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Westwood launches K–5 literacy review and first‑ever guidance program review
Summary
The district will launch a K–5 literacy review and a 9–12 guidance program review in 2025–26, using surveys, walkthroughs and external support from MASCA; pilots are planned for 2026–27 with steering‑committee involvement.
District leaders told the School Committee they are initiating a new K–5 literacy review and, for the first time, a comprehensive review of the 9–12 high‑school guidance program.
Caitlin explained the curriculum‑review cycle (audit/analyze/report/implement) and said the K–5 literacy work responds in part to an uneven implementation of past recommendations and evolving state legislation about required elementary curricular options. The district will assemble a steering committee this fall, administer student/teacher/family surveys and run walkthroughs and peer observations over winter and spring, with the goal of identifying promising programs to pilot in 2026–27.
For the high‑school guidance review the district selected MASCA (Massachusetts School Counselors Association) as an external partner to conduct a document audit, staff and student surveys and focus groups; MASCA will deliver a draft report in March with a finalized set of recommendations to guide local implementation.
Caitlin said the district will preserve flexibility in referencing the Program of Studies so future course name changes need not trigger policy rewrites. Committee members asked about variability across grade levels in literacy materials and the district said it would return with more detailed findings.
