Board hears recommendation to adopt I‑Ready (K‑5) and Big Ideas (6‑12) math; 5‑year licenses budgeted

District staff recommended adopting a new math curriculum: I‑Ready (Curriculum Associates) for kindergarten through fifth grade and Big Ideas (McGraw Hill / Big Ideas Math) for grades six through 12. The recommendation follows pilot testing that included k‑5 teacher pilots and a secondary preview; staff summarized teacher feedback and professional development supports.

For K‑5, staff recommended I‑Ready Math as a digital‑first program that includes manipulatives, family resources and alignment with the district’s I‑Ready benchmarks. For secondary, Big Ideas Math was recommended to provide vertical alignment from middle school through algebra II; staff negotiated a reduced cost with half off teacher resource packages and five years of included professional development for new teachers and administrators.

Staff reported quoted costs: Curriculum Associates (I‑Ready) five‑year license estimated at about $137,000; Big Ideas five‑year license approximately $133,026. The district intends to split payments across two fiscal years (paying roughly half this year and half next year) to smooth budget impact. Staff said they obtained prototype manipulative kits and negotiated professional development packages and that the secondary PD will be offered annually for new staff.

Board members asked about alignment between K‑5 and grade‑6 curricula and how benchmarks and diagnostic data will be used to identify holes between fifth and sixth grade; staff said they will monitor benchmark results and adjust vertical alignment work accordingly. The board did not record a formal adoption vote in the transcript during the presentation; staff said the licensing and implementation timeline would be presented for final approval in a subsequent action item.