Beaverton board adopts new K–12 math materials amid debate over screen time and student privacy

The Beaverton School District board on May 12 approved the adoption of Curriculum Associates’ i‑Ready for elementary grades and Imagine Learning / Illustrative Math for secondary grades after a months‑long pilot and committee review.

The adoption, approved by a 6–1 vote, follows public comment from parents, students and educators who raised concerns that some digital math tools increase screen time and may expose student data. Parent Jenna Sells told the board, “We do not want our kids on screen time more,” urging officials to prioritize retaining classroom teachers and counselors over digital curriculum adoption. District information‑technology chief Steve Langford responded that vendor contracts require compliance with federal and state privacy laws and a district Student Data Privacy Agreement (SDPA) that makes district data the property of BSD and prohibits sale or unauthorized sharing.

Why it mattered: The adoption replaces older materials and establishes a single, district‑wide curriculum intended to strengthen Tier‑1 instruction and support consistent professional development. Curriculum leaders said teachers and students in the district’s pilot emphasized print texts, workbooks, manipulatives and teacher‑led lessons; the proposed rollout prioritizes those print materials in year one and uses digital diagnostics selectively for targeted (Tier‑2) supports rather than as a universal replacement for teacher instruction.

What the district said: Teaching‑and‑learning staff described a multi‑year implementation plan focused on teacher training and fidelity monitoring. Dr. Shelly Regianni told the board the committee had more than 145 classroom pilots and over 40 teacher leaders involved in evaluation. Steve Langford described the SDPA process and vendor obligations, saying vendors must list stored data elements, maintain security and issue breach notifications as required.

Public concerns and district response: Parents and students cited national reporting and local experience with tools like i‑Ready (and supplemental platforms such as DreamBox), alleging excessive screen use and questioning assessment practices. Natalia Pinola read reporting about national backlash to i‑Ready; Lauren Butler asked for clearer answers about data privacy and opt‑in policies for generative AI. District leaders said the digital components are included in the adopted package but that the district will emphasize textbook‑based instruction initially, continue using the Renaissance STAR universal screener, and limit diagnostic use of i‑Ready to targeted situations.

Board debate and vote: Board members pressed staff on implementation details, multilingual accessibility, and supports for advanced learners and students needing differentiated instruction. Several board members requested a near‑term technology‑use audit and follow‑up reports on implementation fidelity. After the discussion the motion passed 6–1.

Votes at a glance (recorded at the meeting): - Math curriculum adoption (i‑Ready elementary, Illustrative Math 6–12): approved 6–1. - Consent agenda: approved (tally reported as six yes on the record during the meeting). - 2026–27 school board calendar: approved 7–0. - 2027–28 budget calendar: approved 7–0. - Board policy revisions (BCFF, GDA, IF): approved 7–0.

What’s next: District staff will implement a three‑to‑five‑year rollout with year one focused on print materials, professional development for teachers, and a staged review of how digital components are used. The district also plans to publish results of a technology‑use audit after data validation and to report back to the board during implementation.