SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE - A Framework for Developing, Implementing, and Sustaining a High-Quality District Curriculum - 2nd Edition

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Connor

Supporting Excellence presents a revised, second-edition framework to help urban school districts develop, implement, and sustain high-quality curriculum guidance. It responds to changing teaching and learning needs by clarifying grade-level expectations, emphasizing student assets, and supporting diverse learners. The framework stresses rigorous, standards-aligned scaffolding for English language learners, students with disabilities, and historically marginalized students. It also guides Tier I instruction to address unfinished learning while strengthening students’ social, emotional, and well-being needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages112

Reading Time4 h 42 min

AccessFree to download

Developing and Sustaining High-Quality District Curriculum

Purpose and Audience

Curriculum Guidance Priorities

Acknowledgments and Contributors

SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE A Framework for Developing, Implementing, and Sustaining a High-Quality District Curriculum SEC OND EDITION A BO UT T H E CO U NC I L The Council of the Great City Schools is the only national organization exclusively representing the needs of urban public schools. Composed of 78 large city school districts, its mission is to promote the cause of urban schools and to advocate for inner-city students through legislation, research, instructional support, leadership, management, technical assistance, and media relations. The organization also provides a network for school districts sharing common problems to exchange information and to collectively address new challenges as they emerge in order to deliver the best education for urban youth. Chair of the Board Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent Portland Public Schools Chair-Elect Marcia Andrews, School Board Member The School District of Palm Beach County Secretary/ Treasurer Sonja Santelises, CEO Baltimore City Public Schools Immediate Past Chair Kelly Gonez, School Board Member Los Angeles Unified School District Executive Director Ray Hart Council of the Great City Schools SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE A Framework for Developing, Implementing, and Sustaining a High-Quality District Curriculum September 2023 AC K N OW L E D G M E NTS Teaching and learning have changed substantially in recent years, driving the demand for more responsive curricular materials and guidance to help teachers address unfinished learning, boost student engagement, and meet the social emotional and mental health needs of students. While these learning necessities are not new, the pandemic served to highlight their fundamental role and connection to academic outcomes. Furthermore, the pandemic exposed the significant systemic and structural barriers to learning faced by marginalized populations and diverse learners that have been present for decades. These factors included physical barriers, such as a lack of proficiency or access to technology and the Internet, as well as barriers such as low expectations, limited communication between communities and schools, and outdated or culturally inappropriate curricular materials that limited student access to rigorous, grade-level instruction. Developed through combined efforts of Council staff together with school district academic leaders and other experts, this 2nd edition of Supporting Excellence: A Framework for Developing, Implementing, and Sustaining a High-Quality District Curriculum is designed to help districts: ∎ Determine the quality and alignment of curriculum guidance to clarify the district’s learning expectations at each grade-level with a focus on student assets and diverse learners; ∎ Ensure that curriculum guidance includes appropriate scaffolding and support for English language learners, students with disabilities, and historically marginalized students that is rigorous and aligned to district standards; and ∎ Provide support in the district’s curriculum guidance for addressing unfinished learning during Tier I instruction that also attends to the social, emotional, and well-being of students. This revised edition would not have been possible without the contributions from our advisory committee comprised of Chief Academic Officers, content leaders in mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, and History/Social Science, as well as directors of Multilingual Education and Special Education from our member districts. We are most grateful to the national experts and Council staff who served as technical advisors and contributed their expertise, experiences, and insight during the revision process. This includes Ricki Price-Baugh (retired), Robin Hall, Denise Walston, Karla Estrada (former staff), Farah Assiraj, and Nicole Mancini who led this effort. We also would like to thank Council staff that reviewed drafts of the curriculum framework and provided feedback: Michael

FAQs

What is the purpose of Supporting Excellence’s second edition?

It is designed to help districts develop, implement, and sustain high-quality curriculum guidance aligned to grade-level expectations and standards.

How does the framework address diverse learners?

It emphasizes rigorous, standards-aligned scaffolding and support for English language learners, students with disabilities, and historically marginalized students.

How does the framework respond to unfinished learning?

It provides district curriculum guidance for addressing unfinished learning during Tier I instruction while attending to students’ social, emotional, and well-being needs.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Connor