COVID-19 Planning: Resources to Support the Use of High-Quality Instructional Materials

We know, and research demonstrates, that instructional materials make a difference in supporting student success. Because of this, materials selection over the coming months and into next year can have significant short and long-term effects.

This crisis has laid bare not only the lack of quality materials in classrooms but the consequences for student learning when access to aligned content is absent. As communities have attempted to put new structures in place, districts without aligned curricula have had to face the harsh reality of making those changes without a strong foundation in place. And unfortunately, districts lacking quality materials are the norm, not the exception. The latest findings from EdReports’ investigation into the state of the instructional materials market reveals that fewer than 20 percent of materials used by teachers are aligned to the standards.

This fall and beyond, student access to standards-aligned, coherent grade-level curricula will be a key component to accelerating learning and supporting teachers, students, and parents to know what will be taught two, four, and even eight months down the line.

To support educators in their planning during the COVID-19 pandemic, EdReports has created a collection of resources to advocate for and guide decision-making around the use of high-quality instructional materials.

• Instructional Materials Technology Information
• Adoption and Selection Resources
• Perspectives from the Field

Instructional Materials Technology Information

EdReports Releases Enhanced Reports with Key Technology Information to Support Remote Learning. Explore technology information for standards-aligned materials to better understand the digital design and capabilities that can support learning in person, remotely, or in hybrid formats.

Understand the Technology Features of Your Aligned Materials. This graphic organizer is designed to support leaders to better understand the technology features of the aligned instructional materials that have already been adopted.

Key Terms to Better Understand Remote Learning and Education Technology. As part of EdReports’ efforts to provide more information about the digital design and components of standards-aligned instructional materials, we have put together a list of key terms that are frequently associated with remote learning.

Instructional Materials Technology Information Document. EdReports is seeking the most accurate, descriptive information about curricular products. We are not evaluating quality or desirability, but documenting features in materials to empower local schools and districts with information to select materials that will work best for them given their technological capabilities and instructional vision.

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Adoption and Selection Resources

Selecting for Quality: 6 Key Adoption Steps. What you select and how you select matters. Schools and districts have more options than ever from which to find high-quality materials that meet their local priorities. The selection process is a critical lever for ensuring that quality materials are adopted and then used well in classrooms. Explore this collection of resources and best practices to inspire your next adoption.

7 Best Practices for Launching Curriculum During Interrupted Schooling. Whether you engaged in a full materials adoption process during the 2019-20 school year or adopted materials quickly in light of interrupted schooling in spring 2020, the launch is critical to make or break the success of new materials. Strong rollout and early implementation efforts can make the difference between materials being regularly used in the classroom or staying on the shelf. Learn more about these 7 game-changers for a successful launch.

Instructional Materials and Remote Learning: Reflection and Planning Tool.As district leaders prepare for the potential for ongoing interruptions to school during the 2020-21 school year, this tool is an opportunity to reflect on the current context within the school system in order to prioritize the highest leverage preparations for ongoing periods of remote learning through the upcoming school year.

3 Ways Educators Can Effectively Advocate for Aligned, Coherent Curricula. Educator voice is too often missing from the areas it is needed most, and curriculum adoption is no exception. Don’t wait for decision-makers to come to you. Use your knowledge, expertise, and experience to ensure that you have the resources you need to support your students throughout this challenge and beyond.

Prioritize Content when Evaluating Digital Materials. Whether students are learning in the classroom or at home, all instructional materials require meaningful vetting to determine if the content meets high standards and addresses the needs of local communities. Explore this resource for questions to consider when evaluating the content of digital materials.

Adopting Materials for Hybrid and Remote Settings: Know Your Technology Needs Upfront. As launch adoption processes amidst the urgent need to find new ways to reach and teach students, technological capabilities have become a crucial consideration for new materials.

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Perspectives from the Field

What the Pandemic Taught Us About Families, Curriculum, and Student Learning. Leaders from the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) share lessons learned about the power of high-quality instructional materials from a year of disrupted schooling.

Invest in Quality Curricula Now for Long Term Returns. As educators determine budget choices, new stimulus funds offer a powerful opportunity to make a long-term investment in students.

Championing Quality Materials in a Remote Learning Environment. Kentucky educators Jana Bryant and Angela Gunther discuss how Daviess County Public Schools utilized EdReports’ enhanced reviews to transition to a remote and hybrid learning environment.

How to Use Teacher Voice to Elevate Student Needs. Educator Jessica Faith Carter shares how even without a formal leadership role, teachers can access opportunities to advocate and lead on behalf of students.

My District Had a High-Quality Curriculum. Then COVID-19 Happened. Educator Jamilah Hicks shares her story as a parent coping with remote learning when students don’t have access to the materials they need.

Seize this Moment to Take a Different Approach to Unfinished Learning. Math educator Tim Truitt shares how supporting teachers with quality instructional materials is key to addressing student learning gaps in the fall.

My Teachers and Students Deserve Better Instructional Materials. A first-year principal’s story about COVID-19, the dedication of teachers, and the critical role of quality curricula.

Providing teachers with quality materials that they're trained to use is critical as schools prepare for the fall. Teacher Amy Cox shares why access to aligned content will be especially critical in overcoming the loss in learning gains as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Educator Reviewers Share Tips and Best Practices for Virtual Learning.
Learn from EdReports reviewers about how they are adapting to school closures and shifting daily learning for students online.

Rural Districts Should Use Stimulus Funds to Invest in High-Quality Curriculum. The infusion of federal stimulus funds from the American Rescue Plan gives rural districts a rare opportunity to improve student learning outcomes—both immediately and in the years ahead.