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Board approves yearlong pilot of Benchmark 2022 ELA at two elementary schools
Summary
The board authorized a one‑year pilot of the Benchmark 2022 English/Spanish language‑arts curriculum at Taft and Garfield for 2025–26 to evaluate alignment with the district’s reading‑comprehension focus, new assessments, and teacher supports; staff will track implementation and qualitative and quantitative indicators.
The Redwood City School Board on May 14 approved a one‑year pilot of the Benchmark 2022 English/Spanish language‑arts curriculum at Taft and Garfield elementary schools for the 2025–26 school year. Anna presented the proposal, explaining that existing curriculum licenses expire and that staff want to pilot Benchmark before adopting it districtwide.
Anna said the updated Benchmark materials align more with the science of reading, include multiple adaptations—especially in K–2—add more poetry and culturally responsive texts in upper grades, and expand writing supports. Teachers at the two pilot sites reportedly volunteered as full school cohorts; Anna said 100% of teachers at those sites opted into the pilot.
Board members asked about measurable goals and assessments. Staff said the district will try to embed Benchmark assessments into the reading‑comprehension work and will combine qualitative teacher and student engagement measures with quantitative data (including iReady and newly embedded Benchmark measures) to evaluate efficacy. One board member urged clear success metrics beyond academics (engagement and enjoyment of texts) and intentional measurement of both quantitative outcomes and qualitative indicators.
A motion to approve the pilot was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff will monitor implementation, provide coaching supports included in the pilot, and report back with findings to inform any future adoption decision.
