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San Marino Unified staff recommend adopting STEMscopes for TK–5 science in a $490,000, seven-year proposal
Summary
After a multi-year pilot, staff recommended the board adopt STEMscopes for TK–5 science instruction, citing NGSS alignment, digital resources and hands-on kits; the recommended seven-year package was presented at about $490,000 with funding sources under review and a PD plan proposed.
San Marino Unified School District staff recommended the board adopt STEMscopes as the district’s TK–5 elementary science curriculum, presenting the proposal and pilot findings at the May 12 board meeting.
Dr. Richtor said the district followed the state-recommended adoption process, including a curriculum study committee that piloted multiple programs over three years and made the proposal available for public review. Teacher Tina Fong, a member of the study committee, described classroom pilots and teacher feedback, saying the program offers editable digital resources, varied assessments, and inquiry-based, hands-on activities that classroom teachers found both engaging and adaptable.
Penny Roberts, teacher on special assignment and adoption coordinator, told the board the program scored strongly on the local rubric designed to match San Marino’s instructional priorities. Roberts said the committee saw a lower pilot score on “universal access” (supports for EL and special-education students) only because teachers had not yet received the full training and had sampled limited lessons during the pilot; she and others said professional development planned for August and the following year is intended to address those supports.
Staff presented the recommended adoption as a seven-year purchase that would include hard textbooks, consumable workbooks, teacher guides, digital access and science kit equipment. The package for both Carver and Valentine elementary schools was described as approximately $490,000 total for the seven-year term; an early-explore TK bundle was presented separately at about $4,900 in the staff presentation. Administrators said STEMscopes agreed to provide BBC videos (normally an extra cost) as part of the proposal.
Board members asked detailed implementation questions: how the program aligns with NGSS, differentiation for students at both ends of the achievement spectrum, how replenishment of consumable kit materials will be handled, and whether the district’s technology systems can reliably support the digital assessments. Staff responded that STEMscopes demonstrates NGSS-aligned, spiraled curriculum through elementary and into middle school, that the program’s “buffet” of resources allows teachers to scaffold or accelerate lessons, and that the district’s tech team had supported the pilot accounts and would manage Clever integration for full rollout.
On financing, staff said the district will draw from several sources, including remaining balances in arts/music/instructional materials block grant funds and the unrestricted general fund, and would evaluate foundation support if needed. Staff stressed the adoption includes on-site professional learning and an implementation timeline to support fidelity.
The board did not take final action on the adoption at the meeting; the presentation was recorded as an information item and the public hearing period for textbook adoption had already closed with no public speakers during the hearing segment.
