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ISD 622 board advances middle‑school social studies adoption; district recommends McGraw‑Hill resources and a multiyear purchase
Summary
ISD 622 staff recommended adopting McGraw‑Hill social studies resources for seventh and eighth grades and asked the board to approve a multiyear purchase of about $50,000 per year for up to six years.
The ISD 622 teaching and learning department recommended that the board approve a multiyear purchase of new middle‑school social studies instructional resources intended to align classroom materials with Minnesota’s 2021 social studies standards.
Courtney McCormick, director of post‑secondary readiness, told the board that the district’s curriculum review task force — led by teacher leaders and supported by content specialists — evaluated resources and recommended McGraw‑Hill’s United States History: Voices and Perspectives and Exploring Geography and Global Issues for seventh and eighth grades. Staff described a review process that included teachers, the multicultural learning department, student services and American Indian education staff.
The board was asked to authorize a six‑year contract for the seventh‑ and eighth‑grade materials at an approximate cost of $50,000 per year, not to exceed $300,000 over six years. The board moved and later approved the resolution authorizing the purchase during the action portion of the meeting.
McCormick said the new state standards shift social studies instruction toward evaluation and explanation, placing more emphasis on students using evidence, analyzing information and communicating conclusions. She said sixth grade will retain current materials this year because Minnesota‑specific resources created by the Minnesota Historical Society are scheduled for an update and alignment for full implementation in 2026–27.
Board members asked about personal finance and ethnic studies work that intersects with social studies. Staff said a required personal finance requirement will be offered beginning in the 2025–26 school year and that the district is aligning elective high‑school courses with MDE’s ethnic‑studies framework to meet 2026–27 requirements. McCormick and other staff said the district will continue to adapt materials and supplement the adopted core to meet district priorities and state frameworks.
The board’s resolution authorized the teaching and learning department to execute a six‑year agreement for the recommended resources at approximately $50,000 per year, with a total not to exceed $300,000 over six years.
