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Middleton School District board approves six-year ELA adoption after committee review
Summary
The board approved a six-year English language arts curriculum adoption that the district says will cost about $518,000 over six years; the adoption covers K–12 foundational reading and several intervention resources but leaves selected comprehension and writing materials for further review and pilot in the fall.
The Middleton School District Board of Trustees approved a recommended English language arts curriculum adoption on a six-year license, covering 2025 through the 2030 contract period, after a committee review process and a board vote.
The adoption will cover foundational reading in K–5 (a core phonics program and tiered intervention systems), extended resource materials for pre-K through transition-age students, 6–12 quad text sets and digital resources for middle and high school, and EL (English learner) resources. The packet lists a total cost for the six-year adoption at a little over $518,000.
District staff emphasized why the committee recommended a multi-tiered, coherent set of materials. “This resource provides that [coherence] — routines, vocabulary and supports that align across Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3,” said Mrs. Goodson, a staff member who presented the committee’s recommendation. Mrs. Cunningham, who addressed committee composition, said the committee included 18 people with a state-required parent majority: “State code says that 50% of the committee has to be parents. So this committee had 18 people on it. So 9 parents, 9 educators.”
The district described the adoption as partial in some areas. K–5 foundational reading (the “95% group” phonics program) was recommended now; staff said they still need a complementary reading-comprehension and writing resource and plan to continue committee work this fall to select the best fit. “Rather than pick the next-best thing, we’re going to take a little more time in the fall and try to find exactly the right fit to pair with 95%,” Goodson said.
Staff described how most modern ELA vendors use license-based, subscription models rather than one-time textbook purchases. “Most companies have transitioned to a license-based fee, meaning that they cut you off at the end of your contract,” Goodson said. The district packet lists the $518,000 number as the six-year cost; staff clarified that digital subscriptions and licensing costs are recurring at renewal.
For older students, the board was told that some digital pilots are planned before final purchase decisions. Goodson said 6–8 and 9–12 staff would like to pilot Newsela Plus with writing supports and that the district hopes to run pilots in the fall and finish selection before winter break.
Board members thanked the committee and teachers who piloted materials. The board voted to approve the ELA curriculum adoption proposal as presented.
Next steps identified by staff include running the planned fall pilots (Newsela plus writing for secondary grades), completing the paired comprehension/writing selection for K–5, and bringing any supplemental purchases back to the board for review.
