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• Our current adopted foundational skills curriculum was published in 2003, is outdated, not aligned with current Washington State Standards, and not used by most teachers.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, Early Childhood Specialist
• Megan Cooley, Kindergarten Teacher, Birchwood
• Kyla Stefani, Kindergarten Teacher, Northern Heights
• Karin Otterholt, Kindergarten Teacher, Roosevelt
• Julie Johnson, 1^st Grade Teacher, Parkview
• Sarah Rose, 1^st Grade Teacher, Alderwood
• 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
• Jodi Kinzel, Literacy Intervention Teacher, Carl Cozier
• Analisa Ficklin, Special Education Administrator
• Sara Buetow, Parent/ Community Member
• Stephanie Strachan, Parent/Community Member, Wade King
• 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 May 2020 group meetings.

Meetings:

• Six meetings from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., specific meeting topics may shift over the course of the meetings as a result of the process.
• Meeting 1 – March 3: Clarify scope of work and timelines, establish norms, develop vision and philosophy aligned to The Bellingham Promise, establish screening criteria.

Agenda

Charter

Minutes

PowerPoint Presentation

• Meeting 2 – March 23: Screen materials, identify no more than 3 semi-finalists, create staff and community feedback form.
• Meeting 3 – March 24: Screen materials, identify no more than 3 semi-finalists, create staff and community feedback form.
• Meeting 4 – March 31: Publisher’s presentations.
• Meeting 5 – April 28: Examine semi-finalists using rubric, review feedback, make recommendation, complete Instructional Materials Committee paperwork including bias screening.
• Meeting 6 – May 5: Additional meeting date if needed.

Budget Implications:

• Substitute reimbursements and costs for outside of workday for committee meetings
• This committee’s recommendation will result in budget allocations required to purchase materials and provide professional development that can be provided through LAP funding.