The curriculum framework provides guidance for curriculum development committees on how to address state standards. It summarizes key educational issues, discusses how state goals relate to those issues, and provides a structure to help address student standards. The framework also guides professional development and recommends instructional and assessment strategies. It is not a detailed set of lesson plans, scope and sequence, or mandate for specific methodologies. The framework serves to outline meaningful curriculum experiences and activities, as well as constraints, in order to clarify what will and will not be covered.