Blackhawk SD will pilot math intervention, adopts new reading and intervention resources

District administrators described curriculum decisions and pilot programs during the June 11 Board of Directors meeting. An administrator outlined an opportunity with the district's current math vendor to participate in a research study for struggling kindergarten students: qualifying students would use the vendor's online personalized math product for 60 minutes per week, participation data would be anonymized and families could opt out, and the administrator said the district would receive the product free for the following school year plus three additional free years if accepted into the study.

The administrator said the approximate value of participation (as stated in the meeting) was about $40,000'$45,000 in product value. Board members asked whether the chosen reading and literacy resources align with the science of reading and the state's new lists; administrators replied that alignment is intended but that the state's final list has not been fully released, and that the district will rely on universal screening tools such as DIBELS to measure results.

Specific curriculum choices presented to the board included a K'5 writing framework brought forward by a middle-school teacher (identified in the transcript as Rachel Roso) to create consistent writing language across elementary grades; a phonics-based intervention program identified as "Spire" for students needing foundational reading instruction; and HMH literature resources for grades 6'8. Administrators said teachers piloted many materials and that the selected products were included in the budget the board later approved.

Board members pressed administrators on whether agreements with outside service providers (for special-education placements and ESY programs) reflect current student placements; administrators said some agreements are maintained to ensure capacity if placements arise and asked staff to verify the agreements are up to date before the school year begins.

The board did not take a separate vote on the curriculum pilot descriptions at the meeting; the materials and product costs were bundled into the budget and consent items the board approved later in the session. Administrators said families would be given opt-out choices where participation in a research study was proposed and that further information would be provided before implementation.