MONTANA

Curriculum must be organized and include the instructional subjects required by public school. The basic education program for elementary students as well as students in the middle grades should be aligned to program area standards. The program must contain content-specific grade-level learning progressions allowing the students to meet the content standards.

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The Board of Public Education may approve a seven or eight grade program that is aligned to the middle school philosophy or the departmentalized philosophy. The middle school philosophy focuses on the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of students. In order to properly develop these aspects, a middle school must demonstrate flexibility in philosophy. This philosophy demonstrates flexibility in the approach to instruction, scheduling and teaching strategies as well as the undertaking of interdisciplinary work. Coursework is to be created and implemented with the intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of students in mind. Curriculum must include english language arts, mathematics, physical and life sciences, social studies and health enhancement with an overarching incorporation of critical and creative thinking, career awareness, lifelong learning and safety. If choosing to follow a departmentalized philosophy the middle school curriculum must include one unit of english language arts, social studies, mathematics, science and  one half of a unit for health enhancement. Students must have the opportunity to select from the half unit electives of  visual arts, music, career and technical education and world languages and cultures. Reading literacy and writing literacy instruction must be incorporated in all mandatory programs as well as in elective programs.