[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6280902,"mediaKeyId","2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f","parentId",2609108,"title","Kennewick staff recommend Amplify CKLA for K–5 ELA after 18-month review and pilot","audioSeconds",1550,"startMs",5950000,"endMs",7500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f&start=5950&end=7500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f/thumbnail_5950000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280902/Washington/Kennewick-staff-recommend-Amplify-CKLA-for-K5-ELA-after-18-month-review-and-pilot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280902-9800ed1c3f2335e09118bdc15065e41e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776412928&Signature=Hovwv5SvX3H8zdqXo3hrUg5qYmT2bgdXc530-iaT7ce6hd6QHKMYcdSwu0mZlaLbQpn-m0RFeXKpwMbYFGXsvetzUfxg29l0NnveeNpYjjSS83zh538jrgX8WCGoZNerVtIkzXMmmRaDWZZbKHDzLze0NUZoLqyusB8Gr1pzHLwQUQBZvq2oR6jUPMSm8Qd5KEtPtM~8bUgRc2xpiscbGuiw4mGGB2YDjluIlG2Jcr55-1H2YbhV4ZNDNn6nkRw2uzCtacoWFIUafKYNZNclo8~6QSuj4CpxKiyRDnC7mVR2SYVReIF4SFvbggBbveYkU1EovlOcHG6rAKQU2IiGcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kennewick School District, WA","date","2025-03-13T15:56:36Z","article","Kennewick School District staff told the board they plan to recommend Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) as the district’s K–5 English language arts curriculum after a year-and-a-half review and a classroom pilot.

Jen Jordan, identified in the presentation as the district’s K–5 content specialist who led the review, described the process: staff issued a request for proposals, rated materials against research-based criteria (including the “science of reading”), pilot-tested two finalists in classrooms and solicited feedback from pilot teachers, parents and the community. Jordan said the CKLA material “is explicit, it’s sequential, it’s rewarding” and that pilot teachers reported strong student engagement.

Jordan and other staff said the CKLA program combines foundational reading skills (phonics, phonological awareness) with knowledge-building units in science, social studies and literature and includes built-in supports for struggling learners and extensions for advanced students. The district shared pilot data and parent/teacher comments; a sample parent comment in the packet reads: “My fourth grader comes home weekly telling me about all the things that she has learned in ELA. … The topics of the lesson have been brought up at our dinner tables multiple times.”

Staff described community outreach that included an evening preview, two weeks of public review sites across the city and an online access link for board members and parents to examine teacher and student materials. The materials were cited as receiving strong third-party reviews (EdReports green ratings) and district staff said they negotiated contract terms to manage cost: an eight-year digital license with a shorter consumables commitment so the district can adjust quantities in future years.

District staff said the Instructional Materials Committee will review the preliminary recommendation and that a final recommendation will come to the full board on March 26. Staff also noted planned professional development and building-level supports for teacher training and implementation; pilot teachers said the program renewed enthusiasm for teaching reading and showed early gains in winter benchmark data.

Ending

No final adoption vote was taken at the March 27 working meeting; staff will return with a formal recommendation and contract details for board consideration on March 26 (per the district’s adoption timeline).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting: March 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District curriculum staff recommended Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) for K–5 reading and ELA instruction after an 18‑month review and classroom pilot, citing alignment with the science of reading and positive pilot feedback.","taxTitle","Kennewick School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",14814,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280906,"Kennewick School District previews 2025–26 budget, projects smaller-than-expected deficit amid revenue changes",873,3623000,4496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f&start=3623&end=4496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f/thumbnail_3623000.jpg","/articles/6280906/Washington/Kennewick-School-District-previews-202526-budget-projects-smaller-than-expected-deficit-amid-revenue-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280906-c5c7e349e4461238ed2162c38173671c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776412928&Signature=oHQT-GW7dnpwlC5XLgeL~vr2g0SoGgmYCKpLolfLDk7KXujUDbQbxxrU2ObJe2Eo9SSG9-7Tr6KoiF-xF2hYZxTteefhMcDXMRxZW0Mz6gxfAVH36IZuSgS57171kU~MEWoGx66t4JYGnv0c44VeUxA8uXqbAjmj750RZ-g~MiGqO90GQeSQIWZKx25~cix8zvcpiT09Z6zHYSAzWphLNPv76guVZ7iRtTDngVENhcOBA9iSKJ~z7jo9lFUFGBVlsQcbYfA6Rf0keEm4FYIPshqnHF5UJmxYx3dtNxYj1gfmYTI1x6qsZoJemltejtyj9ZzoLqjHxpsCgnf~VAS7gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff told the Kennewick School District Board of Directors that the district’s preliminary budget work for 2025–26 shows revenues improving from earlier projections but significant uncertainty because the state legislative session continues.

