Mahomet‑Seymour teachers recommend Amplify CKLA for K–5 after 18‑month review; board to consider April 22

The Mahomet‑Seymour CUSD 3 Board of Education heard on March 24 from a teacher-led elementary literacy team that it will recommend Amplify CKLA (third edition) as the district’s K–5 core literacy curriculum, keeping UFLY for K–2. The board did not vote on the adoption at the meeting; the district plans to bring the recommendation to a formal vote at the April 22 board meeting.

The literacy team — about 40 teachers, coaches and administrators who spent six full days in district training and multiple site visits to see curricula in action — told the board the change responds to the “science of reading” and local assessment results. The team described a lengthy selection process that included needs analyses, two rounds of curriculum narrowing, two site visits (Dunlap and Washington school districts) and multiple rubrics aligned to the district’s vision for literacy instruction. "Teacher voice matters," the team said repeatedly in its presentation, and teachers described the process as “empowering.”

Why it matters: District leaders and the team said the proposal aims to strengthen tier‑1 instruction, build background knowledge and vocabulary across grades, and better align instruction to the Illinois Literacy Plan and state assessments such as the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). Board members were told the change is intended to improve reading outcomes that the team said lag behind statewide expectations in some early grades.

What the team recommended and why - Materials: Amplify CKLA (third edition) for grades K–5, with the UFLY phonics/skills strand retained for K–2. Team leaders said the K–2 UFLY pilot had already shown positive classroom results. - Rationale: Presenters emphasized research grounding in the “science of reading” (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension), stronger content knowledge and integrated social studies/science units. “It’s not a fad,” said Jill Lager, an instructional coach who led the team’s study of the evidence. “It helps us to understand why some readers have difficulty and how we can most effectively assess, and improve student outcomes.” - Teacher voice: First‑ and second‑grade teachers who served on the vertical team described deep engagement, professional learning and a sense of ownership after months of collaborative work. “This whole process for us has been so empowering,” said Amy Snow, a first‑grade teacher on the team. - Local testing and measures: The team said the district is piloting STAR benchmark assessment to supplement FastBridge and better track standards‑level growth tied to the new curriculum. Staff noted the IAR pass rates and NAEP data as reasons for district attention to K–5 literacy.

Costs, budget and rollout - The district reported the adoption is budgeted. District staff told the board the per‑student annual cost is about $34 when spread over multiyear licensing, with total pricing discussed as a multi‑year expense; the presentation said the expense had been included in budget planning and $34 per student was the rough per‑year figure cited by staff. The packet states the full purchase and implementation costs are in the board materials and that the district has budgeted the change within existing funds. - Professional learning: If the board approves the April 22 recommendation, the district plans six days of aligned professional development before summer break so teachers can access materials and begin planning, additional summer PD for coaches and administrators, and continuing PD across the 2025–26 school year. District staff told the board their expectation is that full implementation and maximum effectiveness typically take roughly three years. - Public review: Per board policy and school code, curriculum maps and resources will be available to the public; district staff offered appointments to review materials at central office and a Google form for parent feedback. The district will email K–5 families with materials and review instructions.

Board response and next steps Board members thanked the teachers and staff for the time invested and praised the teacher‑led, consensus approach. Several trustees encouraged the team to present at conferences and recognized the amount of teacher leadership invested in the decision. The superintendent said the district will bring a formal adoption resolution to the April 22 board meeting for action. If approved, the district will proceed with the PD and rollout schedule described to the board.

Votes at a glance The March 24 meeting included multiple formal actions the board approved. Below are the items recorded as approved at the meeting (the board packet and minutes list fuller text for each motion):

- Consent agenda including meeting minutes, bills, treasurer’s report, personnel changes, overnight out‑of‑state trips, creation of MSHS girls flag football activity account, and 2025–26 IHSA membership renewal — approved (one board member stated an abstention on part of consent because of a personal conflict noted in the record). - Donations totaling $11,655 for various activity funds (breakdown included in packet) — approved. - Administrative and non‑bargaining unit contract renewals — approved (one abstention recorded by a trustee who noted a conflict). - Fiscal year 2026 administrative employee salaries — approved. - Five‑year contract with Kenneth Lee to serve as superintendent (term shown in packet as 07/01/2025 to 07/30/2030 with evaluation language adjusted) — approved. - Change to grading/credit structure for Career/Life Planning (high school course alignment) effective 2025–26 — approved. - Memorandum of understanding with Illinois State University PULSE program to support paraprofessionals pursuing special education degrees — approved. - Food service meal rate increase (10¢ annual increase per district practice and USDA guidance) — approved. - Playground improvements at Lincoln Trail Elementary (project budget shown in packet and largely covered by local donations and PTO/foundation funds) — approved. Packet lists Lincoln Trail total at roughly $114,075 covered by outside sources referenced in board materials. - Playfield/playground phase and turf work at Middletown Prairie Elementary (packet lists ~ $225,000 funded largely by dog‑walk proceeds, foundation and PTO support) — approved. - Lease bids for driver education vehicles (three Accords, monthly lease noted in packet) and for an SUV for district activity use — approved. - Low bid acceptance for secured entry project at Mahomet‑Seymour Junior High (low bidder noted in packet; the low bid came in below estimate) — approved. - Resolution authorizing district counsel to intervene before the Property Tax Appeal Board (to permit timely legal response to appeals) — approved. - Intergovernmental agreement with Mahomet Public Library to provide library cards and shared services for students who live outside library district boundaries — approved.

What the meeting did not decide tonight The CKLA adoption itself was a recommendation and will be the subject of a formal motion and vote at the board’s April 22 meeting. Other items discussed but not acted on included longer‑term facility and space‑utilization planning and a technology support staffing option being explored by the central office.

Ending District leaders told the board that curriculum maps, research citations and pricing details will remain available online and at central office ahead of the April 22 action item. Parents and community members were invited to review materials and submit feedback through a district form; staff reiterated the recommendation had been developed with significant teacher input and structured piloting.