Curriculum Adaptation

Recent calls for increased education for students with special learning needs in general and special education classrooms, greater teacher accountability, and curricular mandates challenge even the most experienced educator in the overall process of curriculum implementation. Specifically, various state-or district-level mandates pertaining to curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation have emerged in recent years. At the classroom level, teaching practices related to curriculum implementation must be carried out within the parameters established by these mandates. One option available to educators to assist in meeting the various curriculum implementation demands is the practice of adapting curriculum. The need to adapt or modify curriculum in today's classrooms is currently widespread and involves careful teacher decision making. Various elements of the total curriculum implementation process may be affected when curricular adaptations are implemented. In order to effectively implement curriculum, which includes appropriate adaptations, the proper