The curriculum you choose

The adoption cycle, in seven steps

1. Set the criteria first. Use the curriculum review rubric. Agree on gateway criteria before anyone sees a sales pitch.
2. Narrow the field. Check each candidate's What Works Clearinghouse reviews and any outcome studies of a version close to the one being sold.
3. Paper review. Two trained reviewers per program, scoring sampled lessons in grades K, 2, and 4 against the rubric.
4. Teach it before you buy it. Volunteer teachers teach two or three units in a short pilot. Leaders visit with the five-minute visit card.
5. Decide on evidence. Rubric scores, pilot observations, and outcome evidence, in that order. Teacher preference counts, but doesn't override the gateways.
6. Plan the support. Curriculum-specific training before launch and coaching through year one.
7. Check use, not just purchase. Visits confirm the curriculum is taught as designed, including review and practice components.

Why step 6 matters. A six-state study found little difference in math gains across textbooks, and the authors' takeaway was that materials and teaching support work together, not as alternatives (Harvard CEPR(opens in a new tab)). In a Virginia randomized trial, lessons plus implementation support raised scores; lessons alone had weaker, inconsistent effects (J-PAL(opens in a new tab)).

Year-one implementation checklist

• Every teacher trained on the specific curriculum before day one
• Coaches or lead teachers assigned per grade band
• Pacing guide that keeps daily review and practice, not just new lessons
• Visit look-fors tied to the curriculum's own lesson structure
• Mid-year check: which components are being skipped, and why

Troubleshooting