Thomasville board adopts new five‑year ELA curriculum after pilot; textbook funds to pay subscription

The Thomasville City Schools Board of Education voted to adopt a new K–12 English language arts core resource, the product staff identified in the meeting as Savas (a Pearson offering), after a yearlong adoption process that included district‑wide pilots.

District staff told the board the adoption follows a two‑month classroom pilot in which teachers and students responded positively and that the resource aligns with the state’s science of reading standards. “We did a committee, we had two finalists allow us to pilot for two months each of the resources,” staff said during the presentation. Board members asked about expected gains and how outcomes will be measured; staff described a multi‑year implementation and monitoring plan tied to existing assessment tools.

Financial and implementation details: the district will use state textbook money supplemented by an additional state allocation to cover the five‑year quote. “The state has given us textbooks money,” the staff presenter told the board when asked where funding would come from. The package includes digital access, consumable workbooks for students to take home, and recurring professional learning. Staff said the vendor will support monthly virtual check‑ins and periodic in‑person training during year one and that the district’s curriculum team will set growth targets (including GIBLES and EOG measures) and monitor fidelity.

Board members pressed for assurances the resource will not enable short‑changing students who might graduate in three years under new state rules, and staff described available acceleration and remediation tools within the program for high‑school students. A motion to approve the adoption was made, seconded and the board voted in favor.

What happens next: staff will finalize contracting and begin the Year‑1 professional‑learning schedule and fidelity checks described at the meeting. The district said it will continue to use existing classroom libraries and supplemental materials as appropriate.