Jordan district presents state social studies materials and pilots UFLI phonics; board to hold public review meetings

Jordan School District staff told the Board of Education on March 11, 2025, that Jordan teachers helped develop the new Utah State Board of Education elementary social studies materials and that the district is recommending public review and possible adoption of two reading-related curricula for elementary schools.

Kaye Rizzuto, the district—s administrator for teaching and learning, said USBE updated K—2 standards for social studies in December 2022 and then selected Jordan School District teachers to build classroom-ready materials aligned to those standards. Rizzuto said the resources are already available digitally and will not cost the board to adopt if the state releases them as materials for statewide use; Jordan staff have created district pacing guides and Canvas access so teachers and parents can review lessons and units.

Rizzuto said the curriculum emphasizes history, geography, civics and economics across grades K— and includes grade-level-appropriate resources for sensitive topics such as Holocaust education. She said the materials were created with rural and reservation communities in mind and that Jordan teachers will maintain district-specific pacing and alignment with existing ELA resources such as Wit and Wisdom.

District staff also presented a recommendation on phonics instruction in the district—s earliest grades. Michelle (last name not provided in the meeting transcript) and other staff described UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) as a tier-1 phonics program that aligns closely with LETRS training and is on USBE—s approved list. Staff reported preliminary pilot results showing improved mid-year assessment gains in several participating schools and teacher reports of high engagement and ease of implementation. Staff contrasted UFLI with the currently used Really Great Reading, which the district has used since 2020 but which is designated a tier-2 program on the state list.

Michelle told the board UFLI has a one-time teacher material cost (listed by the vendor at roughly $7590 per teacher) and no ongoing license contract required, and the program is designed to match LETRS lesson templates. District staff said they plan to continue to use other sustainable supports (such as Hagerty and 95 Percent Group) alongside any phonics adoption.

District staff asked the board to authorize two public meetings with patron comment as the next step. Staff described the planned sequence: an open review period including multiple open houses and digital access to materials for families and teachers, two open board meetings with public comment on the proposed materials, and then a vote at the second scheduled board meeting. Staff said UFLI adoption would likely apply primarily to K— and that principals would be allowed to stagger implementation so schools still engaged in other training (for example, new math training) could delay adoption for a year.

Board members asked whether the social studies materials were already piloted (staff said teachers had used and refined them during development), whether the curricula will become open educational resources (USBE is in the process of vetting and may release statewide), and how the district will phase training and rollout. Staff emphasized teacher support, available open houses for parents, and opportunities for teachers to join the pilot or transition in a future year.

No formal adoption vote occurred March 11. Staff will schedule the public review dates, circulate materials digitally and bring final adoption requests to the board after two open meetings and patron comment as required by district administrative policy DE501.