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Committee reviews math and science textbook purchases, curriculum alignment and flexible instructional days renewal
Summary
District curriculum staff presented recommended math and science materials (kits, classroom sets and multi‑year online licenses) to align with updated state standards and discussed the three‑year renewal for flexible instructional days (portal due June 30); board members stressed attention to standards alignment, budget cycles and evidence of effectiveness.
Ken Gary, supervisor of curriculum instruction, presented recommended curriculum purchases and renewal items at the March 26 Council Rock Education Committee meeting.
Gary described science purchases that include first‑grade kits (consumables plus interactive e‑books with embedded audio), a seventh‑grade edition of Elevate Science, and an accelerated/honors chemistry package. He noted online access licenses in some cases run multiple years (examples cited: seven‑year online licenses) and that professional development is typically bundled with the materials.
On math, staff recommended a more unified sequence across grades to replace a patchwork of publishers: classroom sets with accompanying technology licenses for seventh‑grade accelerated/honors math, Algebra 1 across middle and high schools (a Larson sequence leading toward calculus), and geometry materials for accelerated tracks. Gary said the purchases are intended to create instructional continuity and to allow the district to run standard alignment reports from the Atlas/CANVAS systems.
Board members asked about procurement cadence, how often textbooks are changed, and the fiscal impact. Staff said curriculum cycles typically run multiple years (six to eight years were discussed in the presentation) and emphasized the need to phase purchases to avoid large budget fluctuations. Members warned about vendor lock‑in with platform changes and the need to evaluate return on investment and evidence of effectiveness.
Administration also briefed the committee on the district's flexible instructional days renewal. Al Fung explained the district is at the end of a three‑year cycle and has used three of five allotted flexible instructional days this year; the application portal for renewal is due June 30. Fung said the district remains committed to providing 180 student days and that flexible days are intended to give the district operational options for closures.
Public comment raised concerns that some textbooks lack modified versions for students with disabilities; a commenter urged the district to speed alignment so all students receive appropriate materials.
What’s next: curriculum materials will be provided to the board for review (chemistry documents noted to be lengthy); procurement will follow the district’s RFP and approval process and the district will prepare the flexible days renewal application.
