- Anchorage School District
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Teaching & Learning
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FAQs
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How did we arrive at this curriculum?
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II:
ASD used Ed Reports as a third party evaluator. The new curriculum options are the top three rated programs based on this analysis.
K-3 reading:
An initial statewide committee representing 14 school districts in Alaska narrowed the potential ELA curriculum from seven to four. From the four, an ASD committee will select one curriculum for possible implementation within ASD.
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What are the names of the curriculums under consideration?
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II:
The committee has narrowed three potential curriculums: Open Up Resources, Illustrative Mathematics, and Carnegie Learning. It is important to note there are two pathways to use – we use the traditional pathway.
K-3 reading:
- CKLA - Core Knowledge Language Arts - Amplify
- Into Reading - HMH
- Benchmark Advance
- Open Up - EL Resources
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Is the new k-3 reading curriculum a result of the Alaska Reads Act?
Yes- Part of the Alaska Reads Act is ensuring districts have evidenced-based materials that support the science of reading. The State put COVID-19 relief funds into a grant available to districts to fund reading curriculum.
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What is the science of reading?
It’s the last 50 years worth of research behind the most equitable way for all students to learn to read. Research highlights the foundational skills necessary to learn to read; they include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.
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How did the committees narrow down to the current curriculums we are considering?
K-3 reading:
A committee of about 50 principals, teachers, and administration from across ASD looked at a rubric based on the science of reading. Previously, the State committee vetted curriculum choices with a focus on cultural competency, usability, and professional development. The District’s rubric focused on foundational skills, usability, and the science of reading.
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II:
An ASD committee with teachers, principals, district administration, ELL, and special education representatives have narrowed the choices.
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What is our baseline for consideration?
K-3 reading:
Cengage through National Geographic is our current k-3 reading curriculum. The new curriculum must meet essential standards within each grade level and be easy for teachers to implement. Cengage is very robust; so robust that if a teacher did every single activity they would not be able to do all activities even if they had the entire school day just to teach reading. With Cengage, the District designed “priority plans” so every teacher had a clear understanding of the priority components within each lesson. Research shows the work in the priority plans will move students forward. Teacher feedback has indicated that teaching with the priority plans and the multiple components of the overall plan is cumbersome. With the new curriculum, it is hoped that the priority plan is built within an usable format.
Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II:
The committee has narrowed three potential curriculums: Open Up Resources, Illustrative Mathematics, and Carnegie Learning. It is important to note there are two pathways to use – we use the traditional pathway.
Our current materials are not aligned to the content standards adopted by our school board. The District is using IMET to ensure the new curriculum meets content standards. The District is looking for a curriculum that is accessible and equitable for all students, including ELL students and students with special needs.
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What should parents know?
A guaranteed and viable curriculum is the variable most strongly related to student achievement at the school level. This is a great opportunity for our students to engage with learning materials that are aligned to current district and national standards. We hope you can come by to review it.
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How soon will the new curriculum be implemented?
K-3 Reading:
Once the committee review phase is complete, the committee will make a recommendation to the school board, and the board will vote to make a final decision. If all goes as planned, we could have books in classrooms as soon as fall 2023.
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II Math:
The school board approval will be the same. However, we will be piloting the new curriculum in the 2023-24 school year and will fully implement it in the 2024-25 school year.
Curriculum Review/Adoption Projects
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Department of Teaching & Learning
Dr. Dianna Beltran, Sr. Director
Teaching and Learning is a department within the Academic Services Division of the Anchorage School District. The primary responsibility of the department is to ensure high quality curriculum, instruction, and academic support that results in high quality learning. Additionally, the department provides various direct and indirect instructional support to schools, and students, intended to enhance the educational experience.
We accomplish this through facilitation of professional learning opportunities, curriculum alignment ensuring access within a multi-tiered system of support, and engaging in cycles of continuous improvement. We are responsible for providing leadership, guidance and support to teachers, instructional support staff, and building administrators to ensure that high quality instruction and learning takes place every day.
One of the major bodies of work of the department includes the planning and execution of curriculum reviews. The three phases of curricular implementation, identify the stage of each project underway during the current school year.
Process:
- Review
- Decision phase
- Needs assessment
- Research review
- Advisory committee convened
- Implementation
- Deployment phase
- Initial deployment of professional learning
- Initial distribution of curricular materials
- Institutionalization
- Monitoring & adjusting phase
- Deeply embedded use of curricular materials
- Highly developed teacher practice
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Grades K-8 Math Implementation Summary
Current Project Status:
ImplementationThe purpose of this project is to guide The Academic Services division through all phases of review and adoption of curriculum materials. This includes the review, adoption, purchase, delivery, implementation, training, monitoring, adjustment and sustainability of a rigorous, standards-aligned Math curriculum and student materials in grades Kindergarten-8th grade.
