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Board adopts CKLA K–5 literacy curriculum after teachers report strong early results
Summary
After a year-long field test and presentations from classroom teachers, the board approved Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) as the district's K–5 literacy curriculum, citing early engagement and reading growth.
The Oshkosh Area School District board voted April 23 to adopt the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum for grades K–5 following a field test and presentations by teachers and literacy coaches.
District staff and teachers presented results from the pilot and field-study classrooms. Literacy coach Cindy Smith told the board that students showed increased engagement and that CKLA’s routines and explicit instruction in phonics, vocabulary and comprehension had produced stronger classroom habits. Teachers across elementary grades described day-to-day plans, easier collaborative planning and observable student enthusiasm for topics and texts.
Several teachers who led the field test—Taylor Thomas and Leah LeClaire (Lakeside Elementary), Kim Lawton (E. Cook), and others—said CKLA made it simpler to plan coherent lessons, differentiate instruction and build cross-content background knowledge. Lawton cited midyear I-Ready growth for both newcomers and advanced readers in her fifth-grade classroom.
Board members praised teachers' presentations and parents and staff submitted written and spoken testimony in support. A few board members asked for continued monitoring and hard data across grades; the superintendent and curriculum staff said they will continue to report KPIs and formative measures as implementation proceeds.
Following discussion the board adopted CKLA by roll-call vote. Administrators said the decision begins a district-wide rollout that includes professional development and continued coaching for teachers.
The board president framed the adoption as a long-term investment: "Every student in this district has a right to read," she said at the meeting.
The district will schedule ongoing training and phased implementation; administrators said they expect to return with progress reports tied to district KPI metrics.
