U‑46 presents elementary integrated curriculum; implementation planned for 2025–26 pending board action
Loading...
Summary
District staff presented a new K–5 integrated curriculum that replaces three science units with additional social studies units, formalizes foundational literacy resources, adds handwriting and keyboarding guidance, and lists implementation supports and costs; the board held questions and was told a formal vote would be considered later.
School District U‑46 administrators presented a proposed elementary integrated curriculum for grades 1–5 at the May 5 Board of Education meeting and said implementation would begin in the 2025–26 school year if the adoption is approved.
The proposal restructures the integrated elementary sequence by replacing three former science units with social studies units: Unit 2 will focus on civic/social-justice inquiry; Unit 4 will focus on history; Unit 6 will focus on informational and media literacy and a culminating inquiry. The curriculum formalizes foundational literacy resources as core materials, adds keyboarding and handwriting (Learning Without Tears) supports, and includes common reading assessments and performance tasks aligned to the literacy and social studies standards, administration said. Presenters noted several local resources will be used, including a Story of Our Towns resource adapted with the Elgin History Museum.
Staff provided an implementation timeline: professional learning and backward-planning sessions could begin in May (pending board action), required live in-person sessions and supplemental virtual/asynchronous modules will be offered, and district coaching and Canvas blueprints will support rollout. The district listed an estimated one‑time materials and resource cost of approximately $2,882,573.42, a consumables line of $149,070, and an average per‑pupil cost of $12.37 per year; presenters said handwriting instruction would begin in second trimester and trade books for some units are not required until Unit 2.
Board members asked about supply-chain risk and whether teacher professional development can proceed if print materials are delayed; curriculum staff responded that teacher print and digital teacher materials are available now, foundational resources have digital pages, and PD can start without waiting for all printed trade books. Staff also said multiple pilot reading assessments have been used for two years in some schools.
Why it matters: the changes are presented as part of the district’s literacy and social-studies alignment and would change curriculum materials, assessments and professional learning across all elementary schools. The board did not take a formal vote on the adoption during the May 5 meeting; one board member noted the formal vote is scheduled for an upcoming meeting (the board discussed voting on the 19th).
