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Meeting Date:
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5/17/2022 - 7:00 PM
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Category:
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INFORMATION / DISCUSSION ITEMS
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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9.4 Public Hearing: Elementary School Science Instructional Materials Adoption
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Attachment Summary
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File Attachment:
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Quick Summary / Abstract:
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Staff will provide an overview and take public comments and questions regarding the recommendation of TWIG Science for Adoption as the Elementary Science Instructional Materials and Curriculum for Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District.
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Background:
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California adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in 2013. In addition, the State Board of Education adopted the California Curriculum Framework for Science in 2016. These rigorous standards and framework help prepare students for the 21st Century by emphasizing problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. To support districts with the adoption process, the State also provided districts with the Toolkit for Instructional Materials Evaluation.
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Status
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During the 2021-22 school year, an Elementary Science Adoption Committee was formed to review and evaluate elementary science curricula and make a final recommendation of a science curriculum for adoption. The Committee consisted of science specialist teachers, multiple subject classroom teachers from our elementary schools, teacher union leaders, and both primary and upper grades were represented.
The Committee members met frequently this year to accomplish the following objectives: 1. Deepen their understanding of NGSS, the California Science Framework and the implications for learning and teaching. 2. Create an Elementary Science Mission & Vision to guide our work. 3. Review the list of State-approved elementary science instructional materials provided by the California State Board of Education. 4. Narrow the list of instructional materials to four and invite each publisher to do a presentation to the Committee. 5. Create an evaluation rubric and use it to determine which two curricula would be piloted. 6. Pilot the two curricula in their respective classrooms and collect data for our rubric criteria. 7. Complete a final evaluation of the two Pilot Curricula and recommend one science curriculum for adoption.
After careful review, analysis, evaluation, and discussion of the pros and cons of each set of instructional materials, including the digital components, the Elementary Science Committee selected TWIG Science and Discovery Science to be piloted during trimester 2 and 3 of the 2021-22 school year.
The 6-week pilot for each program allowed teachers and students to use pilot instructional materials, including digital components, in their classrooms. The Toolkit for Instructional Materials Evaluation (TIME) rubric was used to compare the various aspects of these instructional materials. Both qualitative and quantitative data was used in comparing these programs to determine the best curriculum for the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD).
Based on the data from the rubric, the evaluations, and feedback, TWIG Science is being recommended for instructional materials adoption for elementary schools in LVJUSD.
At the May 17th Board Meeting, a Public Hearing is being held to review the science adoption process, the TWIG Science curriculum and answer questions. Subsequent to this Public Hearing, a formal recommendation will be brought to the Board for consideration and approval on Tuesday, June 14th.
We have invited parents/guardians and community members to view the TWIG Science curriculum materials, which are on display from May 9, 2022 - June 8, 2022 at Joe Michell K-8, Arroyo Seco and our District Office. Additionally, directions on how to view the TWIG Science Curriculum virtually were posted on our District and site websites as well as emailed to all parents/guardians in our District.
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Fiscal Impact
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The TWIG Science instructional materials will be purchased out of restricted Lottery Funds, and our District-established budget for instructional materials using Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds. The estimated cost for an 8-Year Implementation of the instructional materials, hands-on kits, and professional development for TWIG Science is $1,362,087.44.
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Superintendent's Recommendation:
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This report is informational only and requires no action be taken by the Board of Education at this time.
Board approval for formal adoption is scheduled for June 14, 2022.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Vanessa Castro - Executive Assistant - District
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Signed By:
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Chris Connor - Director of Elementary Education
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Signed By:
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Kelly Bowers, Ed.D. - Superintendent
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