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District presents Amplify ELA pilot for middle schools; board to act at a later meeting
Summary
DeKalb CUSD 428 presented results of a two‑publisher pilot at the middle school level and recommended adopting Amplify ELA after teacher and student pilots. The proposal is a six‑year contract budgeted in local funds; the board reached consensus to bring the item back for action.
The DeKalb CUSD 428 Board of Education on Feb. 10 heard a detailed recommendation to adopt Amplify ELA for grades 6–8 after a pilot comparing Amplify with the HMH curriculum.
Doctor Jenna Zimmerman, lead for the middle‑school ELA review, said the pilot ran in nine classrooms across grades 6–8 and reported students and teachers preferred Amplify in most measures. “The students overwhelmingly chose Amplify time and time again,” Zimmerman said, noting students found the texts and activities more engaging and the vocabulary app popular.
Why it matters District leaders said adopting a publisher‑based curriculum would give teachers a vetted, consistent foundation and speed lesson planning, freeing PLC time for data analysis and instruction. Zimmerman said Amplify’s differentiation is “fluid and fast,” with six vocabulary levels tied to student ability and WIDA‑aligned supports for English learners. She added that writing is embedded daily and that the program provides multiple formative‑assessment options.
Cost, contract and timeline Zimmerman said the proposal is a six‑year contract at $25.75 per student per year. The district negotiated a two‑payment arrangement: approximately $140,000 in the first year and about $125,000 in year two; she said those amounts are budgeted in local funds. A price quote noted an expiration date of Jan. 15, but Zimmerman said vendor staff are aware of the district’s timeline and the quote remains valid through the board’s approval process.
Questions and next steps Board members asked how Amplify complements local curriculum work; Zimmerman replied that the publisher product provides the foundational resources so teachers can focus on instruction and data-driven small‑group work. She said the program includes both digital and print materials and that some classroom activities are computer‑based while others are paper‑based.
The board did not take final action at this meeting. Members reached consensus to bring the proposal back for an action vote at a future board meeting; staff said materials and sample copies are available for board review in the interim.
