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Chagrin Falls board hears year-long pilot of Amplify Math; adoption possible after further review
Summary
District staff summarized a year-long pilot of Amplify Math across upper elementary and middle‑school grades, reporting positive teacher and student engagement and an estimated next‑year cost around $30,000; the board did not vote and will consider a purchase quote at a future meeting.
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School Board members heard a presentation April 15 on a year‑long pilot of Amplify Math, a digital‑first mathematics curriculum tested this year in grades 5+ through Algebra I.
Corey, the presenter for the superintendent’s report, described the pilot as classroom‑level implementation with professional development support from Amplify and regional partners. "We were one of the first districts to really kind of dive into this," Corey said, adding that the program blends Desmos‑based digital lessons with paper workbooks and built‑in teacher feedback tools.
Why it matters: the district says the program is designed to support personalized learning and give teachers real‑time data to adjust instruction, potentially affecting how students progress in math over multiple grade levels. Staff said teachers reported greater student engagement and that the program can both challenge accelerated students and provide targeted support for those who need it.
Details from the pilot: teachers at the intermediate and middle school levels participated, including classroom teachers identified in the presentation as Mrs. Actton and Mrs. Judge; Nicholas Elesco was referenced as the district math coach who advocated exploring the program. Corey described embedded Desmos activities, digital and paper options for lessons, and classroom features that allow teachers to see student work in real time and differentiate instruction. Corey also referenced comments from Mrs. Zwork about using the program to identify where 80% of a class was stuck and reteach while allowing the remaining 20% to advance.
Costs and next steps: Corey said he is finalizing a quote for next school year and that the district already has many of the necessary materials; he estimated the cost would be "around $30,000," noting some consumables may be offset by student fees. He asked the board to expect a formal agenda item in May with contract details and a recommendation.
Board discussion focused on classroom practice and access. Members asked how Amplify transitions from Bridges (the district’s K–5 curriculum) into the Amplify sequence, whether lessons would be digital or paper, and how journaling or workbooks would be used so teachers can assess learning beyond binary correct/incorrect digital responses. Corey said Amplify provides curriculum maps and pacing guides and that the district would continue to evaluate vertical alignment to avoid gaps.
No formal motion to adopt the program was taken at the meeting; the board approved routine business and will consider a formal contract or multi‑year recommendation when staff return with a final quote and implementation plan.
