Garden City USD 457 begins multi-month process to select new ELA curriculum under Kansas literacy blueprint

Garden City USD 457 officials on March 13 told the school board they will spend the coming months narrowing instructional materials for an English language arts curriculum adoption that must align with the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy and state expectations.

Deputy or curriculum staff member Josh Gottman said the district will follow a multi-step process: a leadership team has vetted six publishers, that list will be narrowed to three, and a teacher selection committee will review those three beginning in April. The committee will present a recommendation to the curriculum council, then the district leadership team, and finally to the board for approval ahead of a planned implementation year.

The district said the adoption is driven by repeatedly low assessment results on statewide and local screens and teacher feedback that current materials are not aligned to the science of reading. Gottman said the district wants materials that support structured literacy, provide stronger writing instruction and offer resources for students across the proficiency range.

Board members asked how committee members and parent representatives will be chosen. Gottman said principals provided names of teachers who could commit to attending multiple publisher presentations; each building will have one representative on the committee and the district hopes to secure an elementary parent representative and two board members to serve as well. He said teacher review sessions could be held during summer or evenings to allow deep, half-day reviews with publisher representatives.

Administrators also reviewed the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy, noting it became law as part of Senate Bill 438 and includes a timeline requiring literacy-related credentials on teacher licenses by 2028 and other targets extending through 2033. District leaders said the state will work with TNTP and institutions of higher education to align teacher preparation; Garden City is already working with TNTP and has LETRS-trained staff and planned follow-up professional development.

District staff emphasized the adoption will take months, including opportunities for building-level feedback and time for teacher representatives to explore digital platforms and sample materials. No motions or votes were taken during the presentation; staff said the adoption recommendation is expected to go to curriculum council in December with a board action in February of the implementation year.