District forms K–3 literacy steering group to prepare for pending state curriculum mandate

School officials described a multi-stage process to select an evidence-based K–3 curriculum in anticipation of pending state legislation that would require districts to implement state-approved reading programs.

A literacy steering committee of more than 30 educators, administrators and specialists reviewed the state rubric and adjusted it to reflect district priorities such as diverse texts, small-group instruction and universal-design-for-learning supports. Committee leads said the summer work group will apply that rubric to the eight curricula already approved by the state and narrow the options to two or three choices for deeper staff review in the fall. Staff said they will leverage district professional-development days to let teachers explore candidate materials, arrange site visits to districts already using the programs, and collect staff feedback with a goal of selecting a program by December 2026.

District leaders also said they had applied for state grant funding to support implementation and had earmarked some FY27 funds to purchase demo materials. They emphasized implementation will include multi-year professional development and coaching so teachers can use materials with fidelity.

The steering committee’s approach is iterative and seeks to balance state compliance with local priorities; school staff told the committee they prefer narrowing and testing materials through teacher experience rather than immediately piloting a single program at scale.