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Board reviews social-studies instructional materials; public review period set before April 21 vote
Summary
Instructional review committees recommended Studies Weekly for K–2, Teacher Created Materials for grades 3–5, and a mix of vendors for secondary social-studies courses. Committees cited state-alignment requirements and digital platform compatibility; vendors' materials are open for public review prior to an April 21 board vote.
Berkeley County Schools’ instructional-resource review committees presented recommended social-studies materials for K–12 at the April 7 board meeting and opened a public comment period ahead of a planned April 21 vote.
District staff told the board the IRRC process followed county policy IFAA and state policy 2445. Elementary and secondary teacher representatives attended vendor presentations, narrowed choices to those meeting a state 80% alignment requirement, reviewed supplemental materials and tested online platforms for compatibility with Schoology and Clever.
Recommendations from the committees include Studies Weekly (K–2), Teacher Created Materials (grades 3–5) and a set of vendors for middle- and high-school courses (examples cited: Cengage for certain middle-school grades; HMH and Pearson options for high-school courses, among others). The K–2 estimate for a five-year package, including student workbooks, teacher manuals, the online platform and training, is roughly $190,333; committee estimates for grades 3–5 and secondary materials were presented as separate line items. Committee members said many K–5 teachers had been using locally created resources for years and welcomed the ready-made materials.
Committee chairs told the board physical sample boxes are available in the central office lobby and online access to programs is posted on the district website, with a comment form for the public. Staff said the materials selected will be used on a five-year cycle beginning next school year.
Why it matters: The adoption will set the district’s core curriculum materials for the next five years and drive professional development and classroom planning; the committee said vendors were selected partly for literacy integration and online-platform usability.
What’s next: Public comments will be compiled and shared with the board; school leaders said the district will present a final recommendation and seek board action at the April 21 meeting.
