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Bolivar R‑I picks Savvas/MyPerspectives for middle‑school ELA after pilots and reviews
Summary
Following a multi‑step review that included EdReports, teacher pilots and regional district consultations, the Bolivar R‑I Board heard staff recommend adopting Savvas (MyPerspectives) for middle‑school ELA in a six‑year adoption with an estimated six‑year cost of approximately $88,000.
District staff told the Bolivar R‑I Board that persistent stagnation in middle‑school ELA scores prompted a targeted review of new curriculum resources.
Doctor Wall and an ELA research team described the selection process: an initial review of conference peers and EdReports ratings narrowed six candidates to two, which were piloted in classrooms. The team used a rubric and a teacher 'fist‑to‑five' rating to gather classroom feedback before recommending Savvas/MyPerspectives.
Staff emphasized alignment with the science of reading, embedded grammar and vocabulary supports, a mix of high‑quality texts and short‑form materials, and integration with Canvas. The recommended adoption includes hardback anthologies for classrooms (15 per room for checkout) and digital access for students.
The six‑year adoption cost was presented as "just over $88,000," which staff said covers digital licenses and classroom hardbacks. Professional development is scheduled, including a full day of training on Aug. 14 and a train‑the‑trainer model with the instructional coach.
Board members asked about pilot length and PD support; staff said pilots ran roughly one week (some up to 1.5 weeks) and that a continuous review process will monitor effectiveness during the six‑year period and allow for earlier changes if needed.
The board heard that neighboring districts’ experiences (Lebanon, Hollister) and EdReports ratings helped inform the recommendation and that initial local pilots already show teacher engagement.
