Students in the U.S. Included in Curriculum Development Program
In Hampton City schools on the East Coast of Virginia, Kate Maxlow, the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, has initiated a system where students are deeply involved in the curriculum development process and are compensated for their time and expertise.
With over a decade of experience in professional development and curriculum development leadership in the region, Maxlow created an internship program that pays high school students $19 per hour to help review the district’s curriculum annually every summer. The interns provide feedback on whether the current courses are engaging for students and offer suggestions to make studying more appealing to children and adolescents.
Additionally, students in the group also assist in creating curricula and designing classroom activities for younger students. So far, the district’s intern students have produced videos showing elementary students math games, suggested new reading materials, and written texts for additional lessons in subjects like science and social studies.
Describing the program, which is considered a widespread success in Hampton, Maxlow said, “This project has required time and patience from all staff, as educators had to set aside their egos to accept students’ contributions.” Maxlow emphasized that the first step in honestly auditing the curriculum is to ensure that activities within the curriculum are of high quality and capable of engaging students emotionally and cognitively.