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Board accepts KESA/KISA accreditation plan; district targets new ELA materials aligned to science of reading
Summary
Board members approved submission of the district’s KISA (Kansas Education Systems Accreditation) plan, which prioritizes high-quality ELA instructional materials aligned to the science of reading and sets milestones for curriculum committee selection and a February board presentation.
The Garden City Board of Education approved the district’s Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KISA) plan and accepted a timeline to select and adopt new English language arts instructional materials aligned with the science of reading.
Deputy superintendent Josh Geimann and construction director Heather Steg presented the KISA plan, explaining that KSDE has simplified accreditation to an annual cycle and emphasized four “fundamentals.” The district’s data review identified consistently low reading screening and assessment scores and teacher feedback that current ELA materials do not align fully with the science of reading.
The plan directs a curriculum review committee — comprising teachers, principals, instructional coaches, parents and board members — to analyze and select rigorous ELA materials. The committee has already narrowed options to three vendors for elementary and secondary: Houghton Mifflin (Into Reading/Into Literature), Savvas (myView/My Perspectives), and CKLA/Amplify. Targets in the plan include narrowing options to three (already achieved), committee consensus by October 2025 (with December 2025 as backup), and a board presentation in February 2026 with purchases made that spring so materials are available to teachers by summer.
Presenters said professional development focused on implementation will follow acquisition, with April and August PD sessions planned to prepare teachers. The board voted to approve the KISA plan submission and schedule milestones; a board member moved and the motion carried by voice vote.
Board members asked about alignment with LETRS (science of reading training). Presenters said most teachers will complete LETRS training by year-end and that the adoption committee includes staff with LETRS exposure to evaluate curricular alignment. Third-party reviews such as EdReports were used to compare vendor materials and identify strengths and weaknesses.
