Curriculum

The online Illinois Interactive Report Card for Dunlap CUSD #323 can be found here.  It contains a variety of information including district demographics, academic profile, staffing, and per pupil spending. Listed below are academic highlights from the District Report Card.

Scope and Sequence Documents are available for each grade-level, subject, or course. Each document outlines which specific learning standards are focused upon during different parts of the school year. As content used if the vehicle to introduce, develop, and master a specific learning standard, the content that teachers use is not necessarily listed. Teachers plan based on student readiness, interest, and preferred learning style, so any content-specific questions will want to be directed to the appropriate teacher.

The documents are organized by subject and then grade level. High school documents are organized by course name. A link to the website can be found here.

Currently the Dunlap School District offers a World Language Program for kindergarten through fifth grade students.

The program model is a communicative immersion approach in which students will be learning through routines, thematic units, songs, movement, conversation and games. Formative assessment will take place throughout the unit and three forms of Summative assessment will take place at the conclusion of each unit; Interpretive Communication, Interpersonal Communication and Presentational Communication.

Please visit the Elementary World Language Wiki Page for further information.

The Dunlap Community Unit School District #323 believes that while all children can learn, they learn at different rates and in different ways. Gifted and talented children are those who demonstrate or have the potential to demonstrate exceptional levels of intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership abilities. In order to fully develop such capabilities, these students require differentiated education programs beyond those provided by the general education curriculum.

Enrichment Eagles
The Enrichment Eagles program offers services for qualifying students in grades 3 through 5. 

Enrichment Eagles Process (an Overview)
Enrichment Eagles Sponsors review scores in order to identify exceptional learners for participation in the Enrichment Eagles Program. Numerous ability and achievement assessments scores are reviewed to determine qualifying students. The newly updated Enrichment Eagles Handbook describes the identification process more in-depth.

Parents of qualifying students will receive an invitation letter prior to the beginning of the school year. Students in 4th and 5th grades who qualified during the previous school year will automatically be asked to participate.

An informational meeting will be held for parents and students at individual schools each September, and the Enrichment Eagles Program will then begin for students. 

CogAT  
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) provides information about a student's level and pattern of cognitive development and is administered to students in grades two, four, and six.

You can visit the CogAT website for more details about the assessment and learn how to interpret your student's ability profile by clicking here. Additionally, you can view the district-created CogAT presentation by clicking here.

Appeal Process for Enrichment Services
Numerous academic and ability scores as well as teacher recommendation are reviewed to identify students in need of enrichment services. If you believe that an error in identification has occurred based upon one or more of the conditions described below you may submit a letter of appeal.

Appeals must be based upon one or more of the following conditions:

1. A circumstance believed to have caused a misinterpretation of the testing results
2. i.e., incorrect birthdate or grade level used in calculating the student’s score
3. An inequitable application of the identification procedures
        i.e., the applicant’s proficiency with the English Language
4. An extraordinary and temporary circumstance that negatively affected the validity of the test results.
        i.e., a traumatic event or situation immediately preceding the test

If you believe one or more of these conditions apply to your child, you will need to submit a letter to your child’s principal. The letter should include the following: 

             1.      The condition that affected your child’s performance
             2.      Any additional information that supports your appeal
             3.      Your name, address, and phone number as well as your child’s name, grade, and school.

Appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee, which includes teachers and administrative staff.  All submitted documents are closely and carefully reviewed.  The Committee is looking for evidence that the results of the testing are not a true representation of the child’s abilities.  The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. Parents will receive written notification of the decision.

Elementary appeals for the Enrichment Eagles must be submitted by the end of the first day of student attendance.

Resources & Website Links
Enrichment Eagles Website

Enrichment Eagles Sponsors

     Both Dunlap Middle and Dunlap Valley Middle Schools offer enriched math and English Language Arts courses in each grade level. Enriched courses are for students who have an aptitude and strong interest for math or ELA and provide rigorous assignments aimed at advancing their identified strengths. The course names in each grade include:

     While Algebra I and Algebra I Honors are listed here, both courses are available for any student wanting to enroll. As Algebra I is a high school requirement, either course is for high school credit.

     More information about the Middle School Enrichment Process can be found here.

Dunlap High School offers an array of options for all students wanting to challenge themselves academically. Honors-level courses are available in each of the following departments:

• Business
• English
• Foreign Language
• Mathematics
• Science

Additionally, for the 2019-20 school year, DHS will offer 16 Advanced Placement courses. Among the College Board's course list, we will be offering:

Each AP course is year-long and in May of each year, students are able to sign up to take AP Exams to earn college credit. For more information about our course offerings, choose the appropriate document on the Curriculum Guides page on the DHS website. For more information about AP testing, see the College Board website. 

To coincide with our district mission to empower students to achieve their individual potential, Dunlap CUSD #323 began researching a 1:1 technology initiative in 2014. After multiple site visits, piloting programs throughout our district, and ongoing refinement through our 1:1 Technology Committee, we began device deployment during the 2017-18 school year. 

The vision of the 1:1 Technology Program is to enhance and transform learning opportunities, while providing all students with equitable access to technology. Please visit our 1:1 Technology Website for more information.

Enrollment for Early Entrance to Kindergarten and First-Grade Screening has opened for the 2020-21 school year.

Please click here for information about the screening process, the initial screening request form, and the list of required documentation. All screening request forms and required documents are due no later than Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  

After reading the guiding document, If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matt Andrews at mandrews@dunlapcusd.net.