Tom Brillhart, presenting the district’s preliminary budget, said that updated property-tax receipts and enrollment trends have narrowed the district’s projected shortfall: “We budgeted last year … an expected deficit of $5,500,000. But as of right now, we’re trending at about a deficit of about a million,” Brillhart said, attributing the change mainly to higher-than-expected revenue and stable expenditures.

Brillhart reviewed several items that will shape the final budget: expected state changes to MSOC (maintenance, supplies and operating costs) funding, potential adjustments to special-education multipliers, employer benefit and retirement rates, and transportation funding. He said the district was using a working assumption of roughly a 3% increase in MSOC funding in current legislative proposals but cautioned that bills were still being amended and could change day-to-day.

On enrollment, the presenter said the district currently projects a small decline in basic education enrollment that would reduce revenue by an estimated $300,000. Special-education enrollment was reported down about 60 students compared with the prior year, which also affects state formula calculations. Brillhart said probable staffing reductions would be handled through attrition: the district is planning for the equivalent of about three certificated elementary positions (K–5) and a half position at grades 6–12 to reflect projected enrollment shifts. He emphasized that these were position changes resulting from attrition, not layoffs.

Other financial details reported to the board included: an estimated contribution of about $14,136 per employee for health insurance in the district’s current calculation; a planned $450,000 increase in certificated/classified pools (covering overloads, substitutes and coaching stipends); and a projected additional $300,000 in EP&O (educational programs and operations) levy receipts for the remainder of 2025.

Brillhart said the timeline remains dependent on the Legislature and urged the board to plan for a public hearing on the 2025–26 budget at the board’s June 18 meeting. He closed by reiterating that the district would continue to update assumptions as the Legislature finalizes funding.

Ending

Superintendent and finance staff said they will return to the board with updated revenue and expenditure assumptions after the Legislature concludes and prior to the June public hearing.","Kennewick School District budget staff said on March 27 that updated revenues and enrollment projections have narrowed the district’s previously forecast $5.5 million shortfall to roughly $1 million for the current year, but warned that pending state funding decisions make the 2025–26 plan uncertain.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280912,"Kennewick residents press board to bar biological males from girls' spaces; directors say they will seek legal clarity",2612,956000,3568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f&start=956&end=3568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f/thumbnail_956000.jpg","/articles/6280912/Washington/Kennewick-residents-press-board-to-bar-biological-males-from-girls-spaces-directors-say-they-will-seek-legal-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280912-b6320b1f1ca131798e64bd5341166ac5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776412928&Signature=OgXVpmYvQUnfrqf7QODNk5DK9XCquxubNuz8Aqb4TiiEN5jO~E6h-5kw7Lh2PnEXNnwUNRZpZky4tw4cR3scdA3zieLKzVzHAccASeYzqRoPzdRuV5k~xcv-u6bnQH2oC5QLwQhRFNHgB-YlbxR34bXNF9HccWWKsOBg0L60oDQL6euFMNpwPD9g316STmHIRrm547khD3ABzavWcnzLzXia4i7DZp9yMKqiOwPor0g-vqwxcpkxnR1vjfPZ0UENUg78Rj8tBzSGKfFu4u5ufpuI-nkkSnw~O3QEeF8oBTqUr2x4ishT0VnxuQAUHH44Kgn8XRqf6kQKzRO9wWGmCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Kennewick residents used the district’s public comment period to urge the Kennewick School District Board of Directors to bar biological males from girls’ locker rooms, bathrooms and athletic teams, saying the practice violates Title IX and risks girls’ privacy.

The comments prompted board discussion and offers by individual directors to seek legal clarity. The board did not adopt any new policy or take a formal vote on restricting participation.

Resident Thomas Galliano told the board, “We urge our county school district administration to ban all biological males from girls' sports, girls' locker rooms, and girls' bathrooms.” Sylvia Lusfeldt, speaking as a supporter of Title IX, said, “Before I went into high school, we had no girls' sports. Because of Title IX, I was allowed to play sports in high school, and that's always meant a lot to me.” Other speakers — including Paul Iremesku and Tina Gregory — said they homeschool but wanted to encourage the district to protect girls’ spaces and sports.

Rama Abhagupta, identifying herself as a National Board–certified teacher, addressed a related legislative issue: the state proposal to suspend stipend payments for nationally certified teachers. She said, “Students of national board certified teachers can learn as much as 2 months of additional content in a school year,” and asked the board to make its views known to state lawmakers.

