**Fall 2006 4-H Curriculum Jury Review**

**Call for Reviewers**

[Background:]{.underline}

In 2006 National 4-H Headquarters, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
is piloting a new way of conducting the National Jury Review Process for
4-H Curriculum. Curriculum will [only]{.underline} be reviewed at two
specific times this year. The first review was conducted in April 2006.
The second review will be held September 18-22, 2006. Curriculum will be
peer reviewed by teams of professionals who will meet at the National
4-H Center, Chevy Chase, MD.

National 4-H Headquarters is requesting applications from individuals
interested in peer reviewing 4-H Curriculum from across the country.

**August 1, 2006 Deadline (or until positions are filled):** Those
interested in being considered as reviewers for September 2006 and in a
pool of reviewers in the future must submit an [Application for 4-H
Curriculum Reviewers]{.underline} (application template provided).

[Reviewer Qualifications:]{.underline}

Professionals on the teams will need a strong background in one or more
of the following areas:

-   youth development

-   curriculum development

-   content areas

-   educational technology design

-   print design and packaging

-   diversity

-   practitioners in delivering youth development curriculum and
    programs

-   volunteer materials

In addition, selected reviewers should have the necessary skills to:

-   Review the curriculum in an efficient manner (about 4-6 hrs. per
    curriculum which includes team discussion and consensus).

-   Make recommendations based on how well the submission meets
    established criteria.

-   Provide specific and appropriate comments that are suitable for
    review and that could be communicated without additional editing.

[Commitments of Reviewers:]{.underline}

-   Travel to Washington the week specified in the table below. Most
    reviewers [must]{.underline} be ready to participate in an evening
    orientation and dinner at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 18, 2006
    and stay until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2006. There may be
    opportunities for a few people to stay shorter times, particularly
    those reviewing for specific content. However, the majority of the
    reviewers selected to travel to Washington must be available for the
    entire week designated.

-   Review curriculum. Depending on the type and volume of submissions
    reviewers will be asked to review multiple types of curriculum with
    different content areas.

-   Serve in the "pool" of reviewers in the future.

[Process and Time-Lines:]{.underline}

The process and time-lines for the 4-H Curriculum Jury Review reviewer
applications are two parallel but very distinct processes are
represented in the following table:

  ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------
  **4-H Curriculum Jury Review       **Reviewer Selection and
  Process**                          Participation**

  8/1/06 Letters of Intent and       8/1/06 Applications Due or until
  Letters of Intent Application      teams are filled
  Forms Due                          

  8/31/06 copies of curriculum due   8/31/06 Reviewers selected and
                                     notified

  9/18-22/06---curriculum reviewed   9/18-22/06---must travel to
                                     Washington

  Mid-October---feedback provided    Potential re-review of curriculum as
                                     teams re-submit
  ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------

[Benefits to Reviewers:]{.underline}

-   An opportunity to help select outstanding 4-H curriculum for
    inclusion in the National 4-H Curriculum "Collection" and database.
    The selected curriculum will impact thousands of youth for several
    years.

-   An opportunity to network with other youth development
    professionals.

-   A professional development experience to enhance evaluation skills.

-   A valuable addition to your resume, vitae, or promotion and tenure
    files.

[Additional Points:]{.underline}

National 4-H Headquarters staff will start contacting reviewers in early
August with the goal of solidifying teams by the third week in August.
The number of potential reviewers contacted will be based on the Intent
to Submit Curriculum Forms received. If authors choose to withdraw
curriculum after submitting the Intent to Submit Forms and/or if
curriculum does not meet Minimum Pre-Screening Requirements, reviewers
may be asked to cancel plans to serve on the review teams on somewhat
short notice.

[Resources and Expenses:]{.underline}

This is a volunteer position and reviewers donate their time to review
the curriculum and/or proposals. However, travel, meals and lodging will
be paid by National 4-H Council.

National 4-H Headquarters recognizes and acknowledges the 4-H
Cooperative Curriculum System (4-HCCS) Board and the National 4-H
Council for collaborating in this pilot. A special thank you is in order
for the National 4-H Council that is providing \$40,000 to support
travel and expenses for the review teams in 2006.

[Application Procedures:]{.underline}

Complete and return via e-mail the [Application for 4-H Curriculum
Reviewers]{.underline}, by **5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, August 1,
2006 (or until positions are filled)** to
**<natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov>.**

[For More Information:]{.underline}

Full details and forms can be found on the National 4-H Headquarters web
site at:
[http://www.national4-Hheadquarters.gov](http://www.national4-Hheadquarters.gov/).

**Questions?**

Contact National 4-H Headquarters, USDA at
[**natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov**](mailto:natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov). A
jury review process team member will respond. Team members are:

-   [Nancy Valentine]{.underline}, National Program Leader: overall
    leadership for the review (202-720-5347)

-   [Maria (Parisi) Arnold]{.underline}: logistics and curriculum
    coordination (202-720-8857)

-   [Eddy Mentzer]{.underline}: coordination of review teams
    (202-690-2086)

> [Byron Garrett]{.underline}, National Program Leader for Mission
> Mandates (202-720-5253)
>
> [Cathann Kress]{.underline}, Director, Youth Development
> (202-690-3009)