Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Ball Chatham board adopts new K–6 English language arts curriculum after year-long pilot
Loading...
Summary
The Board approved purchase of Magnetic Literacy for grades K–5 and an interliterature program for grade 6 after a year-long pilot involving 27 teachers; the purchase will be spread over two fiscal years and aims to increase student engagement and alignment to standards.
The Ball Chatham CUSD 5 Board of Education voted to adopt new K–6 English language arts instructional materials following a year-long vetting and pilot process.
Assistant Superintendent Jen Farnsworth told the board that a team of 27 teachers across four schools piloted three candidate resources beginning in January 2025. With board approval, the district will purchase Magnetic Literacy for kindergarten through fifth grade and an interliterature program (referred to in the presentation as "H and H") for sixth grade. Farnsworth said the district plans to spread the purchase over two fiscal years to manage costs.
"This decision tonight is probably the best example in my tenure here of teacher-led decision making," Farnsworth said, adding that pilot teachers were overwhelmingly supportive. A video of pilot classrooms and teacher testimonials played during the presentation; pilot teachers described lessons that emphasize collaboration, authentic writing and project-based learning and said students were visibly more engaged.
Board members who spoke praised the teacher-led process. One trustee who reviewed the pilot said the integrated workbooks and embedded texts made it easy for teachers and reduced student lost-book issues. Farnsworth also spotlighted the district's instructional coaching team and noted one coach plans to retire this year.
The motion to adopt the recommended materials was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board directed staff to proceed with order planning and to phase purchases across budget years to align with available funds.
The adoption follows the district's last ELA adoption in 2018; proponents said the change is intended to deepen classroom discussion and better prepare students for diagnostics and state assessments.
