Two General Types of Curriculum

          •Official or Formal

The formal curriculum, also called official curriculum, is the curriculum that is not only written but also      published   such as course documentation. The formal curriculum is designed as a framework for instructional planning that outlines broad goals and strategies to reach them. The foundations of the formal curriculum are based on publicly valued intellectual, social, cultural, political, and economic funds of knowledge. Knowledge, skills, and understandings that have educational value to the individual and society are included. Often a school 

district's formal curriculum is based on the state's curriculum frameworks. 

        •Hidden or Unofficial

   Hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school. While the “formal”curriculum consists of the courses,  lessons, and  learning activities students participate in, as well as the knowledge and skills educators  intentionally teach to students,  the hidden curriculum consists of the unspoken or implicit academic, social, and cultural messages that are communicated to students while they are in school.