Becker Board adopts Savvas K–12 science curriculum

At the July 10, 2025 meeting of the Becker Board of Education, members voted 5–0 to adopt Savvas K–12 science instructional materials for kindergarten through 12th grade, including print textbooks, consumables and the Savvas Realize digital platform. The board approved the adoption as part of the service-contracts agenda (agenda item 7.02).

Sherry Martin, presenting on behalf of the Office of Academic Achievement, told the board the district’s curriculum committee used the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce rubric to review materials and recommended Savvas because it is inquiry-based and aligns with Ohio standards. “Students are able to develop a deep understanding of science and engineering practices while literacy skills are being built into the curriculum especially with a focus on the scientific background knowledge as well as vocabulary,” Martin said.

Martin said program components include teacher editions and student texts, digital activities on the Savvas Realize platform and laboratory materials supplied through a partnership with Flynn Scientific. She described the high-school offerings as physics, chemistry, biology and physical science and said the materials organize learning around phenomena and include hands-on investigations and digital supports.

The presentation described a professional-development plan that begins with an introductory training in August and a follow-up in November 2025, with unlimited on-demand webinars and resources available through the digital platform. On teacher representation, Martin said the summer review included grade-level and department chairs and a “diverse group of teachers from our newer teachers to our more seasoned teachers,” and she told the board she did not have an exact committee headcount on hand.

Board members asked whether multilingual learners and other diverse learners were supported; Martin replied, “Savvas does an excellent job with incorporating opportunities and ideas for teachers to implement within their instruction in terms of vocabulary…these are instructional strategies that can be used with all students.”

The board adopted the curriculum by a 5–0 recorded vote during action on the service-contracts item. The vote was recorded as part of agenda item 7.02. Implementation is scheduled to begin in August after the initial professional development, with continued training opportunities thereafter.

Why it matters: The materials adoption aligns district instruction with Ohio Department of Education and Workforce guidance on high-quality instructional materials and establishes a districtwide professional-development schedule and digital access for teachers and students.

Questions remain: the committee size was not specified in the presentation; the district said sample textbooks are available for board members to review.