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Board approves new K–5 reading materials; curriculum team details math pilot and cost considerations
Summary
Trustees approved new kindergarten through fifth‑grade reading instructional materials (Amplify) for 2025–2028. Curriculum staff reported pilot visits, bilingual resources and professional learning plans; math transition pilots and multi‑year pricing were discussed along with funding sources.
Eagle Mountain‑Saginaw ISD trustees voted March 31 to adopt new kindergarten through fifth‑grade reading instructional materials for 2025–2028, a staff recommendation that the board approved as part of the meeting's action items.
District curriculum staff described classroom visits and a three‑year rollout plan. Staff said the approved materials include a bilingual‑equivalent component for Spanish‑language instruction, teacher guides, student materials and a professional‑learning package. The presenters said pilot visits to Waxahachie ISD showed consistent Tier‑1 delivery across classrooms, scaffolding for struggling readers, and enrichment for advanced students. Staff emphasized teacher professional learning and instructional coaching to support the transition and noted materials are subscription‑style and will be budgeted across the three‑year contract.
In the same discussion, curriculum leaders reviewed elementary mathematics planning. Staff described current use of a longstanding program (Investigations) plus district‑created supplemental resources, and noted active pilots of a new math program. Presenters said math adoption discussions included teacher feedback collected during school visits and meetings with district leaders. Cost was highlighted: staff said an early estimate for a reading or math curricular adoption had previously been quoted to the district at about $2 million per year, and that vendor negotiations had produced multi‑year pricing options intended to spread costs across budget years. Staff named the approved instructional materials entitlement and district IMTA funds as possible funding sources.
Board action: Trustees approved the reading instructional materials purchase for K–5 (motion carried 7–0). Staff said the district will issue the subscription or purchase order and align year‑by‑year budget accounting to cover multi‑year costs.
Ending: Curriculum staff will coordinate professional learning, principal training and site demonstrations this spring and summer, and will return to the board with implementation updates as classrooms adopt the new materials.
