Pinellas staff recommend continuing current K–5 English materials; public review open through Feb. 10

District staff on Jan. 27 presented a recommendation to continue the district’s custom K–5 English language arts instructional materials, produced in partnership with Public Consulting Group and approved by the state vendor review process.

Chief academic officer Danica Jones said the materials have been available for the required public review period and will remain on the district website through the next school board meeting on Feb. 10 to allow additional feedback. "We are here today to present our recommendation for instructional materials for K–5 English language arts and to provide an opportunity for public input as required by Florida statute," Jones said.

Holly Slaughter, elementary ELA specialist, and other K–5 team members were credited for leading the review. Board member Hine noted the materials’ online transparency and highlighted gains in early literacy: "Over the last seven years, Pinellas County Schools' third-grade reading rate has gone up 14 points," she said, and attributed some of that improvement to the elementary ELA work.

One public commenter, Mark Clutho, questioned the district’s judgment on language basics and criticized what he described as the selection process for curriculum materials. The board did not change the recommendation at the meeting; staff invited the public to review module content online and submit comments before Feb. 10.

The presentation served as the required public hearing for instructional materials under state law; no final adoption vote on the materials was recorded at this meeting.