Curriculum, the course offerings of an educational institution. Decisions about what a school should teach are usually made by school administrators, faculty, or statewide through a state-wide agency such as, Texas Education Agency.

The idea of curriculum is hardly new - but the way we understand and theorize it has altered over the years - and there remains considerable dispute as to meaning. It has its origins in the running/chariot tracks of Greece. It was, literally, a course.

In Latin, curriculum was a racing chariot; currere was to run. A useful starting point for us here might be the definition offered by John Kerr and taken up by Vic Kelly in his standard work on the subject. Kerr defines curriculum as, 'All the learning which is planned and guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or individually, inside or outside the school.  Learning is planned and guided. We have to specify in advance what we are seeking to achieve and how we are to go about it.

As a minimum, a curriculum should provide a basis for planning a course.  Producing and reviewing curriculum incorporates the following:

Step 1: Diagnosis of need (What needs to be taught?)

Step 2: Formulation of objectives (What objectives should be taught?)

Step 3: Selection of content (What information or data will be taught and where will it come from?)

Step 4: Organization of content
(How will the information be organized? Will it be in a textbook, using the internet, etc.?)

Step 5: Selection of learning experiences
(What learning experiences {role play, cooperative or team learning, lecture, etc.} will the instructor incorporate into the subject taught?)

Step 6: Organization of learning experiences (How will these learning experiences be organized?)

Step 7: Determination of what to evaluate and of the ways and means of doing it.
(How will learning be accessed?)

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The Texas Education Agency oversees the Public Education System in the State of Texas.  This is done in accordance with the Texas Education Code.

The Division of Curriculum oversees the development and implementation of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in public schools. The Division provides curriculum and professional development information and guidance in the ten Curriculum and Program Unit areas, Bilingual/English as a Second Language, Early Childhood Education, English Language Arts and Reading, Fine Arts, Health/Physical Education, Languages Other Than English, Mathematics, Master Teacher Programs, Science, and Social Studies. The Division provides information to school administrators, counselors, parents, and students on course offerings and meeting the learning needs of students through 19 TAC Chapter 74. In cooperation with the divisions of Textbooks, Student Assessment, Educational Technology and Advanced Academics, the goal of the Division of Curriculum provides information and resources to ensure academic success of all students in Texas public schools.

TEKS stand for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.  Districts are required to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills of the appropriate grade levels in the foundation curriculum. Districts are to use the essential knowledge and skills in the enrichment curriculum as guidelines for instruction.  This is done through the TEKS.

• Standard information about the TEKS:
  Implemented in September 1998

• Before the TEKS were the EE's (Essential Elements)

• TEKS gives General Requirements for the course.

• TEKS gives a brief Introduction of the course.

• TEKS lists the comprehensive Knowledge and Skills that the students should attain in the course.

Smith, M. K. (1996, 2000) 'Curriculum theory and practice' the encyclopedia of informal education