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Science Instructional Materials Selection Process Overview
Over the 2022-23 school year, the NGSS Instructional Materials Selection committee, consisting of representatives from all Cambrian elementary and middle school sites, has completed the exploration phase and prescreened all approved science curricula using the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Toolkit for Instructional Material Evaluation (TIME).
The committee reviewed only those materials SBE-approved for adoption by the California Department of Education. Through the prescreening and deeper exploration process, two curricula for each grade level span (K-5 & 6-8) were chosen to be piloted during the 2023-24 school year:
- Elementary (Grades K-5): Amplify Science & Full Option Science System (FOSS)
- Middle School (Grades 6-8): Amplify Science & California Inspire Science (McGraw Hill)
The NGSS Instructional Materials Selection Committee consists of teachers, instructional specialists, support staff, and administrators, working in alignment with CSD Board Policy 6140.2.
The NGSS Instructional Materials Selection process will be moving into the piloting phase in the fall 2023-24 school year, with the intent of presenting a recommendation for adoption to the Board of Education in the winter of 2024.
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Instructional Materials Piloting Process
The Cambrian School District will be piloting new science materials for K-8 students during the 2023-24 school year. Classroom teachers representative from all schools in grades K-8 will pilot each of the programs from August to December, spending 4-6 weeks with each curriculum. During the pilot process, data on both the teacher and student science experience and learning will be collected. Pilot materials training shall be provided for teachers piloting instructional materials. Feedback from teachers piloting materials shall be made available to the Board before the materials are adopted.
Members of the Science Instructional Materials Selection Committee
Name Grade/Role School Ellen Rowe 1 Bagby Kimberly Cummings 1 Fammatre Erick Porter 2 Sartorette Wendy Olson 3 Farnham Jenna Greco 3 Farnham David Harris 3 Sartorette Krista Davis 3 Steindorf Anne Liewer 3 Fammatre Bhuvana Kannan 4 Steindorf Renata Feld 4 Fammatre Lisa Foy 5 Steindorf Lisa Landsberg 6 Steindorf Briana Taylor 6 Price Jesse Saenz 6 Price Lisa Augenstein (SDC) 6 Price Patty VanCampenhout 7 Price Emily Burdett 7 Price Thomas Stephens 8 Price Gayathri Ramakrishnan 8 Price Juli Nash 8 Steindorf Katie Colon K Sartorette Camille Johnson K Farnham Julie Boggini Paraeducator Sartorette Michael Kretsch Principal Bagby Julie Orlando Assist. Principal Price Chrissy Terwilliger Instr. Specialist Price Emily White Instr. Specialist Sartorette Debbie Clima Instr. Specialist Fammatre Christine Katz Instr. Specialist Farnham Courtney Hammett Instr. Specialist Bagby Andrea Pickering Instr. Specialist Steindorf -
Staff, Parent & Community Input
Cambrian values feedback from staff, parents, and community members. The district will provide opportunities to review the curricula being considered and provide feedback during the piloting process, both online and in person.
- All curricula being considered are available online for review.
- CLICK HERE to access the curricula online.
- All curricula are also displayed at the District Office Front Office (located at 4115 Jacksol Drive) for in-person review. Parents and staff can review the materials during business hours.
- A Thought Exchange link will be available for parents and staff to provide input.
- CLICK HERE to access the Thought Exchange!
- All curricula being considered are available online for review.
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Funding for Adopted Instructional Materials
Instructional materials funds are allocated as part of the one-time Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant provided by the California Department of Education directly to the district. Any shortfall in this allocation may be made up by district funds.
The purchase shall ensure that each student has appropriate instructional materials for their personal use during their time in that class.
After the district purchases the instructional materials, additional funds may be distributed to the schools for the replacement of instructional materials that are lost, destroyed, or stolen, as well as for consumable materials. -
Implementation of Instructional Materials
Individual school principals shall be responsible for ensuring that the instructional materials are distributed to teachers and fully implemented in their schools. Professional development for teachers on the newly adopted instructional materials shall be included as an integral component of the implementation process.
We are excited about this opportunity to work with new materials as we continue to support the individual learning needs of each of our students in Cambrian. The district will review and consider feedback from all educational partners and bring forward a final recommendation for new science materials to the School Board in February 2024. We will begin using the newly adopted materials districtwide in the 2024-25 school year.
