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Curriculum committee endorses tighter screen limits, shared summer reading and grant to fund early literacy screener
Summary
A curriculum committee report recommended reducing I‑Ready use for kindergarten–grade 1, creating shared summer reading for incoming freshmen, launching shared report cards in Genesis for K–3, and applying for a DIBELS screener grant worth $20,944 to support early learning assessment and teacher professional development.
At a district workshop the curriculum committee reviewed proposed curriculum guide rewrites for adoption in 2026–27 and described specific initiatives to refine teaching and assessment practices.
A committee member said the guides are being rewritten to align closely with learning standards and praised administrators and teachers for the work. The committee recommended limiting I‑Ready diagnostic and personalized learning platform use for kindergarten and grade 1 and restricting screen time for grades 2–8 while keeping I‑Ready as a tool for grades 2–8 in the next school year. "For K through 1, those students will not be using I‑Ready moving forward in the new school year," the committee member said.
The committee also described a summer reading program that will ask incoming ninth graders to read one shared title to create a common experience; students may choose a second book from a larger list. Marking period 3 report cards will be available in Genesis on April 23, and the committee reviewed NJSLA testing windows and AP exam scheduling.
Administrators noted a grant application to continue work with the FOCUS Funding for Optimal Comprehensive Universal Screeners program to allow continued use and administration of the DIBELS early learning screener for K–3 and professional development for teachers; the committee said an award would total $20,944 if successful. The committee also reported a potential partnership with the College Board to pilot new AP offerings including AP Business, AP Cybersecurity and CTE medical courses.
Committee members said they will provide additional information to the public and parents as plans are finalized, and the district will move some community events (including a Princeton Review presentation) to a virtual format to reach more families.
