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Board opens 30-day public review for proposed elementary ELA/ELD curriculum (Benchmark Advance pilot)
Summary
After a year-long pilot and review of 12 programs, the district's screening committee voted about 91.9% to recommend Benchmark Advance for a 30-day public preview; staff said final approval would return to the board in April along with training plans for teachers.
The Tustin Unified School District board on Monday opened a 30-day public review for a proposed elementary ELA/ELD curriculum following a year-long pilot and committee evaluation.
Dr. Villegas reviewed the screening process, saying the team examined 12 curricula and involved a pilot of 65 teachers representing general education, special education and other specialist roles. The screening committee, after rubric-based evaluation and data analysis, "voted 91.9% in favor to move forward with the proposal of Benchmark Advance" as the recommended curriculum.
Staff highlighted Benchmark Advance's strengths including grade-level rigor, rich academic language supports, vertically aligned units across K–5, embedded ELD instruction (Express), Spanish materials (Benchmark Adelante), and decodable texts and phonics supports. If the board approves the selection in April, staff said purchases would follow and teacher training would begin in August with multiple boot-camp days and publisher-provided full-day training.
Why it matters: The adoption affects the district's elementary instructional materials and the approach to early literacy and ELD for English learners and other student groups across the district.
Next steps: Materials will be available for public preview at the district office for 30 days beginning tomorrow; staff will bring adoption recommendations to the board in April and, if approved, schedule teacher training ahead of fall implementation.
