School board approves CommonLit 360 for grades 7–12 and Vista ELD; k–6 knowledge-curriculum debate continues

The Ogden School District Board voted to adopt CommonLit 360 for grades 7 through 12 English language arts and Vista Higher Learning for elementary English language development, approving both the instructional materials and the proposed professional-learning investments for the 2025–26 school year.

District Executive Director of Curriculum Adam (last name not specified in the transcript) presented the materials and costs before the vote and said the district would also reconvene committees and continue public input on a separate K–6 adoption. “This adoption in both K–2 and 3–6 represents the closest we’ve ever had,” Adam said while reviewing committee scoring and final fee proposals.

School board leaders said they wanted to be sure teachers and students had time to compare final copyrights and vendor proposals before a K–6 decision. Vice President Anderson moved to approve CommonLit 360 and Vista Higher Learning for the specified grades; Board Member Purnell seconded the motion, and the board approved it by voice vote. Anderson later moved and Board Member Allred seconded a separate motion to approve the accompanying professional-learning investments; that motion also passed.

Why it matters: The vote puts new, vendor-selected ELA resources and an implementation plan in place for middle and high school classrooms while leaving elementary core instruction unresolved. K–6 choices are consequential because the two leading contenders—Amplify CKLA (third edition) and EL Education as published by OpenUp—are both “knowledge-building” programs whose structures affect how…