Exeter Township SD committee advances proposal to adopt Eureka Squared math and Arts and Letters ELA for K–6

Exeter Township School Board committee — April 8, 2026 — District administrators recommended that the board approve new K–6 curricular resources in math and English language arts, arguing the current materials lack coherence and do not match Pennsylvania standards.

Dr. Josh Hoy, director of teaching and learning, told the committee the curriculum team reviewed several K–6 options and is recommending Eureka Squared Math because it better aligns to the district’s K–12 framework and state expectations. "The resource for math that you're going to hear us talk about tonight is something called Eureka Squared Math," Hoy said, explaining the district’s goal to create a common mathematical experience across its elementary schools.

Becky Bush, who led the ELA review, said the district’s current ELA materials are a collection of disparate resources and do not meet the state’s structured‑literacy requirements for grades K–3. "What we're proposing is the program called Arts and Letters which does meet all of those requirements," Bush said, describing Arts and Letters (publisher Great Minds) as an evidence‑based, knowledge‑building program that integrates social studies and science and supports the state’s shift to structured literacy.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania legislation (cited in the presentation as Acts 135 and 47) requires districts to adopt evidence‑based literacy programming for K–3 on a defined timeline. Administrators said a staged implementation will allow the district to meet the statutory deadlines while avoiding overburdening teachers.

Implementation and supports: Administrators proposed staggering implementations so math K–6 would begin next school year while ELA implementation would be phased (5–6 in the first year, K–4 the following year) to limit teacher workload. The district outlined a three‑year professional‑development plan, summer trainer days for teams of teachers, site‑based team planning, and supports for special education, gifted and ESL students. Teachers had full digital access to the programs during the pilot/review year, and the publishers provided in‑district previews.

Cost and procurement: The presentation said a four‑year math licensing line item of $393,960 was included for the math resource. Administrators said bundling both resources produced negotiated reductions and that the publisher offered discounts on licenses, professional development and shipping. The meeting transcript includes a consolidated total that appears truncated in the posted packet; administrators said the final pricing and funding breakdown will be presented and voted on at the April 21 voting meeting. Funding sources discussed included a previously committed fund balance and Ready to Learn grant dollars.

Board response and next steps: Board members pressed for evidence linking materials to test‑score improvements and for clarity on the duration of the district’s prior resource drift; administrators said other districts reported gains after three years of adoption, but they emphasized multiple factors affect assessment results, including COVID recovery. The education committee moved the purchase recommendation to the April 21 voting meeting for formal approval and asked administration to supply a detailed cost breakdown and updated motion language that clarifies committed‑fund‑balance use.

The board is scheduled to take the licensing purchase to a formal vote at its April 21, 2026 voting meeting.