Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum Adoption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District staff recommend extending adopted middle‑school science curriculum to 6th–8th grades; three‑year quote reduces price by $124,878
Summary
Tiffany George told the committee that extending the adopted science curriculum to include sixth and seventh grades under a negotiated three‑year package would save $124,878 compared with the original proposal; staff recommended placing the item on the June consent agenda and described positive implementation data from 8th‑grade rollout.
Tiffany George presented results from the district’s first year implementing an adopted science curriculum in eighth grade and asked the committee to consider extending the purchase to sixth and seventh grades as part of a three‑year package.
George said teachers — both veteran and novice — reported stronger student engagement, increased student writing in science through claim‑evidence‑reasoning practices, and that Schoolnet and NC Check‑in data show gains in several domains, including physical science and earth science. She said the district negotiated the three‑year quote to include grades 6–8 and that the extended package reduces the price by $124,878 compared with the unadjusted quote.
Staff described the professional‑development supports included in the purchase (coaching, lead‑teacher development, and self‑directed teacher learning) and said much of the curricular content is delivered digitally, reducing inventory concerns. Several board members asked whether there is a comparable program for fifth grade; staff said a district fifth‑grade science curriculum is currently the Discovery Science textbook and not the middle‑grade package under discussion, and that staff are continuing to look for fifth‑grade resources.
George recommended placing the extension on the June consent agenda so procurement and digital access can be finalized; committee members indicated agreement to put the item on the June consent agenda rather than acting immediately.
