Foundational Literacy Skills Curriculum Committee

Purpose:

Participate in a PK-2 Foundational Skills program review and adoption process for grades PK-2 Foundational Skills materials.

Basis for Establishment:

Our current adopted foundational skills curriculum was published in 2003, is outdated, not aligned with current Washington State Standards, and not used by most teachers.
Research supports the need for systematic, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics for students to become proficient readers and writers.
In 2018-19, recommendations from elementary principals, the Understanding and Serving Students with Dyslexia Advisory Group and participants of the Foundational Literacy Skills AdHoc Committee all prioritized implementing a foundational skills curriculum.

Decision-Making Process:

Advisory group to the superintendent.
Recommend Foundational Literacy Skills materials for grades PK-2.

Plan of Work:

Establish representative committee
Establish stakeholder groups (teachers, principals, Department of Teaching and Learning, community members).
Establish criteria for materials selection
Review evidence-based curricula against criteria.
Review presentations from publishers for finalist curricula.
Gather input from stakeholders throughout the process.
Present final recommendation to the superintendent.

Members:

The committee will consist of 17-20 regular members. Committee members will be selected to include representation from K-2 teachers, literacy intervention teachers, and special education resource teachers room with representation from all 14 elementary schools.

Stephanie Korn, Director of Teaching and Learning, co-chair
Charisse Berner, Director of Teaching and Learning, co-chair
Sharece Steinkamp, Principal, Geneva
Pam Pottle, Principal, Northern Heights
Nina Ballew, Assistant Director of Early Childhood, District office
Megan Cooley, Kindergarten Teacher, Birchwood
Kyla Stefani, Kindergarten Teacher, Northern Heights
Sarah Rose, Kindergarten Teacher, Alderwood
Julie Johnson, 1^st Grade Teacher, Parkview
Jodi Kinzel, 1st Grade Teacher, Carl Cozier
Julie Sargent O’Connell, 1^st Grade Teacher, Geneva
Jennifer Wilkinson, 2^nd Grade Teacher, Alderwood
Sarah Snyder, 2^nd Grade Teacher, Lowell
Quinn Reno, 2nd Grade Teacher, Cordata
Melissa Peterson, Reading Specialist, Roosevelt
Analisa Ficklin, Special Education Administrator
Sara Buetow, Parent/ Community Member
Stephanie Strachan, Parent/Community Member, Wade King
Jennifer Lawrence, MTSS TOSA
Ex-officio member: Kristi Dominguez, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Responsibilities:

Attend committee meetings and report back to constituents as needed
Actively participate as a representative of your stakeholder group including sharing feedback and collecting information as needed.

Timeline:

Advertise group early January 2020, selection by Feb. 6, 2020.
March 2020 to June 2021 – 8 group meetings from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., specific meeting topics may shift over the course of the meetings as a result of the process.
Due to statewide school closure from Covid -19 our meeting schedule has been suspended for the 19-20 SY. Meetings will resume in January 2021- June 2021.

Meetings:

Meeting 1 – March 3,2020: Clarify scope of work and timelines, establish norms, develop vision and philosophy aligned to The Bellingham Promise, establish screening criteria.