Fort Mill board adopts five new K–12 ELA texts ahead of state deadline

The Fort Mill School Board voted unanimously to adopt five new English language arts instructional materials for kindergarten through 12th grade after a district presentation outlining the selection process and classroom alignment.

District curriculum staff told the board the state provided a limited pre‑order window that required the district to act this month. The recommended resources include HMH’s Into Reading (grades K–5), Into Literature (grades 6–8), English I–IV (high school), and a combined text recommendation for AP Literature and AP Language.

"The state gave us a short window for pre‑order so we are rushing to meet the short window for pre‑order," said Mr Olinger, who led the instructional materials review. He described a review process that included teacher caravans, materials drop‑offs for classroom review, literacy coaches and building‑level input. Board members asked whether the texts aligned with South Carolina standards and how the materials would support the district’s planned teachers’ training tied to the state’s literacy initiatives.

Teachers and coordinators told the board the selections were chosen for standards alignment and digital resource availability, and that the elementary materials include writing components designed to integrate with the district’s planned letters/phonics training next year. District staff said the vendor package has grade‑level resources and digital components intended to support classroom implementation.

A motion to "accept the recommendation of the administration for five new literature [texts] as presented" was moved and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The district said implementation will proceed over the coming months with teacher training and classroom roll‑out planned for the next school year. Details about exact titles and quantities to be purchased will be finalized through the district procurement process.