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Board approves K–12 ELA adoption, CTE expansions and new course recommendations including JROTC pathway
Summary
MSD Lawrence Township approved K–12 English Language Arts adoptions (Amplify CKLA and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt alignment, 95% phonics) plus CTE and other course recommendations including a proposed JROTC pathway for 2027–28; board discussed implementation, alignment and funding.
The MSD Lawrence Township Board approved a slate of curriculum recommendations meant to align K–12 literacy instruction and expand career and technical education pathways.
Ms. Natalie Schneider summarized a year‑long K–12 ELA review involving about 70 participants across 15 schools and recommended Amplify CKLA (third edition) for building‑knowledge instruction and the 95% Core Phonics program for foundational instruction, with a 95% phonics lesson library proposed for interventions. "Our final recommendations for K5 for building knowledge, we recommend Amplify CKLA third edition," she said.
Mr. Crouser presented secondary alignment plans to maintain continuity between elementary and middle/secondary resources — Amplify at grade six and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for grades 7–12 — and described tiered intervention plans for students needing additional support.
The board also approved Career and Technical Education recommendations presented by Mr. Crouser and department chairs: McGraw Hill and Cengage titles for business pathways, Goodheart‑Willcox for Family & Consumer Science, and ServSafe for culinary instruction. The agenda included a recommendation to pursue a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program for the 2027–28 school year; presenters said an application with the 7th Brigade and Fort Knox will follow.
Board members pressed for clarity about funding and implementation timelines. Mr. Miles (finance) and curriculum staff said textbook adoptions are eligible for partial state reimbursement but the district expects to cover remaining costs and will present funding plans to the board.
The board approved the curriculum, K–12 ELA and CTE recommendations in roll‑call votes during the action portion of the meeting.
What to watch
Implementation steps: vendor contracts, professional development for teachers, pilots and phased rollouts. The district will report back on pilot outcomes, intervention fidelity and budget plans for textbook purchases.
Provenance
This coverage is based on the Curriculum Advisory Council presentation and the K–12 ELA and CTE recommendation discussions presented to the board.
