Board approves secondary ELA textbooks; math committee recommends Kiddom (K-5) and Mathspace (6'Alg2)

The Montgomery County Public Schools board approved recommended English-language-arts textbooks for secondary grades and received a first-read report from math-adoption committees that recommended Kiddom for elementary and Mathspace for secondary.

ELA: On a roll-call vote the board approved the recommended textbooks for secondary ELA (grades 6'12) after a motion and second; the vote was recorded as 7 in favor.

Math adoption process and recommendations Jennifer Wall, administrator for mathematics curriculum, described the adoption process: committees of teachers, parents and specialists reviewed publisher materials after the Virginia Department of Education released its alignment reviews. Committees used rubrics, solicited faculty and family feedback, and hosted vendor demonstrations.

Committee findings cited by Wall - Elementary: Two finalists were Kiddom Virginia Math and Great Minds (Eureka). About 100 teachers responded to the committee's stakeholder surveys; of those teachers, 91% favored Kiddom (average rating 4.3/5). The elementary committee unanimously recommended Kiddom citing standards alignment, accessibility for diverse learners and teacher- and student-facing resources. - Middle school (grades 6—): Three finalists were Envision, Kiddom and Mathspace Virginia. About 20 teacher respondents produced 80% support for Mathspace (rating: 4.55/5); the committee cited SOL alignment, student interface and step-by-step feedback. - High school (EOC sequence Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2): The vote was closer. Of 23 teacher respondents, about 47.8% favored Mathspace and 43.5% favored Envision; committees favored Mathspace for consistency with middle school, robust practice items and student feedback features.

Next steps: Wall said the math recommendation is a first read and will be brought back for a board vote at the May 20 meeting. The ELA materials were approved by vote during this meeting.

Speakers quoted or cited Jennifer Wall, Administrator of Mathematics Curriculum (MCPS): presented committee work, teacher and parent feedback percentages and recommended materials.

Authorities referenced - other/policy: Virginia Department of Education alignment reviews (committee used VDOE alignment summaries)

Actions [{"kind":"motion","motion":"Approve recommended textbooks for ELA grades 6 to 12 as presented","mover":"unnamed","second":"unnamed","vote_record":[{"member":"Miss Bond","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Miss Franklin","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Doctor Gentry","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Miss Parton","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Miss Purcell","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Doctor Rountree","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mister Hudson","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":7,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved"}]

Discussion vs. decision - Decision: Board approved secondary ELA textbooks by recorded roll-call vote. - Discussion: Math committees presented recommendations and rationale; math adoption will return to the board for a vote May 20.

Clarifying details [{"category":"elementary_teacher_feedback","detail":"Teachers responding to elementary math finalists and their preferences","value":"100 teacher respondents; 91% favored Kiddom; average rating 4.3/5","source_speaker":"Jennifer Wall"},{"category":"middle_teacher_feedback","detail":"Middle school teacher respondents and preference for Mathspace","value":"20 teacher respondents; 80% favored Mathspace; rating 4.55/5","source_speaker":"Jennifer Wall"},{"category":"high_school_feedback","detail":"EOC teachers' split preference","value":"23 teacher respondents; 47.8% Mathspace, 43.5% Envision","source_speaker":"Jennifer Wall"}]

proper_names:[{"name":"Kiddom","type":"organization"},{"name":"Mathspace","type":"organization"},{"name":"Envision Mathematics","type":"organization"},{"name":"Great Minds Eureka","type":"organization"},{"name":"Virginia Department of Education","type":"agency"}],

searchable_tags:["textbook-adoption","ELA","math-adoption","Kiddom","Mathspace"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"9389.985","local_start":0,"local_end":240,"evidence_excerpt":"I'm here to share the work of our math textbook adoption committee... Our committees included parents, teachers, and specialists... " ,"reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"9896.795","local_start":0,"local_end":240,"evidence_excerpt":"The recommendations that are coming forward tonight are for adopting Kiddom for grades k through 5 and math space for grades 6 through algebra 2.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience:{"overall":0.6,"overall_justification":"Curriculum adoptions affect instruction, assessments and materials; board voted to approve ELA and will vote on math at next meeting.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"District-wide curriculum decision affects all students and teachers in tested grades.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Teacher and parent input reported; vote pending for math.","novelty":0.2,"novelty_justification":"Regular adoption cycle; content and vendor choices are important but routine.","timeliness_urgency":0.7,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"Adoption timing affects summer professional learning and materials procurement before fall.