Fox Cities News

The OASD's literacy committee convened for its fifth and final meeting on April 18 to provide input on plans for introducing new literacy curriculum materials in the upcoming school year. The committee, consisting of teachers, administrators, coordinators, and community representatives, has been engaged over the past several months in the district's process of reviewing and selecting a new K-5 literacy curriculum. "We really valued the diverse perspectives from this committee as we narrow down our choices," said Dr. Sam Coleman, OASD assistant superintendent of instruction. "The feedback from our educators, parents, and community members is invaluable as we work to select high-quality literacy materials."

Committee members engaged in thorough dialogue, analyzing the curricula options and weighing the pros and cons of pursuing either pilot implementations of two curricula or a more comprehensive field study approach of one curriculum. With this final meeting's input, district leaders will now review the committee's cumulative feedback to determine next steps. A decision is expected in the coming weeks on which material will move forward to the piloting or field study phase. "Once we make a decision, we will share detailed updates with our staff, families, and the community," stated Coleman. "Transparent communication will continue to be a priority as this process advances." The literacy committee's work has spanned five meetings since February. The OASD is grateful for the members' dedicated engagement and plans to continue involving the committee through subsequent adoption phases.