1. A method for curriculum planning using a curriculum planning tool, said method comprising: selecting a grade level, an academic discipline, and a course within the academic discipline; entering local objectives to be met by the selected course; aligning the local objectives with one or more standards; mapping the selections, local objectives, and standards into one or more key concepts that support interdisciplinary connections and promote conceptual development; developing instructional activities for the selected course that teach key concepts, processes, and critical content; and assessing the curriculum against the standards using criterion-reference assessments that are aligned with a learning process complexity and based on instructional activities.