Curriculum & Instruction

Curriculum and Instruction are the heart and soul of a school district. We hold dear the "three peaks of learning:" students, teachers, and academic standards. We know that increases in student learning only happen when we make improvements in these areas. Eagle County School District has been a trailblazer in the adoption of higher academic standards serving as an early adopter of the Colorado Academic Standards, including the Common Core State Standards.

Shifting to these more rigorous standards is much more than just handing out new textbooks. Hundreds of hours were spent by teachers and administrators as they collaborated to design curricular frameworks aligned with standards that will support us in our work to teach all students to high standards. After a rigorous review of materials, resources are then selected to support the implementation of the Frameworks of Study. Finally, professional learning experiences are developed to support teaching staff with planning through the Frameworks of Study and utilizing the aligned resources.

In another innovative move toward increasing rigor, student engagement, and college-and-career readiness, Eagle County School District is incorporating Global-Ready Skills into their content-rich curriculum. Developed by Harvard professor Tony Wagner, Global Ready Skills define the expertise that students need to succeed in today's dynamic, rapidly-evolving world. By infusing the curriculum with Global-Ready Skills, Eagle County Schools are setting in motion an initiative to create a generation of creative, adaptable, self-driven learners.

The goal of all of this work is to always put the best prepared and effective teacher possible in front our community's students, and have them teaching to high, internationally benchmarked standards with engaging techniques.

Contact Information

Dr. Katie Jarnot

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction

Renee Westenfelder

Curriculum Coordinator

Meet the Team

Curricular Frameworks

Student Assessments

Understanding Common Core Standards

What is the Common Core State Standards Initiative?

The Common Core Initiative is a state-led effort designed to improve academic outcomes by developing clear and consistent standards in English Literature and Math, assuring that all students graduate from high school ready for college and career. For more information, watch this video from the Colorado Department Education on the Common Core State Standards or watch this Spanish video on the State Standards of Education from the Hunt Institute.

Read "What Parents Should Know" by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

What are the Colorado Academic Standards?

How do the two Standards come together?

Colorado Academic Standards were formed before the Common Core Standards to elevate our educational benchmarks to higher levels. When the state decided to adopt the Common Core Standards, they first compared them against the Colorado Academic Standards and found them to be similar and compatible. The state has adopted the Common Core Standards along with 46 other states to create a nationwide standard. The Colorado Academic Standards were essentially embedded into the Common Core Standards for our state. The Common Core Standards were essentially embedded into the Colorado Academic Standards for our state.

Understanding Global-Ready Skills

Global-Ready Skills are the 21st-century skills needed to solve tough problems and communicate at high levels. These are the skills that, combined with the rigorous content of the Common Core Standards, Eagle County School District is emphasizing in every classroom:

1. Critical Thinking
2. Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
3. Agility and Adaptability
4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
5. Effective Oral and Written Communication
6. Accessing and Analyzing Information
7. Curiosity and Imagination

Watch this video explanation of how Global-Ready Skills prepare students for today's workforce.

Project-Based Learning: Preparing Students for Tomorrow, Engaging them Today

One way we're bringing Global-Ready Skills into our classrooms is through Project-Based Learning, or PBL. Project-Based Learning is a teaching method that engages students by asking them to investigate an interesting and complex question, problem, or challenge, and then to create something in response. Projects may be done individually, in teams, or as a whole class. PBL has been shown over and over again to be effective in reaching and growing all learners. Hundreds of our teachers are trained in this powerful pedagogy.

Combining Common Core and Global-Ready Skills

When our schools combine the high-level content standards of the Common Core with the rigor of Global-Ready Skills, our students engage with the world in new and exciting ways. Below are just a few examples of projects students have created with the curriculum.

Main Menu

In This Section