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Orange Unified outlines multiyear plan to adopt new elementary and middle‑school math curriculum
Summary
District educational staff said they will run a multi‑phase math adoption aligned to the 2023 California Mathematics Framework, narrowing 8–10 programs to two pilots, running two six‑week pilot rounds in 2026, and targeting full implementation in fall 2026; the effort received two OCDE grants totaling $47,700.
Lisa Green, Orange Unified’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, told the school board on July 14 that the district is launching a multi‑year elementary and middle‑school math adoption aligned to the California Mathematics Framework revised in 2023.
The plan: Green described a four‑phase process beginning with preparation and study during 2024–25, moving into two rounds of publisher reviews and training, two six‑week pilot rounds in late 2025/early 2026 and winter/spring 2026, and a final recommendation to the district curriculum council and the board for approval by June 2026. If approved, the district expects full implementation in the 2026–27 school year.
Funding and scope: Green said the Orange County Department of Education awarded two grants to support the adoption: one for $10,000 and another for $37,700. The adoption team surveyed more than 100 K–8 educators, reviewed 25+ programs, and will use an evaluation tool co‑developed by teacher leaders to narrow materials from about 8–10 publishers to a final two for pilots.
Equity and accessibility: The district’s stated priorities include alignment to the new framework, materials that support English learners (MLRs and language‑rich tasks), accessibility for students with disabilities (text‑to‑speech and web‑based platforms), supports for executive functioning, differentiated and customizable assessments, and professional development including Building Thinking Classrooms training.
Trustee questions: Trustees asked about how the new framework differs from current materials; Green summarized that although standards remain, the 2023 framework groups standards into "big ideas," emphasizes real‑world application and equity, and recommends instructional approaches that position teachers as facilitators. Trustees raised concerns about dual immersion (Mandarin) materials and acceleration pathways; Green said the district already runs accelerated math options for students ready for Math 1 in middle school and will account for dual‑language needs during selection and piloting.
Next steps: The district will run two pilot rounds and collect teacher and student feedback through surveys and PLCs; a final recommendation will go to the curriculum council in April followed by a 30‑day public review before board approval by June 2026.
