Board renews K–5 curriculum, extends Magnetic Literacy pilot and approves IXL for middle‑school MTSS

The board approved several curriculum and instructional contracts intended to stabilize K–5 instruction and strengthen middle‑school intervention.

For elementary grades, the board renewed core K–5 resources — I‑Ready Mathematics, the Magnetic Literacy pilot (K–5) and the I‑Ready diagnostic and personalized instruction — while directing refinements to implementation based on teacher focus‑group feedback. Staff said they will reduce recommended personalized‑instruction time from about 45 minutes to a 30–40 minute weekly range per subject and provide additional professional development and pacing guidelines.

Curriculum staff reviewed the Magnetic Literacy pilot rollout, reporting that teachers generally found the resource comprehensive but flagged early implementation issues (errors, pacing and slide/workbook mismatches). Staff recommended continuing the pilot into 2026–27 with attention to units 1–3 and continued teacher focus groups.

For middle schools, the board approved a contract with ISL/IXL Learning to support MTSS, intervention and progress monitoring for grades 6–8 and targeted high‑school special‑education supports. Staff argued the platform better aligns with middle‑school MTSS needs, offers stronger progress‑monitoring and reporting features, and has updated focus‑zone safeguards to limit students from artificially driving their own placement levels.

Board members pressed staff on implementation fidelity, safeguards against students gaming adaptive platforms, and total costs; staff said companies have recently added tools (focus zones, lockdown features) and that the contract includes professional learning and implementation supports. The signed agenda lists the proposed contract amount in the meeting materials.