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District discusses ELA curriculum options; staff reports mixed early results and recommends further review
Summary
District curriculum staff reviewed elementary ELA pilots and data, reporting mixed results from CKLA and early positive feedback from Wonders sample lessons; the board heard about MTSS work, DIBELS concerns and plans for a broader recommendation at the adoption cycle.
District curriculum staff and administrators discussed elementary English language arts curriculum options and preliminary data from this year's pilots during the meeting.
The assistant superintendent for curriculum and assessment said the district has piloted CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) and sampled Wonders (McGraw-Hill) materials at Pioneer; staff observed that many elementary teachers are not traditionally trained and that CKLA materials can be difficult to navigate for some teachers. Staff said Wonders provides more explicit lesson structure and leveled text, and that some buildings using sample Wonders materials reported positive early feedback.
Staff reviewed NWEA and DIBELS data, saying midyear growth looked stronger than end-of-year results in many buildings. DIBELS results showed areas of intensive need that require more movement out of the intensive score band if students are to be removed from reading plans. Staff noted that gains from curriculum changes can take multiple years to appear and that fidelity of instruction is as important as program choice.
The district also reported continued work on MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) and development of a strengthened RTI/referral form to ensure tier 1 universal instruction and scaffolds occur before students are routed to intervention systems. Staff said a growth premium report will be available by the July meeting and that ELA adoption remains on the district's adoption cycle for the coming year.
Board members asked for additional details and recommended piloting and teacher supports to ensure fidelity before full adoption.
