District outlines K–12 curriculum purchases, board to vote Nov. 18

Dr. Crystal Majors presented the district’s recommended curriculum resource adoptions for implementation in the 2026–27 school year and asked the board to review materials ahead of the formal adoption vote scheduled for Nov. 18.

Majors described a five‑step evaluation process that relied on teacher committees, rubrics and multiple evidence sources. The presentation recommended buying K–5 hands‑on kits from Hand2Mind to support a revised K–5 computer curriculum, adopting Art of Education (a digital platform aligned to Missouri learning standards) for K–12 visual arts, and renewing or continuing Project Lead The Way (PLTW) for various middle- and high‑school pathways.

Majors said committees reviewed implementation and student achievement data; she cited baseline data from 2023 showing 31.3% of students scoring proficient or advanced in a sample subject and said the district saw an increase of more than seven percentage points after one year of implementation in that area. She also said 2025 data were not yet available for full public release.

Board members asked for concrete examples of scaffolding and supports for English language learners; Majors said scaffolds and professional learning will be part of implementation and that the district will provide a detailed report to board members the following week and a public release at the Nov. 18 meeting.

The presentation listed next steps: upon board approval, staff will revise curriculum guides, develop an implementation plan that includes professional learning, and monitor fidelity and impact on student achievement.