High expectations and appropriate standards for learning and achievement are important to any curriculum plan. The need for curriculum to meet developmental needs is particularly important for middle-level students. Middle-level students are unlike any other age group and are internally varied. Not all middle-level students need the same things at the same time to the same extent. Also, learning success cannot be realistically measured with a single performance assessment. Current middle-level curriculum does not meet the needs of students. And moves toward a national curriculum and testing program threaten to further damage the education of impoverished and minority youth. Systematic, comprehensive curriculum planning that allows individual progress toward desired goals is needed to meet the special needs of middle-level students. Educators must determine how the purposes of elementary, middle level, and high schools differ. Also, should the developmental differences between these students determine curriculum differences? A locally produced mission statement is an important step in middle-level education. Curricula must address increasing cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. Integration of learning is also important. Other concerns in middle-level curriculum development include organization, instructional leadership, adolescent identity needs, and administrator leadership role. (Contains 25 references.) (JPT)