Combs board hears update on K–5 ELA vendor review, narrows vendor list for presentations
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Summary
Curriculum staff reported that the K–5 ELA review narrowed top vendors to HMH, McGraw Hill Wonders and McGraw Hill Open Court; the board will invite those vendors for presentations and continue evaluating supplemental early-literacy materials.
District curriculum staff updated trustees on the K–5 ELA adoption process and recommended inviting three vendors for in-person presentations as part of the review.
The committee’s scoring identified McGraw Hill Wonders, HMH and McGraw Hill Open Court among the top candidates; administration said about 86% of reviewers ranked McGraw Hill Wonders in the top tier. Trustees were told the process will include qualitative feedback collected during the committee review and that supplemental early-literacy materials would be evaluated in case a primary program lacks phonics or sound-wall components.
Board members asked that vendor presentations make clear differences in phonics and sound-wall integration between programs, and curriculum staff agreed to include that comparative information as part of the final report. Spanish and French vendor shortlists were also discussed; Spanish had an additional vendor (CLET) added due to late scores and French had a limited pool with one vendor strongly favored for the small number of sections currently taught.
Administration said vendor presentations and any supplemental reviews will be scheduled over the coming months as the committee completes its 60-day review period. The board did not take a final adoption vote at this meeting.
Speakers quoted or identified in this article are taken directly from the meeting transcript.