District pilots two K–5 ELA programs; board set to consider formal recommendation May 21

The West Milford Township Public School District is piloting two English‑language‑arts programs for grades K–5 and preparing a recommendation to the board next month, Director of Education Mr. Novak said.

Mr. Novak told the board the district is near completion of an initial pilot of the Curriculum Associates program (noted in the presentation as "magnetic") and will launch a second pilot using McGraw Hill’s Wonders. "The feedback has been positive," Novak said of teachers piloting the materials. He said staff training for the Wonders pilot begins May 6 and that roughly half of K–5 classrooms will experience pilot materials this spring.

Mr. Novak said the district hopes to present a formal recommendation at the May 21 board meeting and will provide a more detailed update at the education committee meeting scheduled in mid‑May.

Separately, Novak described a planned realignment of the K–8 math sequence intended to ensure students are algebra‑ready by the end of eighth grade. The realignment will emphasize prerequisite mastery and adjust accelerated pathways so students do not miss grade‑level standards through early acceleration. Novak said previous acceleration patterns sometimes allowed students to advance without exposure to all required standards; the new sequence aims to close those gaps and clarify course names and pathways.

Board members asked about assessment procedures for incoming kindergartners and about the kindergarten readiness screening used in orientation (referenced as a phonological-awareness screening called TILDA and a kindergarten‑readiness inventory). Novak said kindergarten assessments are typically done one-on-one and that the district collects pre-registration readiness checklists from preschools and early‑learning caregivers.

The board will receive the ELA recommendation in late May; if approved, the district would plan professional development and a timeline for classroom rollout.