Equity and Access

• The primary responsibility of our schools is teaching and learning.
• Our schools promote equitable access to educational opportunities.
• Our curriculum ensures common learning experiences for students while encouraging teachers to exercise their professional knowledge and skills in a thoughtful and creative manner.

Growth and Development of the Whole Child

• Our schools address the diverse needs of students in Clayton. 
• Decisions are based on the best interests of students, balancing individual and group needs.
• Our curriculum encompasses a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade perspective.

Rigor and Relevance

• We provide a solid academic foundation, a broad choice of programs, and maintain high standards for all learners.
• We strive to develop thoughtful citizens who contribute responsibly to their global community.
• Our curriculum reflects best practices in the field, current research and study, and national and state standards.
• Our curriculum allows for piloting strategies and materials with careful evaluation of the results.
• Our curriculum demonstrates vibrancy and continual refinement to improve student learning.
• Our curriculum interprets the overarching teaching-learning themes in content, processes, and attitudes/habits of mind.

Purposeful Assessment

• We provide a solid academic foundation, a broad choice of programs, and maintain high standards for all learners.
• Our curriculum provides ongoing monitoring, assessment, refinement and change.
• Effective assessment informs our decisions.

Collective Responsibility

• The primary responsibility of our schools is teaching and learning.
• Every member of the school community is both a learner and a teacher.
• We encourage effective partnership with parents and the broader community.
• Learners accept responsibility for their learning and feel confident in their ability to create a positive future for themselves.
• We strive to develop thoughtful citizens who contribute responsibly to their global community. 
• We actively engage teachers, administrators, and parents in study and decision-making relative to the development process.
• We seek input from a wide range of stakeholders including the students who are the district beneficiaries of the curriculum work.

Diversity

• The individuality of every learner is recognized and welcomed.
• We are committed to diversity in our school population because it enriches our lives, mirrors our world, and reflects our future.
• Our curriculum strives for meaningful engagement of students with diverse cultural and educational backgrounds.

Engagement & Collaboration

• The school culture nurtures both the joy of learning and the satisfaction of achievement.
• Our shared vision of education empowers us to explore, experiment, and grow.
• We value all members of our learning organization and demonstrate honesty, respect, and trust in all our relationships.
• Our curriculum promotes connections among disciplines.