RFP for new middle school ELA curriculum?

[Anonymous]

And I remember absolutely nothing about HS English except that it was boring. I liked the teachers though and I remember them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious--have tons and tons of parents complained about Study Sync? In the same ways people complained about the elementary program, Benchmark, that CKLA replaced?

Benchmark made learning miserable. Is Study Sync that. bad.?

Has the CKLAs elementary program gotten superb reviews from tons of ppl? (Teachers?) Were there issues with some of the content?

Personally I have trouble going out on a limb with a letter to the BOE this time without knowing first hand about this program.

Thanks for any insights.

As a parent, who experienced 3rd grader benchmark with a now 5th grader, and CKLA with a current 3rd grader, CKLA is much better. Today’s 3rd graders also had 2 years of really great reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious--have tons and tons of parents complained about Study Sync? In the same ways people complained about the elementary program, Benchmark, that CKLA replaced?

Benchmark made learning miserable. Is Study Sync that. bad.?

Has the CKLAs elementary program gotten superb reviews from tons of ppl? (Teachers?) Were there issues with some of the content?

Personally I have trouble going out on a limb with a letter to the BOE this time without knowing first hand about this program.

Thanks for any insights.

As a parent, who experienced 3rd grader benchmark with a now 5th grader, and CKLA with a current 3rd grader, CKLA is much better. Today’s 3rd graders also had 2 years of really great reading.

It's like night and day. My first grader is learning more content in CKLA than my fifth grader learned in Benchmark. -DP

[Anonymous]

There is an update on the MCCPTA FB page, if folks are wondering where the advocacy is.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/630013914466313/posts/1909783319822693/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an update on the MCCPTA FB page, if folks are wondering where the advocacy is.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/630013914466313/posts/1909783319822693/

📣 Middle School ELA Curriculum Update 📚

Only about half of MCPS middle school students are reading at grade level — and outcomes for English learners are even more concerning.

Over the past few years, we’ve heard through surveys, public meetings, and focus groups that the current ELA curriculum — a mix of StudySync and MCPS-developed novel studies — isn’t meeting the needs of all students or teachers.

Because of this feedback and Office of Shared Accountability recommendations, MCPS decided to replace StudySync after its contract expires this year. MCCPTA and other stakeholders participated in the review of new curriculum options.

📝 After review by 82 participants, MCPS recommended Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA).

Compared to the current curriculum, CKLA offers:
✅ A more consistent, rigorous, and inclusive approach
✅ Printed materials and fewer digital distractions
✅ Embedded full-length texts (novels and plays)
✅ Stronger supports for English learners
✅ More transparency for parents
✅ Lower costs, freeing up funds for professional learning, curriculum adaptations, and other instructional needs

🗳️ The Board of Education delayed its vote over concerns about reviewer representation and support for English learners.

We believe:

✔️ CKLA is more rigorous and includes more diverse texts and stronger EL supports than StudySync

✔️ Concerns about reviewer representation are valid — and we’ve offered suggestions for improving the review process

✔️ But another delay means another year under a system that isn’t working

✔️ Both the Board and MCPS need to develop a multiyear budget plan for curriculum, as MCCPTA has repeatedly asked them to do. By changing course mid-year from an Request for Proposal process to only open source (lower cost) curricula, MCPS had insufficient time to ensure diverse representation during the review process. Budgeting for BOOKS should not be impacted by operating budget POLITICS.

📆 The BOE will revisit this on May 22. While we believe adoption of CKLA should move forward, we also want to keep hearing from you — our diverse community. Once adopted, MCPS can continue to make adjustments to the curriculum.

📥 Share your thoughts through this short survey:

🔗 https://forms.gle/rnwUjAEzWdKCpBHU7

🔗 Here is the CKLA curriculum:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z46mN63qrdATeN5Y_CNJrAuQwOmbER7yORZcm8RR_Rk/edit?usp=sharing

Here is the CKLA list of texts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NHxQbwMGT1y6jA-Z_7OARRzAqM1kwloNs2JmPhKSmyI/edit?usp=sharing

📢 Most importantly, let the Board of Education and MCPS know what you think.

