Board adopts new secondary social studies curriculum after teacher-led pilot

The North Wasco County School District 21 board approved the district's recommendation for secondary social-studies instructional materials following a teacher-led review, community input and classroom pilots.

Instructional coach Anastasia Common described a multi-stage adoption: a teacher committee reviewed Oregon's approved list, piloted two curricular options at middle and high school levels, solicited student feedback and met with regional Native community education representatives to evaluate cultural responsiveness. Teachers prioritized accessibility for readers, embedded language supports, flexibility for teacher editing, critical-thinking questions and a mix of print and digital materials.

Following the pilot, teachers recommended McGraw Hill for grades six through eight and National Geographic/Sengage for grades nine through twelve (with TCI favored by some teachers for project-based economics or career-technical courses). The board voted to adopt the recommended materials and asked staff to provide cost details and an implementation schedule; adoption covers the typical seven-year cycle for state-approved materials.

Board members said they appreciated the heavy teacher involvement in the process and noted that supplementary local materials will still be used to ensure representation and local relevance.