Coupeville board approves new PLTW and AP, adopts CKLA elementary curriculum
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Summary
The Coupeville School District board unanimously approved multiple curriculum adoptions including Project Lead The Way biomedical science and automation & robotics, adoption of an AP U.S. Government text and districtwide Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) for elementary grades; grant funding and pilot costs were discussed.
The Coupeville School District Board of Directors on Thursday voted unanimously to adopt several new instructional programs, including Project Lead The Way (PLTW) biomedical science and a PLTW automation and robotics sequence, an AP U.S. Government textbook and digital materials, and Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) for the elementary school.
The adoptions were presented by district teachers and principals who described how the materials align with the district strategic plan and with career and college pathways. "This is a year‑long course that the students would take...Year 1, total projection of cost is gonna be $17,500," said Jessie Villier, who proposed the PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science course and said a $14,000 grant will cover participation and training fees for three years. The board moved to approve the curriculum and the associated grant agreement.
Why it matters: the packages expand hands‑on CTE options and aim to provide both academic college credit options and career pathways. Superintendent Leatherwood and the CTE advisory board described partnerships with Skagit Valley Community College to provide dual‑credit and career‑technical education opportunities, a step board members said will keep students locally engaged in postsecondary options.
Details and costs: Villier said first‑year durable equipment for the PLTW bioscience course is roughly $15,000 with consumables around $2,000; the $14,000 grant covers participation and training fees over three years. Katya Willeford, who described a pilot automation and robotics program, said the district has already purchased kits and estimated recurring costs of about $950 per year in participation fees plus roughly $523.50 for yearly material restock — about $1,500 annually to maintain the middle‑school program. Willeford also warned that teacher certification and student supports will be required: "It is teacher training dependent...the downside is I'm the one certified to teach the curriculum," she said.
AP course adoption: Megan Austin recommended American Government: Stories of the Nation (2025 edition) for AP U.S. Government and Politics, proposing a mix of 25 student textbooks, 25 document readers and 150 student subscriptions to give flexibility between digital and print access. Board members asked about subscription roll‑over and renewal costs; Austin said subscriptions can be used for up to six years but added that year‑to‑year purchasing risks leaving the program without continuity.
Elementary ELA: CKLA adoption: Elementary leaders described pilot findings showing notable gains on interim I‑Ready measures and said CKLA aligns with Washington state dyslexia legislation and Orton‑Gillingham practice. The administration presented a 6‑year quote that includes student consumables, teacher licenses and professional development; one figure in the presentation allocated about $85,000 over six years (divided across years in budgeting discussions). Principal Nicole said the district intends to cover implementation and targeted interventions through building budgets where appropriate.
Board action and next steps: Each curriculum was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Administrators said they will proceed with ordering materials, scheduling required professional development, and tracking enrollment that might affect section counts. Several board members asked staff to keep monitoring costs and scalability as the district moves from pilot to implementation.
The board ended the item by thanking presenters and students who participated in demonstrations. The meeting moved on to other agenda items, including budget and grant updates.
