Web site - PA 4-H Curriculum Development Process

PA 4-H Curriculum Development Process

The following timeline provides an explanation of the Curriculum development process used within the Pennsylvania 4-H Program. The process repeats itself annually. For questions or comments, please contact the Curriculum Management Coordinator.

Late April/Early May: 4-H Curriculum Committee Nomination materials are distributed to CEDs (and 4-H Coordinators). CEDs should obtain names of agents, leaders, and youth interested in participating on specific committees and forward nominations to the Curriculum Management Coordinator. Committee members will serve a two-year term unless otherwise stated by the committee chair (follow the link to view committee member responsibilities). Current members not cycling off still need to indicate interest in continuing service on the committee. Therefore, each person should place his or her name on the nomination form for each committee on which they intend to serve for the indicated year regardless of rotation.

June 1: Deadline for submission of nominations to Curriculum Management Coordinator. Based on needs expressed by committee chairs, further nominations may be sought.

Mid to Late June: Final lists of nominations are sent to committee chairs for selection and/or approval.

July 3: Deadline for chairs to submit final committee lists to the Curriculum Management Coordinator. The lists then go to the YPCC for approval.

August 1: Curriculum committee membership is announced and put on the Web site.

September - December: Individual curriculum committees meet (either in person or via a conference call). Typical topics for discussion in these meetings:

Needs assessment of curricular area (determine gaps/needs and locate obsolete materials)
Review current curricular materials as needed (five-year cycle, or sooner when warranted)
Look at what other states are using (especially if gaps exist)
Prioritize curricular needs for subject area
Make decisions for submitting proposals for purchasing/printing new materials or reprinting updated materials (proposal deadline, January 15)

Note: Funding is only available for printing or purchasing new curricular materials. One grant is available for innovative curriculum development through the Curriculum Innovation fund with a value up to $1,000. Reorders and reprints of material that need no changes is a separate process, no proposal is necessary.

January 15: Deadline for submitting curriculum proposals. The process is online and should be completed by the committee chair, based on priorities set by the committee and with their input.

Late January to Early February: The Curriculum Management Team meets to review proposals. The subject area chairs present the proposals of the committees they represent. For information on membership and responsibilities of this group, follow the above link.

February - March: The Assistant Director, Cooperative Extension and State Program Leader, along with the Agricultural and Extension Education Department Head and the 4-H/Youth Curriculum Development Specialist, meet to determine which proposals will obtain funding for the year. Announcements are made following the decisions.*

*Curriculum will not be available immediately upon this announcement. Materials purchased through 4-H CCS will be ordered during the discount period, making them available in July or August at the earliest. Other materials will need to get into the system for printing/reprinting. Lead times will vary depending on the backlog for the ICT unit.