2026 Basic Academy Training Objectives Review and Updates

December 15, 2025

Dear Training Directors,

The past year, the Career Development Unit (CDU) undertook general curriculum maintenance of functional areas I, III, and V. The CDU would like to thank all instructors and training directors who responded to the survey. We noticed a significant decline in response to the survey this year and I want to express that our need for your feedback is critical in confirming that the training objectives are up-to-date, accurate and provide recruits with the best possible training.

During several recent subject matter expert meetings regarding basic training objectives, several questions were raised, and I would like to take this opportunity to clarify these questions on a larger scale.Here are some of the pervasive questions:

1. Does MCOLES dictate HOW classes should or can be taught?
2. What is courseware and curriculum?
3. What is expected from instructors regarding the instructor guide and materials?

The basic training curriculum mostly provides the terminal performance objectives (TPOs) and the enabling performance objectives (EPO). The TPOs define what the student must be able to do/perform at the end of the module or lesson. The EPOs are the smaller items students need to know to perform the TPOs. The basic training curriculum contains objectives, notes to the instructors, and in SOME cases, how to deliver the training (i.e., practical, group discussion, or scenarios). Unless the note to the instructor or MCOLES administrative rules specifically directs the “how to deliver” the material, you, as the instructor are free to create the courseware (instructional content based on the objectives) and decide on the best delivery method. This means you can decide on creating helpful handouts, slide decks, study guides, and delivery methods such as lecture, hands-on, etc.

Curriculum: The plan that identifies and indicates what terminal performance objective(s) (TPO) and enabling performance objective(s) (EPO) are to be met following instruction. Curriculum is not courseware.

Courseware: The informational material developed by instructional system designers while using the ADDIE process to ensure the course TPOs and EPOs are met. This material may include lectures, instructor guides, student guides, slide presentations, video presentations, videos, scenarios, activities, instructional aids, etc.

Best industry practices are that you have an instructor guide that fully spells out the lesson and documents the activities, handouts, scenarios, videos, etc. As the instructor, you need to provide all of your courseware materials to the training director to have on file (per MCOLES administrative rules).

Based on the curriculum maintenance this past year, please see below.

Updates to Existing Reviewed Modules:

For your convenience, we have highlighted the changes in the attached copy. The online version will NOT have these sections highlighted. Formatting has been cleaned and updated; this has not been highlighted.

Please note the following major updates:

• I.D.3. Preliminary Investigation of Deaths – terminology update and resource update
• See the Note to Instructor for details. 

• I.F.2. Recording the Crime Scene – Technology update to include digital card.

• I.F.3. Collection and Preservation of Evidence
• Updated website for identity theft information.
• Update to Securing Digital Media Evidence

• I.G.1. Vulnerable Person Abuse and Neglect Investigation
• Addition of the Abuse in Later Life Power and Control Wheel as an instructional aid.
• Added enabling performance objectives – define vulnerable adult and vulnerable and elder adult abuse
• Ref to seeking medical attention 

• I.G.2. Sexual Assault Investigation – Reference to utilizing and/or providing a sexual assault kit.

• I.H.1. Nature and Prevalence of Domestic Violence
• Separation and clarification of signs vs. symptoms 

• I.H.2. Laws Regarding Domestic Violence – Reference book updated to 4^th edition

• II.C.4. Behavior Health Crisis Response – Note to instructor updated

Cordially,