Board hears recommendation to adopt Great Minds 'Arts & Letters' ELA curriculum; first three years to be grant‑funded
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Summary
Assistant Superintendent Linden recommended adopting Great Minds Arts & Letters for K–5 English language arts in a 5‑year agreement; the district plans to use 35j grant funds for $1,289,200.19 covering the first three years and anticipates professional learning funded by grants.
At the meeting the board received a first briefing on a recommendation to adopt Great Minds Arts & Letters as the district’s K–5 English language arts curriculum. Assistant Superintendent Linden said the district piloted two curricula over the last school year and recommends Arts & Letters — an updated edition of the Wit & Wisdom program — based on classroom observations, teacher surveys and student work samples.
Linden said the district negotiated a five‑year agreement and expects $1,289,200.19 in 35j grant funding to cover the first three years through June 2028; the remaining two years are budgeted "not to exceed $225,000," and officials said they will seek grants before using general fund dollars. Pilot training reached roughly 180 teachers and included weekly PLCs, learning walks in about 60 classrooms, student interviews and caregiver surveys.
Pilot results presented by Kristen Smith and an external Student Achievement Partners team showed differences between the two pilot programs: Bookworms scored higher on observable foundational‑skills components, while Wit & Wisdom (and Arts & Letters) showed stronger performance in building knowledge, complex texts and writing rigor. Pilot teachers deliberately paired Wit & Wisdom with the district’s foundational‑skills program (UFLI) during the pilot; Linden told trustees the pairing worked in practice.
Two pilot teachers described classroom impacts: a kindergarten teacher said students were engaged in Socratic discussions and critical thinking; a second‑grade teacher described a previously nonverbal student who demonstrated comprehension during a knowledge‑building activity. Linden said the district is negotiating professional learning with the provider and expects grant funding for implementation supports; building literacy coaches and paraprofessionals will be included in training.
What’s next: This item is a first briefing. The governance and finance committees will continue to review contract and implementation details, including final costs and professional‑learning agreements, before the board considers a vote.
