Perkiomen Valley to pilot new elementary ELA materials aligned to science‑of‑reading

District curriculum leaders recommended a comparative pilot of new elementary ELA materials designed to align instruction with structured‑literacy and the science‑of‑reading.

Curriculum staff told the committee that the current Into Reading program, adopted during the pandemic, has produced mixed staff satisfaction and largely flat PSSA outcomes; the district reviewed 10 resources and recommended piloting Great Minds Arts & Letters and Amplify CKLA (knowledge and skills components) in grades 4–5 alongside a pilot of newly released level 4–5 foundations.

The pilot plan: classroom pilots of a single module (6–8 weeks depending on grade) at multiple elementary sites with training from vendors and in‑house instructional coaches, standardized classroom observation protocols, teacher feedback and local/benchmark assessment tracking (DIBELS and other measures). Curriculum staff requested approval to purchase pilot materials so teachers can receive materials before summer.

Staff explained the expected timeline and evaluation approach: a comparative pilot in fall, classroom observation and assessment data to determine adoption recommendations, and recognition that new materials typically show an initial implementation dip followed by gains as teachers become proficient in years two and three.

“Into Reading does not fully align with what we now know about structured literacy and the science of reading,” a curriculum presenter said, recommending the comparative pilot to identify the best fit for the district’s K–5 program. The committee endorsed moving the pilot to the May board agenda for formal approval of pilot purchases.

Next steps: principals, instructional coaches and pilot teachers will be identified; vendor training scheduled; and evaluation criteria established and reported back to the board at pilot checkpoints.