District recommends i-Ready as top K'5 math adoption; board to open 60-day public review

Curriculum staff presenting at the Chandler Unified District Governing Board study session recommended i-Ready (Curriculum Associates) as the district's top K'5 math curriculum after a three-phase review that included teachers, parents and instructional coaches.

Eric Bridal, a district math coach who led the rubric review, said the evaluation prioritized alignment to Arizona standards, coherence with district teaching practices, instructional supports, assessment and student supports. "I Ready classroom mathematics [is] a well-balanced, engaging and adaptive program that supports both teachers and students effectively," Bridal said, summarizing qualitative feedback from site administrators and parent representatives.

Staff said 11 resources were submitted to the initial RFI and that roughly 135 participants were involved across phases. The review narrowed materials to two finalists: i-Ready and Reveal Math (McGraw Hill). Using the district rubric, i-Ready averaged 72.12 out of 81 points; Reveal Math scored 66.05.

The purchase proposal would supply print and digital resources, personalized instructional licenses, and professional development. A district presenter told the board the estimated cost for a six-year adoption is $4,044,226.17, with an average annual cost of $674,037.70 and a projected six-year savings of $1,835,000 compared with single-year contracts. "There is a supplemental space for that drill component," staff said, noting that i-Ready emphasizes conceptual instruction while allowing district classrooms to add targeted practice where desired.

If the board approves a 60-day public review, materials will be on display Nov. 13 through Jan. 11 at the Instructional Resource Center and online for public comment; staff said the board will receive summary feedback and consider next steps on Feb. 11. Staff also said professional development is included in the proposal and that family-facing resources such as unit-flow videos can be shared with parents through platforms such as Google Classroom or ParentSquare.

Board members asked about accommodating accelerated CTA students, supplemental drill practice for families who prefer it, and how the district will sustain teacher supports during rollout. Staff explained that digital licenses are coded through Infinite Campus to align students with appropriate grade-level content and that diagnostics adapt to student needs. On PD and access, staff said a combination of coaching, on-demand PD and vendor support will be available during implementation.

The board did not take a vote during the study session; the public review period is the next formal step in the adoption process.