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Board hears presentation on adopting Amplify CKLA for K–3
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Summary
District curriculum staff presented a proposal to adopt Amplify CKLA for kindergarten through third grade after a comparative pilot; board members praised teacher involvement and said grades 4–5 will be evaluated later.
Paul Caltabiano, the district curriculum presenter, told the Pitman Boro School District Board of Education that the district piloted two K–3 English language arts programs—Amplify CKLA and Arts and Letters—and that pilot teachers consistently preferred Amplify based on usability, assessment supports and professional development.
The presenter said the selection process included teachers, principals and an ELA committee, cited alignment with New Jersey’s recently published guide to high-quality instructional materials, and described the program as grounded in the science of reading. He referenced state examples of improved NAEP outcomes after districts implemented similar approaches.
Board members praised the transparency of the vetting process and credited the teachers who participated in the pilots. The presenter said the district plans to introduce Amplify CKLA in kindergarten through third grade next school year and will continue to evaluate grades 4 and 5 before any decision on those years.
No formal adoption vote on the ELA program was recorded during the meeting; the presentation materials were announced as posted on the district website under the curriculum section. The board did not enter extended discussion and moved on to the budget presentation.
