Sun Prairie Area School District to consider $898,587.25 purchase of new 6–12 math materials

Dr. Sarah Chaiaclardi, the district director of secondary for teaching, learning and equity, and Dr. Lexi Vanden Heuvel, the district 4K–12 math coordinator, told the Sun Prairie Area School District Board of Education that a multi‑year curriculum review process produced a recommendation to adopt new core math instructional materials for grades 6 through 12 and to approve an expenditure not to exceed $898,587.25.

Chaiaclardi said the recommendation advances I‑Ready Classroom Mathematics as the core program for grades 6–8 and Math Nation for grades 9–12. “Both of these materials were published in 2024 and come with, not only online resources and supports but also professional development,” she said. The request would allocate $517,270.25 for I‑Ready and $381,317 for Math Nation, and includes a professional learning package spanning the 2025–2027 school years.

The presenters described a six‑year curriculum renewal cycle used by the district and a five‑stage vetting process for instructional materials: initial gates/criteria, deep review of ad‑report criteria, an equity review (using the Great Lakes Equity tool and the district instructional framework), vendor meetings and classroom visits. The steering committees for 6–8 and 9–12 involved 46 staff members, met 22 times and logged 1,167 hours of educator investment, according to the presentation.

Vanden Heuvel said the teams prioritized resources published within the last five years so materials would remain current across the six‑year adoption. That criterion excluded the district’s current high school material, CPM (published 2015), and reduced consideration of Illustrative Mathematics after McGraw Hill notified districts that the product would no longer be sold to new districts after December 2024.

For middle school, the 6–8 team advanced i‑Ready after applying the equity rubric, conducting classroom visits and organizing a teacher panel; the team removed Envision. Vanden Heuvel described i‑Ready’s classroom core, student handbooks, math discourse prompts and a diagnostic that generates personalized instruction paths (I‑Ready Pro) for secondary students.

For high school, the 9–12 team reached consensus to recommend Math Nation. Vanden Heuvel highlighted Math Nation’s problem‑based approach, modeling prompts, embedded multilingual study videos and a digital OnRamp assessment that produces individualized readiness paths. She said the package includes Math Nation Plus as a supplemental scaffold for learners who need extra support.

Chaiaclardi tied the review to the district’s adoption of the 2021 Wisconsin mathematics standards and to a stated goal of advancing equity and student mathematical identity. She said the recommended materials include family supports and resources the district can share with caregivers.

The presentation presented the recommendation for the board’s consideration but did not include a board vote. The district will bring the recommendation to the Board of Education for questions and action at its May 12, 2025 meeting.

Key details: the steering committees documented 46 staff participants, 22 meetings and 1,167 total hours; the recommended purchase total is $898,587.25, split $517,270.25 (I‑Ready, grades 6–8) and $381,317 (Math Nation, grades 9–12); both resources were described as published in 2024 and include digital platforms and professional development.