Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum Adoption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warren Township board approves $3.5M budget move and adopts Amplify CKLA as K–8 ELA curriculum
Summary
The board authorized moving up to $3.5 million into the education fund for curricular materials and approved a six‑year adoption (Amplify CKLA K–8) after a yearlong pilot and vendor negotiations; the district emphasized professional development, implementation coaching and termination clauses in contracts.
The MSD Warren Township school board authorized a budget adjustment and approved a K–8 English language arts curriculum recommendation after a multi-month evaluation and pilot.
Budget and public hearing: Business officer Matt explained that a 2024 change in state law moved previously separate curricular-materials funding into the education fund effective Jan. 1, 2025. To comply and pay for upcoming purchases, administration asked the board to authorize spending up to $3.5 million from the education fund on curricular materials (a reclassification rather than new money). The board opened a public hearing, received no public comments on the item and approved Resolution 635.25 to increase the education fund appropriation from $90 million to $93.5 million for supplies to pay for curricular materials.
Curriculum recommendation and adoption: Ryan Russell summarized a yearlong evaluation that narrowed approved Indiana reading-curriculum options to two K–8 packages, ran classroom pilots across grade levels, surveyed teachers and parents, checked references with peer districts and negotiated contracts and professional-development supports with both vendors. He said independent reviews (e.g., EdReports) and local teacher, parent and student feedback favored Amplify’s CKLA (and LA/StudySync in grades 6–8 where applicable). Teacher favorability ratings and testimonials — including stronger perceived rigor, science and social-studies integration and materials parents can use at home — supported the recommendation. Russell said final negotiated costs for the full package were close between vendors, with only modest differences, and that Amplify’s implementation supports and PD offerings were decisive.
The board discussed contract length (a six‑year adoption that triggers bulk discounts versus a shorter term), termination clauses and year‑by‑year components that can be exited if necessary. Administration described an implementation plan that will provide two half‑day launch trainings for every K–8 reading teacher in May, summer PD, teacher materials distribution before school and an on‑site Amplify implementation coach four days per week to support teachers. After discussion, the board voted to approve the curriculum adoption and related contracts. The vote passed (board members recorded an affirmative vote).
