GREAT NEWS!

It’s official! On Tuesday night, the HPISD Board of Trustees voted in favor of phasing out Lucy Calkins Units of Study in grades K-8 and beginning the process of adopting new anchor materials in English Language Arts (ELA). 

The HPISD literacy subcommittee members continue to meet weekly and they provided an update of their work on Tuesday. Board members expressed a commitment to bringing improvements as quickly as possible, while also allowing adequate time for a thoughtful and purposeful process.

The first step in the process is identifying an outside expert, and the search for that individual has already begun. HPISD has published a “Request for Information” (RFI) to solicit letters of interest from potential literacy consultants. The RFI outlines the “Qualification Requirements and Preferences” for the literacy consultant, as well as the three main tasks of the role:

• Review Current Practices
• Provide Professional Learning
• Facilitate Mid-Cycle Adoption (the selection of new instructional materials)

To understand the full process, click here to read the RFI.

The subcommittee anticipates interviewing 2-4 potential consultants and selecting one by mid-May. The consultant and the subcommittee will work together to identify the best approach for instruction next year, as well the best approach long term.

Click here to watch a recording of the meeting from Park Cities People. The literacy subcommittee update and trustee discussion occurs around the 28:30 mark of the recording and the vote takes place at 1:40.

The HP Literacy Coalition is very encouraged by the process discussed at the recent board meeting and detailed in the RFI. Those on this email list will continue to receive regular updates as things progress. As always, community members are encouraged to email hpliteracycoalition@gmail.com with questions or concerns regarding literacy in HPISD.