Council Rock education committee reviews proposed science and math textbook pilots and vendor choices

The Council Rock School District education committee on May 22 heard presentations on proposed textbook pilots and vendor selections for science and mathematics for 2025–26, including cost estimates, pilot locations and the district's rationale for multi-year trials.

District science curriculum coordinator Renee Devlin and secondary math coordinator Patrick Bound led the presentations, telling the committee the pilots are intended to finish earlier adoption work, align materials vertically across grades, and give teachers time to evaluate substantial instructional changes before full purchases.

"For the pilots, the books are on display and will be on display to the public for 30 days," Devlin said, describing how community members may view materials by appointment and online. She proposed four science pilots at different grade levels, including an elementary Earth and space module from Carolina Smithsonian Science for first grade and middle- and high-school science materials the district is testing for academic seventh-grade and academic chemistry. Devlin said the first-grade kit would replace an older kit and that pilot teams are already identified at several elementary schools (Holland, Richborough and one referred to as "so find Sue" in the meeting record).

Devlin described estimated costs for materials if the district proceeds after pilots: an approximate $44,000 cost for the consumable seventh-grade science workbooks (about 530 students), roughly $52,000 for tenth-grade academic biology (about 364 students), and about $60,000 for academic chemistry (about 360 students). She said consumables in the cited programs are purchased up front for an eight-year license and that refills are substantially cheaper than initial kits.

On mathematics, Bound summarized a multi-step review that included teacher surveys, vendor demonstrations (Reveal, Big Ideas, HMH were among vendors reviewed), scoring against criteria such as rigor and vertical alignment, and pilot-teacher feedback. "We narrowed the selection down to 2 and finally had a ... selection of pilot teachers. ... In that consensus we were unanimously selected the Big Ideas program," Bound said. He described a pilot price of about $10 per student and said a full license and textbook for a multi-year term would cost approximately $171 per student for a six-year license (final totals depend on enrollment).

Bound and Devlin emphasized that many of the proposed adoptions include digital platforms, multi-year licenses and professional development; vendors frequently credit pilot fees toward a later purchase. Committee members questioned whether pilots include full materials or abbreviated samples; presenters said pilots provide the full materials and professional development in pilot form, with pilot charges credited toward future purchases if adopted.

Next steps for the district include public display of materials for 30 days, continuing pilot implementation, formal textbook approvals at a future education committee meeting and incorporation of final cost and evaluation data into the 2025–26 budget process.

The presenters asked the public to consult the district website for details and to set appointments to review physical materials.