North Penn ECI committee forwards multiple curriculum adoptions, including new ELL and social-studies texts

The ECI committee of the North Penn School District recommended that the board consider a package of 2026-27 curriculum adoptions after presentations by the district curriculum team on April 14.

Rachel Early, introduced as the district's director of curriculum, told the committee that each proposed adoption was vetted by curriculum-review committees made up of diverse stakeholders and multiple meetings. "We're looking for high-quality instructional materials," she said, emphasizing access, engagement and common experiences across elementary, middle and high schools.

Among the adoptions highlighted, the team proposed Vista's Get Ready Soar for upper-elementary English-language-development (ELD) instruction, citing materials that target reading, listening, speaking and writing for newcomers and beginning multilingual learners and include teacher resources and reader kits with six years of online access. Early said the product is intended to provide scaffolds for students who need targeted language supports while remaining age-appropriate and visually engaging.

On social studies, presenters described new titles for North Penn High School, including an updated AP European history text (presented as a Sengage title) that team members praised for a broader, more inclusive perspective. For American History 3, the committee recommended a National Geographic text aligned to the C3 framework and a Norton text for honors students to create a bridge toward AP coursework; the Norton option was noted for primary-source collections and document-based question supports. The team said many adoptions carry multi-year license options (eight years cited) to make the purchases cost-effective.

STEM and language offerings were also discussed. The STEM presenter highlighted an updated pre-calculus resource and announced that three honors pre-calculus teachers were approved by the University of Pittsburgh to offer dual-enrollment credit (three college credits). The team also proposed adopting Tobira-based materials for beginning Japanese courses to prioritize teacher and student texts and cultural connections.

Committee members asked about the difference between regulatory requirements and best-practice decisions; Early and other presenters said standards from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and national frameworks guide required content while committees and instructional-review tools help shape best-practice choices such as images, text selections and differentiation supports. Members also asked whether vendors are embedding AI tools; presenters said AI features are appearing more as optional supplemental tech add-ons rather than core textbook content.

Dr. Tio moved to forward the curriculum adoption items to the board action meeting, Mrs. Coin seconded, and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The package will be reviewed at the board action meeting for formal approval and contracts.