DISTRICT OFFICE Educational Services Curriculum and Instruction
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Services
Standards and Learning Expectations: 
AUSD curriculum is based on state academic standards developed by the California Department of Education. (CDE)
AUSD Learning Expectations:
Alameda's curriculum is designed to help each child meet the academic standards for their grade level and become an active, engaged learner.
Anti-Bullying Curriculum
On April 13, 2010, the Alameda Unified School District Board of Education officially adopted Resolution 10-0041 regarding implementation of AUSD’s anti-bullying curriculum in our elementary schools.
Several years of work culminated in this Board Resolution. First, a district task force met for two years in response to teacher requests for instructional support to respond to concerns raised regarding issues of personal safety and respect for gay and lesbian students. Then, a curriculum adoption committee worked to select an adoption to support our Safe Schools planning. Caring School Community was adopted as our Safe Schools curriculum in grades K – 5; a district task force designed grade level lessons (in a similar format to Caring School Community lessons) which were called Lesson 9. The lessons were piloted and introduced to the Board of Education and community during the 2008–2009 school year. Lesson 9 was adopted by the Board with provisions that staff (with community and teacher support) would continue to investigate and create materials providing a comprehensive anti-bullying message that would subsequently include all six California state-designated protected classes: race/ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, religion and sexual orientation.
The newly formed committee met through most of the 2009-2010 school year, returning to the Board with the proposal that we continue to use Caring School Community in grades K – 2; that we purchase Steps to Respect as a developmentally appropriate curriculum for use in grades 3-5; that we purchase a set of trade books addressing the six California state-designated protected classes; and that we convene a committee of teachers to write lessons for all of the books (or alternate Houghton-Mifflin selections). A group of teachers drafted lessons during the summer of 2010, and these lessons were presented to elementary principals for review before these developmentally appropriate literature-based lessons were then finalized and presented to schools for full implementation of AUSD’s anti-bullying curriculum as directed by Board of Education resolution 10-0041 to replace what currently was known as Lesson 9.
AUSD is currently directing and facilitating full implementation of the Alameda Board of Education plan to provide anti-bullying curriculum addressing all six California state-designated protected classes. Trainings have been provided to AUSD K-5 principals and teacher-leaders (and are ongoing), and the following timeline represents the districtwide K-5 implementation of the AUSD anti-bullying curriculum through Caring School Community, Steps to Respect, and the supplemental literature lessons.
We want to thank our teachers, students, families and community partners for their ongoing support as we continue to work together to achieve AUSD’s vision of “an inclusive, safe and secure environment” for all our students, their families, and our school communities. AUSD looks forward toward continuing work to enhance and improve its anti-bullying curricula to ensure safe school communities in Alameda.
Additional Information:
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Click here to see the history and implementation timeline of AUSD's Anti-Bullying Curriculum
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Click here for useful information for LGBT students and families
AUSD Programs
English Language Development & Title I
English Learner and Title I services are provided as a part the Compliance, Curriculum, Categorical and ELD department.
GATE - Gifted and Talented Education Program
GATE is a program that serves students identified as gifted and talented. The prgoram consists primarily of Differentiated Instruction, where teachers adapt the instruction in the regular classroom for those learners ready to do advanced work involving depth, complexity, acceleration, and higher order thinking skills.
AUSD Graduation Requirements
Graduation is based upon the accumulation of a minimum of 230 credits, completion of all subject requirements and passing district competency exams in reading, writing and math. With the exception of ROP classes, 5 credits are given for each semester successfully completed.
Students are required to meet the following additional requirements:
1. Attain a cumulative grade point average of not less than 1.75
2. Submit a senior portfolio in the spring semester of the senior year
3. Complete twenty (20) hours of community service work during the 9th through 12th grades.
4. Beginning with the Class of 2004, student must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).
1. English - A student must earn forty (40) credits (four years) in courses offered by the English Department under its regular sequential program of instruction.
2. Social Science - A student must earn thirty (30) credits (three years) of social science, including 10 credits in Modern World History, 10 credits in U.S. History, 5 credits in American Government and 5 credits in Economics.
3. Mathematics - A student must earn twenty (20) credits (two years) in mathematics. All students in the 9th and 10th grade years take a traditional sequence of Algebra A, Algebra B, or Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. The sequences are aligned with the state framework.
4. Science - A student must earn twenty (20) credits (two years) in science, including 10 credits in physical science and 10 credits in biological life science.
5. Foreign Language, Visual Performing Arts, ROP/Vocational - A student must earn ten (10) credits (one year) in each of two out of the three areas.
6. Physical Education - A student must earn twenty (20) credits (two years) in physical education. Students are required to take PE in the Freshman year.
7. Current Life Issues - A student must earn five (5) credits (one semester) in Current Life Issues (taken either in the 9th or 10th grade year).
8. Remaining Credits are to come from elective courses
Graduation Requirements Comparison
AUSD Programs