District chooses Twig for K–8 pilots, eyes Cognia/Cognity digital resource for high school; costs and pilot results presented

District science staff reported results from a year‑long pilot of elementary and middle‑school science resources and recommended a six‑year adoption of the Twig science program for K–8 and a multi‑year subscription for a high‑school digital resource.

A district staff member who led the pilot said K–5 teachers piloted Smithsonian Science Experience and Twig, and middle‑school teachers piloted Carolina OpenSciEd (publisher: Carolina) and Twig. Teachers rated lesson components, assessments, hands‑on learning and teacher supports; the pilot cohort of teachers favored Twig overall. The elementary pilot included 12 teachers; the middle‑school pilot included nine teachers (all middle‑school science teachers). Staff reported that Twig scored higher on ease of use and teacher supports while also engaging students.

Staff presented a six‑year, K–5 Twig adoption quote of $701,187.80 that included teacher materials, student digital licenses, classroom refill kits and student journals; they described year‑one costs as the highest because of initial kit and teacher‑material purchases. For grades 6–8 staff proposed a six‑year Twig adoption and provided a separate quote for refill kits and classroom journal sets to allow an inventory review before committing to kit purchases. Staff also recommended year‑one and follow‑up professional development tied to implementation.

For grades 9–12, staff recommended a supplemental, digital high‑school science resource (referred to in packet materials as a digital resource with course units in biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space science). Staff reported the first‑year cost for a five‑year student‑license purchase would be about $119,000 total with ongoing annual renewals near $23,800; they noted the vendor offers a free first‑year professional‑development package and additional PD was quoted at about $11,000 mostly in year 2.

Board and committee members asked about equity and accessibility for students with different reading levels and about the usefulness of printed student journals; staff said Twig includes differentiated reading levels, English‑learner supports and family outreach resources, and recommended classroom sets of journals at middle school to balance digital and print access. Members also requested that a few pilot teachers be invited to future board meetings to describe classroom experience; staff agreed to invite volunteer pilot teachers to present at a board meeting.

The education committee voted to move the recommended Twig K–5 and 6–8 adoptions and the high‑school digital resource quote to the full board agenda for formal consideration.

Why it matters: The recommended adoptions would change the district's primary science instructional materials at K–8 and add a new digital resource option at the high‑school level. The presentation included teacher pilot data, multi‑year cost estimates and proposed professional development timelines that will be part of upcoming budget and procurement decisions.

Ending: Education staff will follow up with classroom teachers, finalize inventory checks for refill kits, schedule vendor PD and return with final contract recommendations for board approval.