School board approves up to $124,000 in state CLSD funds to partner with TNTP for secondary ELA work

The Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve the use of up to $124,000 in state CLSD (Comprehensive Literacy State Development) grant funds to partner with TNTP for the 2026–27 school year.

Kara Kuehl, who presented the plan for the district’s secondary ELA resource-adoption cycle, said the 2026–27 school year will be devoted to research, needs assessment and professional learning and that TNTP would serve as a thought partner to help design selection criteria and deliver strategic professional learning. “This will be entirely funded through that CLSD ... grant,” Kuehl said, adding the district will not use its operating budget for the work.

The board approved a motion to allow the district to use the CLSD funds to solidify the TNTP partnership and support secondary ELA teams as they investigate instructional materials to pilot in 2027–28. A board member moved the motion and Miss Wilson seconded; the motion passed as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Why it matters: District presenters told the board the district’s current 6–12 ELA materials have been in place about a decade and longitudinal student-growth data do not yet show the gains the district’s strategic plan aims for. The CLSD grant and TNTP partnership are intended to bolster the selection and implementation of high-quality instructional materials and related professional learning.

What the district will do next: Staff will proceed with the planned 2026–27 research and needs-assessment activities, schedule selection and pilot processes, and return to the board with updates and any recommended contract or pilot approvals.

Speakers quoted and used in reporting come from the meeting transcript: Kara Kuehl (presenter) and board members who moved/seconded the motion.