School committee approves StudySync ELA curriculum for Coventry High School; implementation and teacher supports spotlighted

The Coventry School Committee voted unanimously on Jan. 9 to approve a written English-language-arts curriculum for grades 9–12 based on the StudySync program and the district’s written curriculum documents.

Julie Boyle, the Coventry High School ELA curriculum coordinator, described the selection and implementation process, saying the district considered multiple vendor options, piloted StudySync, and moved to full implementation in the past school year. “If you just Google StudySync… you'll see that it's written there that it's a complete ELA curriculum designed to meet the rigorous academic needs of today's classroom, in print or online,” Boyle told the committee. She said the high school implements four full units each year (informative, narrative, analytical and research writing), common end-of-unit assessments, and peer-review processes.

Boyle and Assistant Superintendent Anzalone outlined supports for teachers including release time funded by a grant to produce the written curriculum documents, embedded one-on-one coaching with newer teachers, and a shared Google Classroom containing teacher-created StudySync materials. Boyle said the department surveyed teachers and students during rollout and noted both positives — digital accessibility, integrated writing routines and engaging texts — and implementation challenges, such as time pressures and the rigor of high‑quality curriculum materials.

Committee members asked whether other districts use StudySync and how outcomes compared. Boyle said several districts, including Cranston and Cumberland, use StudySync but cautioned that districts are at different implementation stages and direct comparisons are difficult. Member Amanda Carlo asked whether other high schools using the program had shown improved outcomes; Boyle said some districts with longer implementation showed positive results but that Coventry is still completing early years of its rollout.

The committee then voted to approve the written curriculum as presented. The motion to approve passed on an aye vote with the chair also voting in the affirmative.

Ending: District staff said they will continue to monitor common-assessment results and teacher feedback, maintain coaching and planning time, and report back to the committee on implementation progress and student outcomes.