Needham Literacy Coalition
nps pilot
NPS Pilot Page
DESE Review of Pilot Curricula
ARC (2017): High-Quality; likely eligible for a state grant
DESE Summary:
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texts are varied, of high quality, and organized in ways that build students’ knowledge effectively
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classroom tasks and instruction are strong
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provided resources and strategies help teachers ensure access to grade-level content for students at multiple levels and from diverse backgrounds
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highly structured framework with a wealth of resources provides teachers both support and flexibility
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teachers may want to supplement with explicit instruction on language standards
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guidance tailored to the unique needs of English learners is less plentiful
Collaborative Classroom: Submitted for review; might be eligible for a state grant after review
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2016 Version partially met expectations ​​
Fishtank (2021): High Quality; might be eligible for a state grant
DESE Summary:
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introduces students to grade appropriate, complex texts that affirm diverse cultures and perspectives
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lessons engage students in a range of activities designed to build their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills
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strong classroom routines, embedded discussion practice, and a variety of rubrics guide student learning
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materials do not provide tailored support for students with diverse needs to access materials, and guidance to build teachers’ knowledge lacks detail for impactful learning
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a strong foundational skills resource should be used as a supplement to address the standards for reading foundational skills.
Benchmark Advance (2021): Partially Meets Standards Alignment; might be eligible for a state grant
DESE Summary:
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materials are well organized around specific learning objectives
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ample and varied standards-based assessment tools
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routines support learning
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flexible pacing
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quality of the core texts does not support deep understandings or rich conversations
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lack of diversity means that many students will not see themselves represented in the materials.​​
Units of Study (2022): Not submitted for review; unlikely to be eligible for a state grant before review
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2018 Version could not be reviewed by DESE because it received lowest rating by EdReports​​​​​
Curricula NLC Supports
NLC supports knowledge-building curricula that DESE defines as high-quality. Some also require a strong foundational skill curriculum, such as Appleseeds.
ARC and Fishtank are the pilot programs that fully meet expectations.
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In addition, we would support NPS adding EL Education curriculum to the pilot.