Blackford County Schools board approves new K–2 math curriculum

Blackford County Schools’ board unanimously approved adoption of a new kindergarten-through-second-grade math curriculum after administrators told trustees the district is not seeing the level of early-grade readiness they want from the current i‑Ready materials.

The superintendent recommended switching the K–2 program to a product already in use for grades 3–6, saying it provides more rigorous teacher resources and “outstanding data” that lets teachers see each student’s answers and identify precise reteaching needs. He said the online component is limited primarily to scheduled assessments — weekly in second grade, every three weeks in first grade and every six weeks in kindergarten — while much of the instruction uses printed interactive notebooks and hands-on learning centers.

District staff told the board the license cost would be roughly $20 per student per year and that the contract would be renegotiated each year to match enrollment. The administration also noted that the vendor provided on-site training and responsive customer support during a recent demonstration and teacher Q&A.

Trustees moved and approved the recommendation by voice vote. The board packet notes the intended contract term is five years, with annual license counts adjusted to enrollment. The administration said it will return documents and contract language needed for formal execution and implementation scheduling.