Education committee finds K–5 MyView materials align with state standards after constituent complaint

The Oxford Area Board of School Directors’ education committee reported unanimously on Aug. 19 that the district’s MyView English language arts materials (grades K–5) and the grades 3–5 MyView social studies materials comply with Pennsylvania standards and do not contain content the committee determined to be prohibited under the executive order referenced by a constituent.

Miss Penber, a member of the education committee, told the board the committee reviewed the materials after receiving a complaint alleging the social studies program violated an “executive order ending radical indoctrination in K–12 schooling.” She said the materials were originally approved by the board on June 20, 2017 (social studies, grades K–5) and May 17, 2022 (MyView ELA, grades K–5), each following a 30‑day public review period.

The education committee said members reviewed teacher instructional guides, resource materials and student texts; two committee members also reported having used the materials with students in parent/mentor roles. The committee concluded the resources “closely align with the Pennsylvania state mandated core competencies for social studies” for grades 3–5 and said they do not promote what the constituent characterized as anti‑American or discriminatory ideologies.

Dr. Margaret Billings Jones, the assistant superintendent who presented aspects of the district’s curriculum and assessment work elsewhere in the meeting, was referenced by the committee’s statement supporting the administration’s prior review and ongoing curriculum oversight.

The board did not take a separate vote to remove or replace the materials at the Aug. 19 meeting; the committee’s unanimous opinion was presented as the committee’s response to the constituent concern. The committee said the curriculum materials continue to be reviewed annually as part of the district’s four‑year curriculum cycle.