Peoria Unified board approves K–8 Savvas history and social studies adoption

The Peoria Unified School District governing board voted unanimously to adopt new K–8 history and social studies instructional materials, selecting Savvas Learning’s My World Interactive resources with the Savvas Realize digital platform (copyright 2026). The recommendation followed a textbook selection committee review, vendor presentations and a 60‑day public display and comment period.

District academic staff and the textbook selection committee led the process. Doctor Teresa Hernandez, chief academic support officer, told the board the selection followed a multi‑gateway rubric the committee used to evaluate standards alignment, scaffolding and digital accessibility. Committee members narrowed seven initial submissions to three finalists through the gateway screening and vendor presentations, Hernandez said. She recommended Savvas in part for continuity with other district digital platforms and because committee scores and public feedback supported that title.

The committee’s work focused on three priorities it identified throughout the review: consistency across grade levels and subjects, continuity of platform and pedagogy, and capacity to implement without adding a steep technology burden on teachers. Hernandez and several board members noted that the district’s 2003 K–8 materials were misaligned with Arizona’s current standards and that updated materials were needed so teachers could deliver the guaranteed and viable curriculum required by state standards.

Committee members, district staff and several board members described the selection process as evidence‑based and open. The district published the Request for Materials (RFM) and kept vendor materials and a digital preview site available during the 60‑day public review window; the district also scheduled three Saturday display sessions and two evening sessions for community review. According to district materials summarized during the meeting, the committee collected 94 pieces of public feedback on K–8 materials and used that public input as part of the gateway scoring.

Several board members praised the transparency of the review and the breadth of staff and community involvement. Michael Johnson and Sharmell Bolster, who served on the selection committee and addressed the board during the meeting, said the committee applied the rubric carefully and recommended the resource they judged strongest for Peoria Unified students and teachers. District staff described next steps — business procurement, ordering, scope‑and‑sequence alignment, and professional learning — pending the board’s vote.

The board’s approval clears the path for purchasing and implementation activities. District staff said they will form an implementation team to finalize pacing, assessments and which digital features to enable districtwide. They also said vendors had provided attestation letters addressing the governing board’s equal‑opportunity resolution; those letters are included in the district packet.

Votes and outcome: the board voted to approve the K–8 adoption (motion moved and seconded during the meeting; roll call recorded as five ayes). The district will proceed with business side procurement activities pending the contract and vendor timelines.

Why it matters: The adoption replaces materials last formally adopted in 2003, aligns materials to updated Arizona history and social science standards and introduces a consistent digital platform districtwide, which district leaders contended will reduce teacher implementation burden and support vertical continuity from kindergarten through eighth grade.

What’s next: If implementation proceeds, the district will convene curriculum teams to finalize scope and sequence, turn on agreed digital components and schedule professional learning targeted at summer and fall rollout.