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Board returns to Discovery Education for middle school social studies; first-year cost about $9,000
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Summary
After a pilot at Northridge, staff recommended returning to the district’s previous social-studies materials (Discovery Education). The board approved the recommendation and staff said first-year cost is approximately $9,000; final funding (Title I vs. district funds) will be decided at the budget meeting.
The Danville CCSD 118 Board approved reverting to the district’s previous middle-school social-studies materials — Discovery Education — after staff reported the pilot program at Northridge did not meet teacher expectations.
A staff presenter said the Discovery Education resource is an online “tech book” that is constantly updated with current events and includes discussion questions and written responses. Teachers found the pilot material cumbersome, and staff said the Discovery Education product allows teachers to curate up-to-date materials and print pieces for classroom use.
Staff estimated the first-year cost at approximately $9,000 and said the district will determine at the upcoming budget meeting whether to pay from Title I or district funds. The board approved the recommendation on roll-call (motion carries 7-0).
Concerns from trustees focused on content updating and control. Staff said curriculum and scope-and-sequence documents remain under district control, and that teachers will use curated pieces rather than rely exclusively on Chromebooks.
"They're going to go back to our previous materials, which were discovery education," the presenter said, adding the approximate cost to implement the purchase this year.
Because the funding source will be resolved at the district budget meeting, staff said materials will be ordered promptly to ensure availability for the next school year.
