A New Chapter for Literacy in Our Schools: Deep Dive into CKLA Adoption

This year marked a defining moment for literacy instruction in our district. After years of planning, research, collaboration, and classroom piloting, our Board of Trustees voted to adopt Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum as the new foundation for K–6 English Language Arts instruction. This comprehensive decision reflects not only a desire for excellence but also a commitment to equity, relevance, and research‑based practice for every student.

Why We Needed Change

Our previous curriculum was adopted in 2018. Since then, new assessments and state literacy standards — including requirements rooted in the science of reading and structured literacy — showed areas where students needed stronger foundational skills, deeper comprehension strategies, and richer content to build long‑term knowledge and confidence. This insight challenged us to think differently about how we teach reading and writing, and set the stage for a rigorous review process.

What Makes Amplify CKLA a Great Fit

After careful review and piloting, Amplify CKLA rose to the top. Here’s what stood out about this curriculum:

1. Grounded in Research and the Science of Reading

Amplify CKLA is designed with research at its core. It’s intentional about building both foundational skills (like phonics, decoding, and fluency) and content knowledge (historical, scientific, and literary understanding) — two strands essential to skilled reading. This research‑based blend is proven to build comprehension and long‑term academic success.

2. A Balanced and Coherent Learning Path

The curriculum weaves together structured phonics instruction with immersive content and high‑quality literature. Decodable texts in early grades help students apply foundational skills, while comprehensive research units and novels in the upper grades strengthen knowledge, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

3. Strong Writing Integration

Writing isn’t an afterthought — it’s embedded every day. Students practice both transcription (handwriting, spelling) and composition (organizing ideas), which supports fluency, comprehension, and communication across grades.

4. Engaging Materials That Teach and Inspire

From trade books and novels to poems, journals, and hands‑on phonics tools, CKLA offers diverse and rich resources that meet students where they are — with materials that connect literacy to real content and curiosity‑driven learning.

5. Built‑In Support for All Learners

Scaffolds and differentiation are embedded so teachers can adjust instruction in real time. The curriculum also includes assessments and teacher resources that help monitor growth and fine‑tune instruction for multilingual learners and students needing additional support.

Real Classroom Impact

During piloting, teachers reported meaningful engagement and growth. Students explored content and then applied literacy skills in thoughtful ways — from writing about human body systems to composing original poetry. Teachers and parents alike appreciated how the curriculum honors the craft of reading and writing while pushing students to think deeply.

Parents also had structured opportunities to walk through classrooms, observe lessons, and interact with materials — ensuring that our adoption decision was informed not just by scores, but by observable student learning experiences.

Looking Ahead

With CKLA implemented across K–6 classrooms, we are excited about what this means for our learners: stronger literacy foundations, more confident writers and readers, and a curriculum that reflects both the science and joy of learning. This decision was the result of thousands of hours of collaboration, reflection, and care — and it sets a strong trajectory for our students’ futures.

Stay tuned for more updates, classroom highlights, and ways families can support literacy at home as we roll out this exciting new program!

To see the Curriculum Review Committee’s full board presentation, click here and fast forward to 1:31:48.