Execution Systems
The curriculum, the structure, the plan — everything needed to launch
K-12 Curriculum Architecture
The full scope and sequence spans Kindergarten through 12th grade across five developmental tiers. Each tier has defined learning objectives, experiential components, assessment methods, and resource requirements. The curriculum is modular — a district can adopt one tier without committing to all five.
Wonder & Awareness
Core Experience: Monthly visits from a certified therapy dog to the classroom. Children sit in a circle. They pet the dog. They observe its behavior. They discuss what they notice.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify basic needs of a pet (food, water, shelter, exercise, love)
- Compare animal needs to their own needs
- Demonstrate gentle, appropriate touch with animals
- Recognize basic animal body language (happy tail, scared posture)
- Express what "taking care of" means
Time: 2 sessions/month, 30 minutes each (12 hours/year)
Assessment: Observation rubric (teacher notes engagement, gentleness, verbal participation). Drawing/dictation: "What does [dog's name] need?"
Standards Alignment: CASEL Self-Awareness, Social Awareness; NGSS K-LS1-1 (what animals need to survive); ELA SL.K.1 (participate in conversations)
Connection & Responsibility
Core Experience: Bi-weekly classroom sessions with rotating animal visitors (dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs). One field trip per year to a local animal shelter. "Reading Buddies" program where students read aloud to shelter cats.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the lifecycle of common domestic animals
- Explain how human choices affect animal welfare
- Demonstrate responsible pet care behaviors
- Read and interpret animal body language across species
- Practice perspective-taking: "How might this animal feel?"
- Complete a "Pet Care Plan" research project
Time: 2 sessions/month + 1 field trip/year (15 hours/year)
Assessment: Portfolio (drawings, writing, photo documentation). Pet Care Plan presentation. Peer feedback on kindness observed.
Standards Alignment: CASEL Responsible Decision-Making, Relationship Skills; NGSS 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1; ELA W.3.7, RI.4.1
Service & Empathy
Core Experience: Quarterly field trips to cat/dog rescue organizations. Students spend full days volunteering — cleaning, feeding, socializing animals, organizing supplies. In-class reflection before and after each visit.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how animals end up in shelters (economic factors, behavioral issues, life changes)
- Demonstrate safe animal handling under supervision
- Complete service-learning hours (minimum 8/year)
- Write reflective journals connecting animal experiences to human empathy
- Design and execute a service project benefiting a shelter
- Analyze the relationship between community resources and animal welfare outcomes
Time: Monthly sessions + 4 field trips/year (24 hours/year)
Assessment: Service-learning portfolio. Reflective essays. Group project (supply drive, awareness campaign, adoption event support). Effort-based rubric.
Standards Alignment: CASEL all 5 competencies; NGSS MS-LS2 (ecosystems); ELA W.7.1 (argumentative writing), SL.8.4
Complexity & Stewardship
Core Experience: Extended field trips (full days, multiple visits) to horse rescue and/or farm animal sanctuary. Students build relationships with larger animals over time. Guest speakers from veterinary science, animal law, sanctuary management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand agricultural systems and their impact on animal welfare
- Analyze the economics of animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations
- Demonstrate advanced animal handling and safety protocols
- Research career pathways in animal welfare, veterinary science, and nonprofit management
- Complete extended service commitment (minimum 16 hours/year)
- Evaluate competing perspectives on human-animal relationships
Time: Bi-weekly sessions + 6 field days/year (32 hours/year)
Assessment: Research paper on a chosen animal welfare topic. Service portfolio with reflection. Career exploration project. Effort-based rubric (no opinion grading).
Standards Alignment: CASEL full framework; NGSS HS-LS2, HS-ESS3; ELA W.9-10.1, W.9-10.7; social studies civic engagement
Philosophy & Voice
Core Experience: Seminar-style discussions on compassion, ethics, and the human-animal bond. Student-led inquiry projects. Socratic seminars. Capstone presentation of personal compassion philosophy. No opinion is ever judged or graded — only effort and depth of engagement.
Learning Objectives:
- Define and articulate a personal philosophy of compassion
- Analyze compassion across philosophical traditions (Western, Eastern, Indigenous)
- Evaluate the relationship between compassion for animals and compassion for humans
- Design and present a capstone project (research, creative, service, or advocacy)
- Engage in structured discourse where diverse viewpoints are honored
- Mentor younger students in the program (optional leadership track)
Time: Weekly seminar + capstone (36 hours/year)
Assessment: Process portfolio documenting intellectual journey. Capstone presentation (graded on effort, depth, and engagement — NEVER on the conclusion reached). Peer discourse participation. Self-assessment reflection.
