A method for curriculum planning using a curriculum planning tool is described. The method includes selecting an academic discipline, a grade level, and a course, entering local objectives to be met by the selected course, and aligning the local objectives with one or more standards. The method also includes mapping the selections, local objectives, and standards into one or more concepts, developing instructional activities for the selected course that teach the concepts, and assessing the curriculum against the standards using criterion-reference assessments based on the instructional activities.