Board opens 30‑day review of Carolina Science/Open SciEd and McGraw Hill social studies materials

The Baldwin‑Whitehall School District board opened a 30‑day review of proposed secondary science and social studies instructional materials that administrators said emphasize inquiry, differentiation and digital supports. The materials — Carolina Science for Open SciEd in science and McGraw Hill for social studies — will be available for board and public review before the board votes on final adoption at the June meeting.

What the district said: Curriculum staff described the science materials as hands‑on, kit‑based, and designed for phenomenon‑based learning; administrators recommended starting implementation with four to five of six units per grade during rollout to avoid learning gaps. For social studies, the McGraw Hill resources were presented as aligned with the C3 (College, Career and Civic Life) framework and offering print and digital formats, an adaptive SmartBook and daily current‑events updates.

Replenishment and cost concerns: A board member asked whether kit replenishment is covered by the vendor or the district; curriculum staff said kits are replenished annually but noted there is a replenishment cost and advised careful planning of purchases. The curriculum lead said teachers compiled lists of needed consumables and that the district is assessing total replenishment costs as part of fiscal planning.

Instructional design and equity: Presenters highlighted universal design for learning supports, multimodal communication, and professional development tied to the resources. The science rollout was described as the product of a multi‑year curriculum cycle that included pilots and training through the AIU and internal teacher development.

Next steps: The materials will be available for 30 days for public inspection and review; staff will bring the adoption item back to the board at its June meeting for final approval.