Scottsdale Unified board adopts new social science curriculum after contentious public comment, 3-2

The Scottsdale Unified School District governing board voted 3-2 on May 13 to adopt a set of new social science instructional materials, including texts and digital resources for World History, World Geography, American and Arizona History, AP World History: Modern, AP Human Geography and AP U.S. History. The adoption followed a yearlong review by a district curriculum committee and a public review period that the district said included posted materials and public feedback.

Why it matters: The adoption affects the core instructional materials used in core social science courses and several AP classes at the district’s high schools. Supporters told the board the materials align to Arizona standards and AP course descriptions and include teacher supports, primary sources and digital tools intended to prepare students for state and AP exams. Opponents said the texts portray law enforcement and other topics in a biased way and urged the board to reject the package.

The committee process and board review The district said the materials were reviewed by a legally constituted social science curriculum adoption committee made up of teachers, a high school administrator and a community member, with meetings posted and minutes recorded under open-meeting law. The committee rated multiple publisher offerings against rubrics aligned to state standards and AP course exam descriptions, then recommended the set now adopted. Dylan, the district social studies coach, and Dr. Dodds Karen, the district’s director of teaching and learning, presented the committee’s rationale at the meeting and described alignment to Arizona’s disciplinary standards and the College Board exam descriptions for AP courses.

Public comment and concerns More than two dozen members of the public addressed the board during the formal public-comment period. Several speakers urged the board to reject the Savvas and related materials, arguing they were politically biased or anti–law enforcement. Cindy Hill, who identified herself as a community leader and “police wife,” told the board, “This isn't education. It's indoctrination.” Several parents and former law-enforcement officials said the materials risked alienating students and families and could harm recruitment and retention of law-enforcement personnel.

Other speakers backed the committee’s work and urged adoption. Lisa Erickson read a petition from more than 100 students, alumni and parents who said the recommended materials had been reviewed by a committee of educators and supported a curriculum that “encourages critical thinking by presenting a variety of perspectives.” Jan Volkil, a parent who reviewed the on‑display materials, told the board the texts met state standards and that “we need to tell the truth out loud” about historical events.

Board deliberations and vote Board discussion referenced committee procedures, the public review process, and the district obligation to adopt materials that align with Arizona standards. Members also described the volume of public feedback received by email and at the public display. After discussion, the board voted 3-2 to approve the adoption. The official tally was yes 3, no 2; individual votes were not recorded in the public vote tally posted in the transcript.

What the adopted package includes and next steps The approved materials include digital teacher guides, student texts with embedded AP skills for advanced courses, and supplemental teacher resources. The district said it will proceed with ordering teacher and student materials and with the professional development and AP exam preparation resources that were part of the committee recommendation. District staff told the board they will continue to monitor classroom implementation and AP exam performance data and support teachers with curriculum mapping and training.

Context and outstanding issues Speakers and some trustees urged clearer mechanisms for broader parent outreach during future adoptions; trustees asked staff to improve notification about committee openings and public-review displays. The board also heard repeated requests from speakers representing law-enforcement organizations to reconsider materials they regard as unfair toward police. The district said the materials will be incorporated into instructional planning and that teachers would make instructional choices from optional teacher resources as appropriate.

The board’s approval finishes the formal adoption step; implementation and classroom use will be scheduled for the coming school year, accompanied by teacher training and ongoing monitoring of results and community feedback.

Ending: The governing board approved the package amid sharply divided public comment and board debate; district staff said they will move ahead with procurement and professional development while also noting they will continue listening to community concerns.