Standards Alignment: CASEL full framework; ELA W.11-12.1, SL.11-12.1, SL.11-12.4; social studies ethical reasoning
Standards Alignment Summary
| Framework | Alignment | Grade Bands |
|---|---|---|
| CASEL 5 Competencies | Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making | All tiers |
| NGSS Life Science | K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1, MS-LS2, HS-LS2, HS-ESS3 | K-12 |
| Common Core ELA | Speaking/Listening, Writing (argumentative, research, narrative), Reading Informational | K-12 |
| CO Academic Standards | Comprehensive Health (22-25-104), Social Studies civic engagement | K-12 |
| State Humane Ed Mandates | Direct compliance for NY §809, IL 5/27-13.1, PA §15-1514, FL §1003.42, ME §1221, CA §233.5, OR §336.067 | Varies by state |
Pilot Program Design
Colorado Pilot: Year 1 Specifications
- Schools: 3-5 diverse schools (urban, suburban, rural) in 2-3 districts
- Grade bands: K-1 and 6-8 (bookend tiers for maximum contrast in outcomes data)
- Duration: Full academic year (September–May)
- Control group: Matched schools in same districts without program (for research validity)
- Measures: Pre/post empathy scales, teacher behavioral observations, attendance/discipline data, parent surveys
- Partners: Humane Colorado (animal provision), Colorado State University (research validation)
- Insurance: General liability + animal-specific rider through nonprofit insurance pool
- Cost per school: $0 during pilot (grant-funded). Post-pilot: $3,500/year licensing.
501(c)(3) Formation
- Choose legal name and check Colorado Secretary of State availability
- Draft Articles of Incorporation (CO Revised Nonprofit Corp Act)
- Recruit founding board (minimum 3 members: education, animal welfare, business)
- Draft bylaws (governance, officer roles, meeting requirements)
- Apply for EIN from IRS (Form SS-4) — same day online
- File Articles with Colorado Secretary of State ($50)
- File IRS Form 1023-EZ or 1023 for 501(c)(3) status ($275-$600)
- Register with Colorado Charitable Solicitations (Secretary of State)
- Open nonprofit bank account
- Obtain general liability insurance + animal interaction rider
- Register for Colorado state tax exemption
- Set up accounting system (QuickBooks Nonprofit recommended)
Timeline: 4-8 weeks for state incorporation. 3-6 months for IRS 501(c)(3) determination. Alternative fast-track: fiscal sponsorship through an existing education nonprofit while 501(c)(3) application is pending — allows immediate grant eligibility.
Teacher Training Framework
Certified Compassion Educator (CCE) — Level 1
Duration: 8 hours (1 full day or 2 half-days)
Content:
- Program philosophy and principles (2 hrs)
- Animal safety protocols and liability management (2 hrs)
- Curriculum overview and lesson delivery (2 hrs)
- Assessment methods and documentation (1 hr)
- Community partnership coordination (1 hr)
Certification: Valid 2 years. Renewal via 4-hour refresher + portfolio review.
Cost to school: Included in curriculum license. Additional teachers: $500/person.
OKRs — Year 1
Objective 1: Prove the curriculum works
Objective 2: Build a sustainable organization
Objective 3: Establish credibility and visibility
90-Day Sprint Plan
Structure & Legal
- File Articles of Incorporation in Colorado
- Recruit 3 founding board members
- Apply for EIN and begin 501(c)(3) filing (or secure fiscal sponsor)
- Draft Tier 1 (K-1) curriculum in full detail
- Contact Humane Colorado re: partnership for animal provision
- Research and apply to 3 foundation grants (Petco Love, Banfield, state SEL funding)
- Secure general liability insurance quote
Partners & Pilots
- Present program to 5 Colorado school districts (target curriculum directors)
- Secure 3 pilot school commitments for fall 2026
- Formalize partnership agreement with 1-2 animal rescue organizations
- Draft Tier 3 (6-8) curriculum in full detail
- Begin teacher training materials development
- Connect with Colorado State University Animal Science department re: research
- Build brand website (landing page, curriculum overview, pilot application)
Materials & Readiness
- Complete all Tier 1 and Tier 3 lesson plans, assessment rubrics, and teacher guides
- Conduct teacher training for pilot school educators (8-hour certification)
- Finalize insurance, waivers, permission slip templates
- Coordinate animal visit schedules for fall semester
- Submit remaining grant applications with pilot school commitments as evidence
- Pre/post assessment instruments selected and baseline scheduled
- Soft launch: first animal visit in pilot school (September)
The 90-day sprint is designed to move from zero to first-animal-in-classroom in one quarter. Speed matters: Colorado's SB25-178 pilot funding is time-bounded, Petco Love has annual grant cycles, and school districts plan curriculum 6-12 months ahead. A summer 2026 sprint means fall 2026 launch. Waiting until 2027 costs an entire academic year of impact — and of evidence collection.