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District staff recommend new secondary science materials after multi‑teacher pilot
Summary
Staff recommended a phased adoption of new secondary science textbooks and digital materials (Amplify for middle grades; National Geographic/SABAS/HMH for high‑school subjects) after a district pilot and teacher feedback; presenters stressed training, technology and budget needs for implementation.
District staff presented results from a multi‑teacher pilot of secondary science materials and recommended a phased adoption that pairs printed and digital resources.
Ashley Butler, a literacy and curriculum specialist, walked trustees through pilot findings: middle‑grade teachers favored Amplify for engagement and standards alignment; high‑school pilots favored National Geographic for biology and HMH for other high‑school subjects. Staff collected more than 1,000 survey responses and reported mixed but generally positive student and teacher feedback across pilot sites.
Presenters emphasized implementation challenges, including the need for professional development, sufficient devices and budget for materials and training. Trustees asked about sequencing, training timelines and whether the district would provide printed materials where technology access is limited. Staff said they plan a phased rollout with embedded professional development and would return to the board with implementation timing and budget specifics.
No final adoption vote was recorded at this meeting; staff asked the board to approve taking the recommended materials forward for the formal adoption process and to authorize planning for training and resource acquisition.
