Anne Arundel presents year‑one rollout of Amplify CKLA; district reports early DIBELS gains

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Tuesday received a year‑one update on the district’s implementation of Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), the K–5 elementary literacy curriculum adopted this year. District staff said CKLA’s skills (phonics/decoding) and knowledge (background, vocabulary, comprehension) strands were being taught in daily blocks, DIBELS screening was embedded as the universal screener, and kindergarten students showed the largest mid‑year gains on DIBELS composite measures.

Why it matters: Board and central‑office presenters framed the rollout as part of the district’s move to the science of reading and to meeting state expectations (including requirements tied to the Ready to Read Act). Officials said consistent classroom practice, targeted professional learning and family engagement are central to raising reading outcomes by grade 2 and reducing instructional gaps as students advance.

Christina Catalano, chief academic officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, described implementation goals and how staff are defining “integrity” for CKLA instruction—“a balance of fidelity and flexibility” that keeps grade‑level curriculum and sequencing while allowing data‑driven adjustments. She said the district prioritized foundational implementation in year 1 and used a walkthrough tool to observe curriculum use across five categories: instructional resources, instructional delivery, engagement, pacing/coherence and physical space. “We truly prioritized foundational implementation. We…