At the conclusion, all K-8 students in ASD will have access to rigorous learning and engaging activities, delivered by highly trained teachers. In the Winter of 2020, a pilot group was utilized to vet best practice for implementation, district support, staff training, and program review processes.
Project Objectives
- To launch K-8 Ready Math in all elementary and middle school classrooms in the 2021/22 school year
- To ensure grade K-8 teachers of mathematics receive high quality professional learning to support student learning throughout the life of adoption
Summary Milestone Schedule
Milestone
Projected Due Date
Board approved Ready Math
March 2020
Pilot and professional development
December 2020 - May 2021
District-wide professional development and training
Ongoing
Materials distributed to schools
Summer 2021
Family Nights at neighborhood schools
Fall 2021
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Grade 3 Social Studies Summary
Current Project Status:
ImplementationThe focus of this project was to develop, produce, and implement a culturally accurate and common core aligned grade 3 Social Studies curriculum. This project supports the District initiative to increase the reading proficiency of K-8 students and incorporate cultural, SEL (social-emotional learning), and Social Studies standards.
The former grade 3 Social Studies curriculum was outdated, culturally inaccurate to Alaska Natives and Indigenous groups, and did not align with Common Core Standards. The Teaching and Learning Department had an opportunity to develop enhanced materials.
Summary Milestone Schedule
Milestone
Completed Date
Student reader creation
March 2019 - June 2020
Teachers guide creation
March 2019 - January 2021
Pilot
Winter 2020/2021
Public honoring ceremony
TBD (Spring/Summer 2021)
Teacher training and materials distribution
Spring/Fall 2021
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Grades 6-8 English Language Arts Summary
Current Project Status:
ImplementationThe purpose of this project is to guide a cross-divisional team through the review, selection, adoption, purchase, delivery, implementation, training, monitoring, adjustment and sustainability of rigorous, standards aligned English/Language Arts curriculum and materials in grades 6-8. This will develop future capacity within the Teaching and Learning department to manage such projects through all phases of implementation.
Alaska Statute requires the review and selection of all textbooks and instructional materials before they are introduced into the school curriculum. McDougal Littell Literature is the current middle school curriculum and was adopted in 2008. Elementary grade 6 Houghton Mifflin Reading was adopted in 2004. The School Board approved the review of Grades 6-8 English/Language Arts (ELA) instructional materials in September of 2015. According to BP 6161.1, instructional materials should be evaluated and selected with great care so that they are educationally sound and unbiased. Instructional materials should support the adopted courses of study and meet current curricular goals.
More Information about Springboard:
Project Objectives
- Engage a broad diverse community of educators in the review and selection of ELA curriculum materials.
- Provide grade 6-8 teachers with materials and professional learning in the spring of 2019, and ensure they are informed and prepared throughout the implementation.
- Accurately distribute and inventory ELA materials at the time of implementation and establishedestablish process to maintain accuracy throughout the lifecycle of the curriculum.
Summary Milestone Schedule
Milestone
Projected Date
Select top review choices
August 2018
School Board Adoption - March 2019
March 2019
Pilot school selection and training
Spring 2019
Pilot
2019 - 20 school year
District-wide implementation
2020 - Current School Year
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Grades 9-10 English Language Arts Summary
Current Project Status:
ReviewThe purpose of this project was to guide a team through the curriculum review process. The district policy requires implementation of a curriculum that is sustainable, rigorous, standards aligned for English I and II. This team determine:
The Alaska Statute requires the review and selection of all textbooks and instructional materials before they are introduced into the school curriculum. English I and English II have academic plans that were last updated in 2015 and are on the curriculum review calendar approved by the school board. According to BP 6161.1, instructional materials should be evaluated and selected with great care so that they are educationally sound and unbiased. Instructional materials should support the adopted courses of study and meet current curricular goals.
More Information about Springboard:
Project Objectives
- Engage a broad diverse community of educators in the review of ELA curriculum materials.
- Provide grade 9 & 10 teachers with materials, evaluation tools, and professional learning on using the tool to evaluate materials.
- Determine a recommendation on how to move forward with English I & II in a way that provides rigorous, standards-based, high-quality materials and instruction
Summary Milestone Schedule
Milestone
Projected Date
Determine scope of work:
November 2021
Evaluate current academic plans and SpringBoard academic plans
November 2021
Determine a recommendation for moving forward to English I & II
December 2021
Present recommendation to Superintendent
February 2022
