Curriculum Development and Implementation: The Irby-Lunenburg Model

There are many conceptions of the curriculum: as content, as learning experiences, as behavioral objectives, and as a plan for instruction. Many curriculum models have contained similar elements. Our own model of the curriculum embodies all of the aforementioned concepts. In our model, curriculum must be aligned with the vision and mission of the school. Although we believe that the principal is the curriculum and instructional leader, decisions on the curriculum must be shared with other stakeholders. Principals today need to be cognizant of the global society when developing curriculum. Furthermore, in an era of high-stakes testing, much of the curriculum alignment and audit processes will move from an analysis of the test alone to the results of the test and their connection to the curriculum and instruction.