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Board adopts 95 Core phonics K–5 program, to buy materials with state literacy grant funds
Summary
Bloomfield Hills Schools approved the district adoption of the 95 Core phonics program for K–5 and authorized a purchase of instructional materials to be funded largely by a state literacy (35m) grant; trustees said pilot classrooms reported strong teacher support.
The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board voted 5–0 on March 23 to adopt the 95 Core phonics curriculum for K–5 and to authorize purchase of literacy materials to deploy the skills‑block program across elementary classrooms.
Todd (district curriculum lead) told the board the recommendation follows a multi‑month vetting process and pilot work. "We're ready to move forward with the adoption of 95 core phonics programs as a district's K–5 foundational skills resource beginning 2026," he said. Liza, part of the curriculum team, said pilot teachers have given overwhelmingly positive feedback, describing the program as "systematic and explicit" and praised that it extends phonics instruction through Grade 5.
District presenters said they will use funds from Michigan’s 35m literacy grant to cover the initial purchase; staff noted the district received approximately $470,000 and must spend the grant money by Sept. 30. At the board vote the purchase amount presented was $423,480 to be paid from the general fund but backfilled via the 35m grant funds.
Administrators emphasized the program is a skills‑block curriculum intended to pair later with a recommended knowledge‑block resource. The curriculum includes consumable student materials and ongoing professional development for teachers.
Trustees said the adoption aligns district instruction with state‑approved literacy resources and enables consistent, skills‑aligned assessment. The board approved the motion 5–0.
