Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Welcome to the virtual home of the Acton Public Schools and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Districts' curriculum, instruction, and assessment website. We view our office as the heart and soul of the schools as we work with faculty to bring excellence to our students. As you navigate this site, you will learn that we are committed to providing all students with academic and problem-solving skills essential for personal development, responsible citizenship, and life-long learning. I welcome you to view our initiatives in the areas of curriculum instruction and assessment. Curriculum is considered to be what we teach children. Instruction is how we teach children. Assessment is how we measure what children learn.
We have developed system-wide curriculum objectives that indicate what skills are important for our students to master. As we prepare our students for the 21st century, what we teach and how we teach is central to their success. Our curriculum must include not only what has withstood the test of time, but also reflects the present and anticipates the future. Information continues to expand exponentially. Our curriculum must continue to challenge our students to develop the skills that will enable them to be thoughtful and reflective problem-solvers in an increasingly complex society.
It is necessary that our curriculum continue to be a dynamic, living document that changes with new initiatives with a clear blueprint of where we want to go and what we want students to know and be able to do. We are continually involved in developing, implementing, piloting, evaluating, and revising curriculum. While these goals are ambitious in scope and intent, they are practical and achievable. We have made a commitment to ensure that every learner has the opportunity to meet the districts', grades PreK-12, performance standards while becoming critical thinkers and learners.
Learning is an interactive process that transcends the mere transmission of information. This process is composed of three main elements that influence learning: what the learner brings to the situation, the learning climate, and the characteristics of the context of the situation. In conjunction with learning, the requisite changes in curriculum, instruction, and assessment are part of a long-term process that is best nurtured over time and thrives best on encouragement. Educating everyone takes everyone.
Susan Horn
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment