Exploring Trends in Curriculum Development for 2025
Curriculum development is an exciting, ever-evolving area that plays a crucial role in shaping how we teach and engage learners. Understanding trends in curriculum development is key if you’re looking to get into the field.
Whether you’re currently in the classroom, considering a career shift into curriculum development, or you’re already working in this field, it’s helpful to understand and stay informed about the latest strategies and innovative approaches that are transforming the curriculum development field.
In this blog post, we’ll explore current trends in curriculum development, exciting ways to work in curriculum development, and insights and inspiration for your next project or career!
What is Curriculum Development?
Before diving into the trends and insights, let’s explore what curriculum development is.
Curriculum developers create materials to improve student learning and support teachers. This includes everything from designing textbooks or worksheets to creating lesson plans or even full learning units.
Curriculum developers may also advise organizations on developing learning plans that support their product, mission, or service. There are ample opportunities at a variety of education organizations and companies, whether you want to work as a full-time curriculum designer or have a flexible side hustle.
It’s an exciting field that allows educators to make a broader impact in education by creating curriculum that students and teachers use globally.
Current Trends in Curriculum Development
Effective curriculum enhances student learning and engagement through inclusive and innovative strategies. Here’s a look at some of the current curriculum development trends driving the field forward.
Education Week recently highlighted some of the fascinating trends reshaping curriculum design. From evidence-based approaches like the science of reading to strategies that foster deeper mathematical thinking, these trends reflect the evolving priorities and philosophies that directly influence curriculum development (You can read the full article here).
Another approach on the rise is culturally responsive, inclusive curriculum. Ensuring students feel valued and seen in the curriculum they experience is a key goal of curriculum design. By incorporating the latest pedagogical strategies like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and anti-bias frameworks, we can better meet the diverse needs of today’s learners, ensuring inclusive learning experiences that inspire connection, engagement, and student success.
The growing focus on social-emotional learning is also one of the top trends in curriculum development. As schools, districts, and curriculum companies/organizations increasingly recognize the importance of SEL, there’s a growing movement to incorporate and integrate it. SEL cultivates students’ empathy, resilience, and emotional well-being — key components of a holistic approach to education that benefits students in both academics and life.
Understanding these trends can help you pursue a curriculum development career, which also happens to be one of the best alternative jobs for teachers.
Careers in Curriculum Development
Just like there are many trends in curriculum development, there are many opportunities for curriculum development jobs, too.
The field of curriculum development offers an exciting array of career paths that allow you to innovate and make a lasting impact (while working remotely!).
Below are some of the most promising opportunities for curriculum developers in 2025:
Nonprofit Organizations
Education nonprofit organizations are at the forefront of shaping equitable, accessible, and impactful educational experiences. These mission-driven organizations are ideal places for curriculum developers passionate about social change. Organizations such as Khan Academy, the National Park Foundation, and the National Geographic Society, as well as smaller nonprofits, actively seek curriculum developers to design high-quality, innovative educational materials.
EdTech Companies
The EdTech industry is booming, with technology continuing to transform how students learn. Companies like IXL Learning, Newsela, BrainPOP, Nearpod, and Prodigy are revolutionizing the way students engage with curriculum.
If you’re interested in creating interactive, digital content to enhance student learning, EdTech could be the perfect fit. These companies are continuously seeking curriculum developers to design lessons, activities, and assessments that leverage the latest technologies, from adaptive learning systems to gamified education.
Education Publishers and Textbook Companies
Traditional education publishers, such as EL Education, Amplify, Pearson, McGraw-Hill Education, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, continue to play a vital role in curriculum development. They hire curriculum developers to stay up to date on trends in curriculum development and to create a wide range of educational resources, from textbooks and assessments to digital learning materials and interactive e-books.
Museums and Cultural Institutions
Museums and cultural institutions are unique spaces for curriculum development, combining education with experiential learning.
Organizations like the Smithsonian Institution (including Smithsonian Education, Smithsonian Learning Lab, and the National Air and Space Museum) hire curriculum developers to create educational programs that inspire curiosity and critical thinking. As a curriculum developer in this area, you can bring history, art, and/or science to life.
Education Agencies and School Districts
As a curriculum developer for education agencies or school districts, you can help design new curriculum, evaluate existing programs, and ensure that educational materials meet state and national standards. Collaborating with teachers, administrators, and subject matter experts, you can help shape education in ways that reflect the evolving needs.
Online Learning Platforms
Online platforms like K12 and Udemy for Kids are transforming the way learners access education. Whether you specialize in K-12 education, professional development, or specific subjects, you can design courses, write engaging content, and build assessments that are effective, accessible, and engaging.
Children’s Media
Organizations like Sesame Workshop and PBS Kids offer fantastic opportunities for curriculum developers who are passionate about early childhood education. You’ll have the chance to create age-appropriate content that aligns with developmental milestones and educational standards, helping young learners thrive. As a curriculum developer in this field, you could design lesson plans, create scripts, and interactive activities.
Why Teachers Make Great Curriculum Developers
As an educator, you are well-positioned to become a curriculum developer and create the curriculum you hope to see in the world.
Why? Because understanding the trends in curriculum development isn’t enough. Great curriculum development starts with having a vision... What do you believe is essential for students to learn? What excites you? What kind of learning experiences do you dream about creating for students? As a teacher or former teacher, you have a unique perspective that informs your answers to these questions.
Your role as a curriculum developer goes beyond just providing content — you are crafting the future of education. So the curriculum you design should reflect your values and passions, anything from fostering critical thinking and creativity to nurturing empathy and resilience.
For us, at the Educator Forever Agency, we enjoy developing curriculum that inspires a love of learning. We’ve had the privilege of working on a variety of impactful projects with amazing education nonprofits, organizations, and edtech companies. Some of our recent favorites include crafting multilingual supports for a large textbook company and creating an innovative SEL curriculum for students around the U.S.
These projects not only addressed the need for diverse, inclusive, and accessible educational content but also focused on empowering students with the tools necessary to thrive both academically and personally.
Ready to Get Started in Curriculum Development?
If you’re interested in taking your career beyond the classroom and creating rewarding learning experiences that inspire and make an impact, Educator Forever is here to support you.
Join our 5-week Curriculum Development Foundations Program to start your career in curriculum development.
This flexible, empowering program is designed to give you everything you need to develop engaging curriculum, stand out in the job market, and become a successful curriculum developer.
You'll also be assigned a curriculum coach, an experienced curriculum developer, who will give you support and personalized feedback on your work. You'll walk away from the program with a polished portfolio of curriculum samples and an amazing community supporting you as you step into working as a curriculum developer.
At Educator Forever, we don't only teach about curriculum development, but we're actively working in the field through our Educator Forever Agency. If you choose to become a certified curriculum developer through the Curriculum Development Foundations Program, you'll get even more access to job opportunities from our agency, as well as from other educational organizations looking for experienced curriculum developers.
Sign up now to start your journey as a curriculum developer and fast-track your success!