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District narrows elementary math curriculum to four finalists; vendor showcase and pilot feedback to guide April recommendation
Summary
District staff said they have reduced elementary math curriculum candidates to four products, will hold a vendor showcase and spring pilots, and plan to propose a final math adoption to the board in April for fall implementation.
Kaneland CUSD 302 district leaders presented a progress report on a multi-level math curriculum review: staff said they have narrowed elementary candidates to four products, are concluding pilot work, will hold a vendor showcase this Friday for staff and invited districts, and plan a formal recommendation to the board in April with implementation slated for the start of the next school year.
Why it matters: The district’s math results on state and local assessments trend below area districts and state averages in several grades; staff said selecting an adopted curriculum and aligning professional development are central steps to raise proficiency and better prepare students for grade-level assessments and college-readiness exams.
What the district reported: Superintendent Doctor Rolling introduced the presentation and said the review follows earlier curriculum work. Doctor Mumm and Doctor Horn led the session, outlining steps already taken: an inventory of materials, a fall pilot of one product and spring pilots of three remaining candidates, visits to neighboring districts (including Sycamore) and consultations with Kane County learning leaders.
“We are down to our final four products and our vendor showcase is this Friday,” Doctor Horn said. The presenters said each finalist supplies teacher guides, differentiating resources, manipulatives and digital components; staff scored products on a rubric that weighed supports for students who need remediation and for students needing enrichment. Doctor Mumm said the district is prioritizing materials that include ready-to-use lessons, manipulatives, and built-in differentiated supports so teachers do not have to source supplemental materials independently.
Staff described several immediate instructional adjustments already in place while the adoption proceeds: local assessments were revised to include multi-step and multi-answer items that mirror the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) format; sample IAR items and practice tasks have been distributed to students; and district communications (YouTube videos, family nights) aim to familiarize families with the exam format. “By design, when they are sitting in front of the IAR, they are familiar with the way the questions are structured,” Doctor Horn said.
Middle- and high-school matters: The district plans an upcoming review cycle for middle- and high-school mathematics as well. At the secondary level staff noted SAT/ACT alignment and said switching to the ACT as the district’s college-readiness exam will require a crosswalk between curriculum and ACT expectations; secondary teachers and department chairs have been consulted.
Timeline and implementation: Staff said vendor showcase feedback and spring pilot results will be compiled through March, with a final recommendation to the board in April and teacher training planned for fall professional development days (and optional summer work). Several board members asked about supports for students behind grade level and about articulation across buildings; presenters said the finalist products include differentiated lessons and intervention supports and that the district will provide professional development and norming days.
Ending: The board took no action on the presentation. Staff will return in April with a recommendation for elementary math adoption and a revised curriculum review cycle for secondary grades.
