A principal has received notice that current standards will be phased out and a new set of standards will be adopted for the upcoming school year. Which action should the principal take first regarding curriculum development and revision?

• A. Identify what standards are changing and how the current curriculum and resources align to the new standards.
• B. Immediately rewrite all curricula without mapping.
• C. Purchase new textbooks without review.
• D. Ignore the changes until mandated.

Answer: (A)

When standards change, the first move in curriculum development is to understand exactly what is changing and examine how the current curriculum and resources align with those new expectations. This means identifying the specific new standards, comparing them to what is currently taught, and spotting gaps, redundancies, or misalignments. This mapping creates a clear picture of what students must know and be able to do, and it guides all subsequent revisions, resource decisions, and assessment plans. With this alignment map, the school can prioritize which standards to address, plan professional development, and set a realistic timeline for updating instruction and materials.

Rewriting everything without mapping risks chasing the wrong targets, wasting time and effort on content that doesn’t connect to the new standards. Purchasing new textbooks without review can lock in misalignments or unnecessary costs. Ignoring the changes until mandated leaves the school unprepared, potentially widening gaps in student learning and forcing rushed, inconsistent implementation later.