curriculum. It appeared that many were searching for a quick answer to a rather complicated question: Why are students in the United States not performing at the same level of proficiency as their international peers?

While Naperville Community Unit School District 203 (NCUSD 203) administrators and faculty were willing to share this information, we were hesitant to share this information without further explanation. The truth is that we have had to practice critical reflection in order to answer the question: "So how were your students able to do so well?" As a result of this reflection, NCUSD 203 believes that the curriculum development process used in NCUSD 203 is what promotes student achievement. You may for curiosity's sake decide to review our textbook link first. However, we sincerely hope that you will spend additional time reviewing the other links, particularly the History Trace and the Curriculum Development Cycle. We believe that this process is what has caused NCUSD 203 students to be able to compete with their international peers.

Lenore Johnson
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary

Jodi Wirt
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary