Curriculum

District Planning Advisory Committee (DPAC)

To provide combined community and district staff involvement in planning for and evaluation of existing district instructional programs.

DPAC Function

Developing annual objectives for improving student achievement and district-wide programs, including Minnesota Graduation Standards.
Evaluating progress toward objectives.
Reporting findings and recommendations.

Committee Structure

DPAC operates with three subcommittees. DPAC members select the subcommittee on which they want to serve.

Achievement & Evaluation

Members of the Achievement & Evaluation Subcommittee advise ISD 279 on student assessments, achievement expectations and the levels of achievement reached by District 279 students. The group examines multiple sources of information including data from standardized tests, state tests of Essential Learner Outcomes, local objective referenced tests, Minnesota Basic Standards Tests and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. Analyzing trends overtime, the subcommittee recommends priorities for improving achievement in certain curricular areas and student populations.

Program Assessment & Review

This subcommittee offers critical input and direction to subject areas in the pre-assessment phase of the Program Improvement Process. Typically, the subcommittee focuses on one of the subject areas that is in pre-assessment phase. Activities include gathering information, identifying trends, analyzing needs, and preparing recommendations. In addition to being included in the DPAC report to the School Board, these recommendations are forwarded to the assessment team for that subject area.

Student Services

The function of this subcommittee is to review the student support service areas which are an enhancement and supplement to the regular education programs. The service may be direct to a student or groups of students and/or consultation to regular education classroom and leadership staff. Typically, this subcommittee will select one or two areas as a priority to review and make recommendations for improvement. The student support service areas are as follows: Assurance of Mastery, Community Education, Counseling and Guidance, Health Services, Media, Special Education and Talented and Gifted.

Membership

DPAC membership is based on interest, not educational expertise. Members include up to two representatives from each elementary building and up to three from each secondary building, up to six non-parents from the community, one School Board member, district teachers and administrators, and senior high students.

Length of Term

Annual appointment.

Meeting Schedule

Meetings take place at the end of September and on the second Monday of every month of every month from October through April, at the Educational Service Center from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Subcommittees may, at their discretion, schedule additional meetings or extend their meeting. Parents interested in serving on DPAC should contact their building principal.

Others interested in serving on DPAC should contact ISD 279's Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Standards, Eric Schneider at 391-7143.