Giving Compass' Take:

• The New York City Department of Education is signaling that it wants to make diversity a critical focus of the curriculum to be more representative of the student body and student needs. 

• Why is it important for the curriculum to be representative of the student population? 

• Read about why cultural identity development is crucial in the classroom. 

At a recent parent forum, New York City Department of Education Chancellor Richard Carranza said his department was “tightening” curriculum to put it “within the context of a framework,” Chalkbeat reports.

While specifics about Carranza’s plans aren’t yet known, reviewing material to make sure its relevant and reflects the diversity of the district’s students is crucial, New York City Chief Academic Officer Linda Chen said at the same meeting. Of the city's more than 1.135 million students, 85% are minorities and 74% are considered economically disadvantaged, according to the city's education department.

Craft curriculum that is too focused or narrow, and administrators are likely to run up against critics — both among their teacher ranks and their communities. Parents in particular often want to know they have a voice, or at least a choice, when it comes to what their children are learning.

Every school in a district may have unique needs, particularly in terms of materials used to teach students. The New York City Department of Education, for example, wants to make sure that materials reflect the diversity of students in the schools, as Chen stated at a recent meeting. Districts may also want to make sure that materials also meet students where they are in terms of their educational needs.

Read the full article about NYC curriculum diversity by Lauren Barack at Education Dive