📨 Email them at:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

📚 Read the full update here:
🔗 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jbUzrbJRc89cthwCkWB1uI9LIrecx6zD/view?usp=sharing

[Anonymous]

Middle school parents please email the board members above so we don’t get stuck with a crappy English curriculum for yet another year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle school parents please email the board members above so we don’t get stuck with a crappy English curriculum for yet another year.

DP. 5th grade parents too.

[Anonymous]

How do teachers like the MCPS-developed novel studies? Is this aspect of ELA going to be fully replaced if CKLA is adopted? (My child likes the novel studies and finds them compelling).

Is there a way to phase in trying CKLA and also keep novel studies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do teachers like the MCPS-developed novel studies? Is this aspect of ELA going to be fully replaced if CKLA is adopted? (My child likes the novel studies and finds them compelling).

Is there a way to phase in trying CKLA and also keep novel studies?

I hope they are ended. The existing novel studies are nit challenging and repeat books already covered in ES. Just use CKLA. It includes novels and plays that are challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an update on the MCCPTA FB page, if folks are wondering where the advocacy is.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/630013914466313/posts/1909783319822693/

Is it too late to adopt the new CKLA curriculum for next year? Even if the MCPS Board acts on May 22, will it be enough time for teachers to use it, or does it just get used in 2026-2027?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an update on the MCCPTA FB page, if folks are wondering where the advocacy is.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/630013914466313/posts/1909783319822693/

Is it too late to adopt the new CKLA curriculum for next year? Even if the MCPS Board acts on May 22, will it be enough time for teachers to use it, or does it just get used in 2026-2027?

It is for next year. The training for teachers has already been scheduled, but obviously will be cancelled if the BOE doesn’t adopt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an update on the MCCPTA FB page, if folks are wondering where the advocacy is.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/630013914466313/posts/1909783319822693/

Is it too late to adopt the new CKLA curriculum for next year? Even if the MCPS Board acts on May 22, will it be enough time for teachers to use it, or does it just get used in 2026-2027?

Dates for summer training for the ELA curriculum have already been set and teachers signing up. It's just a matter of selecting which curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Presentation for the board meeting is up. Looks like they did some focus groups over the last couple of weeks with greater representation of diverse families and with ELA and special ed staff: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DGVTGS77580E/$file/MS%20ELA%20Curriculum%20Approval%20250522%20PPT.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Presentation for the board meeting is up. Looks like they did some focus groups over the last couple of weeks with greater representation of diverse families and with ELA and special ed staff: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DGVTGS77580E/$file/MS%20ELA%20Curriculum%20Approval%20250522%20PPT.pdf

Thanks for sharing. What I learned from this presentation:
1) Study Sync was really expensive and didn't work very well. Too bad they didn't add a slide about what led MCPS to incorrectly choose this curriculum and how this process will be different.
2) Teachers are only given 6 hours of training to teach this new curriculum.
3) MCPS doesn't require the presentation of multiple options for its RFP. Just status quo and new recommended option. I agree CKLA sounds better than Study Sync, but not best practice for procurement given how much money is being spent and that MCPS has already had problems choosing its curricula in the past.
4) No information provided in the slides about other school districts using the CKLA for middle school and the outcomes they've had with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Presentation for the board meeting is up. Looks like they did some focus groups over the last couple of weeks with greater representation of diverse families and with ELA and special ed staff: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DGVTGS77580E/$file/MS%20ELA%20Curriculum%20Approval%20250522%20PPT.pdf

Thanks for sharing. What I learned from this presentation:
1) Study Sync was really expensive and didn't work very well. Too bad they didn't add a slide about what led MCPS to incorrectly choose this curriculum and how this process will be different.
2) Teachers are only given 6 hours of training to teach this new curriculum.
3) MCPS doesn't require the presentation of multiple options for its RFP. Just status quo and new recommended option. I agree CKLA sounds better than Study Sync, but not best practice for procurement given how much money is being spent and that MCPS has already had problems choosing its curricula in the past.
4) No information provided in the slides about other school districts using the CKLA for middle school and the outcomes they've had with it.

This was different from the typical process because it was not done through an RFP (despite the title of this thread). They only looked at open source curricula. I don't think they have done that before--in the past they either have written their own or bought a commercial curriculum.