SCUCISD board adopts Accelerate Learning (STEMscopes) for K–8 math; two-year purchase planned

The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District board on Thursday voted 6–0 to adopt Accelerate Learning (marketed as STEMscopes) as the district’s high-quality instructional materials for kindergarten through eighth-grade mathematics, beginning in the 2025–26 school year.

District staff said the recommendation follows a multi-step review led by teachers. Serena George, the district’s executive director for curriculum and professional learning, said a committee of 25 kindergarten-through-eighth-grade classroom teachers, campus instructional coaches, campus administrators and district staff analyzed candidate programs against the state’s HQIM selection rubric before making the recommendation.

George said the committee prioritized TEKS alignment, formative-assessment availability, ease of teacher access and built-in differentiation. “Our committee took in what our teachers were saying at the campus level, what their recommendation was, and what their experience was with the materials, and they made a recommendation,” she told the board. The committee found Accelerate Learning offered the most complete alignment and the formative-assessment supports teachers asked for.

Why it matters: districts that adopt TEA-approved HQIM can receive state reimbursements tied to instructional materials allotments and are expected to reduce teacher planning burden by supplying a full suite of teacher and student materials, district staff said.

Cost and funding: staff presented two purchase options. A two-year license and materials package for K–8 would cost about $874,000; a four-year purchase would cost about $1.4 million. The district’s current instructional materials and technology allotment (IMA) balance was reported at about $1.1 million; the district expects a state reimbursement of $40 per student for HQIM adoptions (the presentation estimated a potential reimbursement of roughly $364,000 based on current enrollment). Because the district’s next IMA allotment is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2025, the board authorized the initial two-year purchase and noted the district can pursue the remaining years once the September allotment is received.

Process and review: George described multiple safeguards the district used: teacher pilots and classroom trials of materials, campus-level previews for all K–8 math teachers and two in-person community preview days plus an online public comment period. Board members who sat on the committee praised the depth of teacher involvement and said the pilot classroom use helped them feel confident in the recommendation.

Board action: The motion to approve the HQIM adoption passed unanimously, 6–0.

Next steps: staff said the district will schedule summer professional development for teachers to align instruction to the new materials and will evaluate MAP and other assessment data to monitor implementation and student progress.