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Madison board approves multiple curriculum units, delays decision on 9th-grade ELA book-club selection
Summary
The Madison Public Schools Board of Education voted to adopt a package of curriculum units but agreed to remove the proposed 9th-grade ELA unit 3 from tonight’s approval and asked district curriculum staff to revisit its representative book-club examples after public discussion about content and transparency.
The Madison Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously on Feb. 11 to adopt a set of new and revised curriculum units, but members agreed to postpone approval of a 9th-grade English language arts (ELA) book-club sample list after concerns were raised about the balance and potential triggering content in the examples provided.
Board members approved the motion, moved by Steven and seconded by Mary Anne, to adopt the listed curriculum units with one change: the packet will include ELA grade 9 unit 2 but the board removed unit 3 from tonight’s vote and directed the curriculum office to review and broaden the representative book-club examples before bringing the unit back. The motion passed unanimously (8–0).
Board members said the decision matters because the ELA unit’s example titles — provided to illustrate possible student book-club options — drew concern from at least one board member who said the highlighted examples appeared narrowly focused on themes of sexual assault, violent crime and police violence and could feel unbalanced to parents and students. That board member urged a broader representative sampling of titles and clearer guidance for parents about choice and potential sensitivities.
District staff and board members who addressed the discussion said the packet’s listed titles were examples, not a closed list, and that the unit in question has been in the district curriculum since 2019. Gail (board/staff member) explained that the unit’s instructional aim centers on perspective and point of view — skills the English department has tied to titles that prompt discussion of narrator reliability, empathy and differing interpretations of events. The district’s public-facing unit overview includes standards, essential understandings and a note that some book-club titles can be sensitive; staff said teachers introduce book-club choices and provide guidance so students and families can make informed selections.
Board members and staff also discussed classroom practice: book clubs are student-choice units, teachers facilitate discussions and can offer alternate selections if an individual student finds a title triggering or unsuitable. District staff said teachers commonly work with students individually if a student wishes to change a selection after starting a book.
The board asked the curriculum office to return with a revised presentation that broadens the sample list and clarifies how titles will be presented to families and students. The amended motion that passed tonight removes ELA grade 9 unit 3 from the approved package and assigns the follow-up to Gail and curriculum staff; no final dates were specified for that follow-up.
Votes at a glance
• Motion to adopt the listed curriculum units as amended (removed: ELA grade 9 unit 3). Moved: Steven. Second: Mary Anne. Outcome: approved, unanimous (yes: 8; no: 0; abstain: 0). Note: Gail and the curriculum office will review the ELA unit 3 book-club examples and return with revisions.
What was debated
Concerns centered on the representative sample of ELA book-club titles included in the unit overview. Examples mentioned in discussion included All American Boys; The Hate U Give; Wolf Hollow; Speak; The Lovely Bones; Monster; Every Day; To Kill a Mockingbird; and Lord of the Flies. At least one board member said several highlighted titles share similar dark themes and that the examples could be perceived as unbalanced. Staff said the examples are a subset tied to the unit’s instructional focus on perspective and that teachers will support student choice and provide alternatives where appropriate.
What happens next
The curriculum office will revisit the ELA grade 9 unit 3 materials and the list of example titles, with the intent to present a broader representative sample and clearer parent-facing guidance before the unit returns to the board for final action.
Ending
The board proceeded to vote on other agenda items after the curriculum discussion. No timeline was set at the meeting for when the revised ELA unit would return to the board.
