Danville schools recommend new ELA textbooks aligned to 2024 standards; formal vote set for Feb. 19

The Danville Public Schools textbook review committee recommended new English language arts textbooks for the 2026–27 school year and will ask the school board for formal approval and funding at the Feb. 19 meeting.

A district presenter told the board the committee began its review in August 2025, examined state-approved vendors and materials from HMH, Savvas and McGraw Hill, and convened teachers, instructional coaches and administrators to evaluate alignment with the 2024 Virginia Standards of Learning and the Virginia Literacy Act. The committee’s top selections were HMH’s Into Reading for elementary grades and Savvas’s My Perspectives for secondary grades because both were judged to offer stronger foundational-skills instruction in grades K–3 and better support for the increased rigor of the new standards.

The district posted the two top curricula for a public review period from November 2025 through January 2026, with physical samples available at the school board office and digital access for teachers and the public. The presenter said materials include instructional scaffolds, tasks that promote student discussion and online access for teachers.

If the board approves funding on Feb. 19, the district plans to implement the new materials for the 2026–27 school year. The presenter said the committee believed the selected programs better align instruction with the Virginia Literacy Act’s emphasis on foundational reading skills.

Board members asked about timing and implementation. The presenter confirmed adoption would take effect next school year if the board approves funding at the Feb. 19 meeting. No formal vote on the adoption took place on Feb. 12.

The board is expected to consider the procurement and accompanying funding request at the February 19 meeting; district materials distributed to the board include the committee’s rubric and public-review summaries.