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.
In addition, we would support NPS adding EL Education curriculum to the pilot.