Several directors responded during the meeting. One director, who identified personal ties to athletics, said: “It is not fair. As far as from a school board perspective, I am spending a lot of time right now trying to wrap my head around what our actual viable options are.” Another director said publicly that they plan to draft and circulate a letter asking federal authorities for legal clarification; the director said they would share the letter with colleagues and invited individual board members to sign on but did not state that the board would take a formal vote to send it.

Board members emphasized the district’s limited control over federal and state law enforcement and funding. A board director noted that a portion of district funding is federal and warned that potential funding consequences would be a factor in any formal policy change.

The subject continued to draw public interest on social media and from multiple speakers at the meeting, but the board took no formal action during the session beyond discussion and informal commitments by individual members to pursue legal advice.

Ending

Board members said they will continue to monitor legal and legislative developments and that any formal policy action would be brought back to the board for consideration with legal counsel and staff recommendations.","Multiple residents urged the Kennewick School District to bar biological males from girls’ locker rooms, bathrooms and sports during public comment. Board members said they hear concerns and some directors said they will seek legal guidance and consider letters to state or federal authorities; no formal policy change was made at the meeting.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280897,"Midyear benchmarks: Kennewick reports mixed STAR, WA Kids and dual‑language progress; board asks for cohort tracking",1179,4504000,5683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f&start=4504&end=5683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2609108-92593e1f442e3895c7ffeabe9587333f/thumbnail_4504000.jpg","/articles/6280897/Washington/Midyear-benchmarks-Kennewick-reports-mixed-STAR-WA-Kids-and-duallanguage-progress-board-asks-for-cohort-tracking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280897-5f8f28ad53366a761e30550a6a8b69c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776412928&Signature=PixhwGDK1te5MCEpRMlTUr1JNG6h-j8ELeyCU~Rw7CoqQZ5h1QeKyxExS5PdF7RGLFUamkK9RiqCniiCS5KL6oLTr5AxYH~tb4H15nzFVLN10uOGtxusgV7Abua~SqrbUv9MBqjUTZPlctXbqUlUQMapXEAI8cvz6EBy-EpHBUWDrIPLDW55GnrML83FytYmVcoCkKVTdYfn-zknXssP0CC2XjRTerEkz8vHlXn82xsMEn4epBj8N~ZSl99cYNbINy4HM-wcZlFVgkuag2FGu6aUr~1r0UooDinzzAv6xowYEpfbwdx2RFgtA0rnqm4iv6D4c3aQCnW1SdQCuWmHaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kennewick School District administrators presented midyear academic data showing mixed results across grade levels and programs and outlined next steps for benchmarking and intervention.

Alyssa St. Hilaire, who led the update, said the district is reviewing Winter STAR reading and math benchmarks as well as WA Kids kindergarten screening data. She told the board that the district’s goal for growth is a Student Growth Percentile (SGP) of 50 — roughly a year’s worth of growth — and that the district is now using STAR-derived projections calibrated to Smarter Balanced outcomes to estimate proficiency.

St. Hilaire said kindergarten screening results are down compared with last year in several domains and that early-grade growth patterns differ because kindergarten students use a different early-literacy measure (EarlyLit) before switching to STAR. She reported that middle schools completed STAR for the first time last year, creating a stronger baseline this year.

The presentation also described dual‑language students’ growth in both English and Spanish. St. Hilaire said the district is participating in national work to generate bilingual trajectories and that the pilot data show promising gains in both languages as students advance through early grades.

Board members asked for additional reporting formats. One director requested cohort tracking — following the same group of students from one year to the next — and school‑by‑school comparisons, noting that demographic differences can affect results. St. Hilaire said the district already examines cohort growth at the school level and can provide more cohort-based reports on request, but that the board’s current key-indicator reports compare grade-level performance year to year unless the board requests a change.

St. Hilaire and other staff said they will return with more complete spring projections and that Smarter Balanced results will not be available until late summer.

Ending

District leaders said they will bring back cohort-level data and more school-level comparisons in future reports and will present spring STAR projections and implementation updates in May.","District assessment staff presented midyear STAR and WA Kids benchmark data showing varied growth and proficiency across grades, highlighted progress in some pilot classrooms and dual‑language trajectories, and fielded board questions about cohort tracking and school-by-school comparisons.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kennewick staff recommend Amplify CKLA for K–5 ELA after 18-month review and pilot

Kennewick School District previews 2025–26 budget, projects smaller-than-expected deficit amid revenue changes

Kennewick residents press board to bar biological males from girls' spaces; directors say they will seek legal clarity

Midyear benchmarks: Kennewick reports mixed STAR, WA Kids and dual‑language progress; board asks for cohort tracking