Foxborough School Committee adopts Investigating History for grades 3–7 and approves two textbook licenses

The Foxborough School Committee voted unanimously on May 13 to adopt Investigating History, a state‑developed social studies curriculum, for grades 3 through 7 and approved two five‑year textbook licenses for the high school.

Karen McKinnon, the district’s director of K–8 curriculum and instruction, told the committee the adoption of Investigating History will help align social studies instruction across grades, reduce the burden on teachers to assemble disparate materials, and support inquiry‑based learning. “Investigating History guided the work that we did in K–2 around inquiry and led us to the decisions we made around our materials,” McKinnon said.

The committee separately approved a five‑year economics textbook license at a cost of $10,400 and an AP psychology textbook license at $5,500. Each motion was moved, seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote (5–0). The committee said the five‑year license structure is intended to align with the district’s curriculum review cycle and provide cost savings over time.

Implementation funding and professional development: McKinnon said the district obtained grant funding to support materials and trainer‑of‑trainer professional development for grades 3–7. Speakers clarified an earlier misstatement in the presentation and confirmed the award totals $90,000, distributed as building‑level grants to support materials and PD over the next three years. The grant will fund hard copies, student materials and in‑person training for teachers; elementary implementation will use a train‑the‑trainer model while middle‑school teachers will receive in‑person professional development.

Committee conversation and next steps: Committee members thanked the curriculum team and pilot teachers who tested units across elementary schools. A member noted that Investigating History is closely aligned to Massachusetts social studies standards and to the district’s stated “vision of a graduate,” which the curriculum leaders said they will continue to embed in unit planning. The district intends to post the full curriculum review report and presentation on the district website and will coordinate follow‑up meetings to track implementation and budget impacts.

Votes at a glance - Investigating History (grades 3–7): Adopted, voice vote 5–0. - Economics textbook license: Adopted, voice vote 5–0; cost $10,400. - Psychology (AP) textbook license: Adopted, voice vote 5–0; cost $5,500.

The committee also noted that the $90,000 in grant funding was awarded through four building‑level applications coordinated by the curriculum office; grant checks will be brought to the committee once received. The committee did not take any motions to rescind or amend the adoptions; implementation planning and professional development scheduling were presented as the immediate next steps.