Curriculum Instruction & Professional Development

Welcome to the Modesto City Schools Curriculum and Instruction & Professional Development Division.

Our mission is to provide a high-quality education for each and every student, every single day.  To that end, the district is committed to a continual process review and improvement called CCI (Cycle of Continuous Improvement).  In addition, there is a high emphasis on professional learning for every staff member to support instruction in the classroom.

We believe that teaching and learning must continually improve to meet the needs of our students in our competitive, global community.  Our graduates must have the knowledge and skills to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, collaborators, and effective communicators in both college and career.  Here in Modesto City Schools, we believe we have the staff and skills to do just this.

We believe in an Aligned Instructional System.  Standards, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Feedback are interdependent.  We start with our Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Our Standards define what we want students to know and be able to do (the “What”).  Our Curricula addresses the Standards. It encompasses our State and Board of Education adopted materials. Next is the art of teaching, or, our Instruction.  Instruction is the living curricula in the classroom (the “How”). Our emphasis is on research-based and data-driven best practices that are equitable and accessible for each and every child.  Finally, is Assessment. Informal and Formal Assessments identify where our students are in the learning continuum both during the instructional process and at its completion. All throughout the cycle, Feedback is essential.  Feedback is for students, parents, collaborative partners, and the community. All pieces together, we have a robust Aligned Instructional System.

Again, welcome to Modesto City Schools and thank you for visiting our CI & PD homepage.  Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts!

Mike Rich
Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction & Professional Development