The Lake Washington School District’s Literacy Adoption Committee reached agreement April 18 on its recommendation for a new literacy curriculum for preschool through grade 6.

The district Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) will review this recommendation. If approved by the IMC, these recommendations will go to the school board for presentation on May 20 and board action on June 3.

The recommendations are:

• Preschool: Opening the World of Learning (OWL), Pearson, copyright 2011

• Grades K-5: Reading Wonders Common Core Edition, McGraw-Hill, copyright 2014

• Grade 6: Prentice-Hill Literature Common Core Edition, Pearson, copyright 2012

The 48 member K-6 Literacy Adopt Committee consisted of representatives of schools and district programs. Program representation included preschool, English Language Learner, general education, Safety Net, Special Education, and Gifted education. Six elementary school principals served on the committee.

The committee has been working since fall of 2011 to determine their recommendations for literacy curriculum. The committee had narrowed down the curricula under consideration to three, which were piloted this spring. Three parent informational meetings gathered feedback along with comments from the public display of the materials. The committee reviewed their identified priorities for the curricula, including alignment with standards.

The recommended programs are on display in the LWSD Resource Center. Parents can review the materials and submit comments for IMC and the School Board. The IMC will determine its recommendation to the school board at its May 2 meeting.

In making its decision, the committee also made several recommendations to ensure a successful implementation of this new curriculum if it is approved by the IMC and subsequently the school board. Plans for professional development are in process, including an opportunity for teachers to receive teacher materials in June prior to summer vacation.