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Westwood to pilot two K–5 literacy programs; district to evaluate student growth and costs
Summary
The district will pilot two K–5 knowledge‑building literacy curricula in fall 2026 (EL Education and ARC), using 12–14 volunteer teachers, summer professional development and classroom lab sites; evaluation will use screening data, vendor assessments and teacher feedback.
The Westwood School Committee heard a detailed plan May 14 for a targeted K–5 literacy curriculum review and a fall 2026 pilot of two curricula selected by a 19‑member steering committee.
District staff said the review began because the 2020 recommendation to adopt Teachers College units was overtaken by pandemic changes and emerging research on the science of reading. The steering committee prioritized high‑quality materials (EdReports/Curate), authentic children’s literature, knowledge‑building designs that integrate content and reading comprehension, and strong assessment and intervention resources. "Our two selections to pilot, EL Education and ARC," the presenter said, noting both programs include foundational skills scopes and sequences K–5 and resources for differentiation.
The pilot design calls for about 12–14 teachers (six to seven teachers piloting each program) who will use the vendor’s core instruction and foundational skills from September through December. Teachers will receive summer professional development, participate in biweekly professional learning communities, host lab‑site lessons for peer observation and use embedded vendor assessments. The district plans site visits to other districts that have implemented the programs and will seek grant funding (the administration said it had applied for the DESE Prism grant to offset materials costs).
Officials emphasized that cost differences between the two programs are significant and will factor into a final selection. District staff said they will evaluate pilot outcomes using universal screening data (fall and midyear), program assessments, progress monitoring and teacher feedback on implementability and PD quality. If a single program clearly outperforms the other, the district will recommend an implementation plan to the committee; if outcomes are comparable, cost and PD considerations will guide next steps.
Committee members pressed staff on evaluation metrics and whether foundational skills would be covered during the pilot. The administration replied that pilot teachers will use the vendor foundational skills sequences during the trial and district leaders will calibrate assessment comparisons to existing universal screening data.
The district will return to the committee with rubric details and implementation plans after the pilot period; materials procurement and full implementation could follow in 2027 depending on selection and funding.
