Social Studies Adoption
During the 2018-19 school year, the Highline School Board approved the adoption of new Social Studies Materials for grades 6-11. The adoption process is outlined below.
2018-19 Social Studies Adoption: Grades 6-11
- Request to Publishers - December 2018
- Social Studies Adoption Committee Members
- Social Studies Adoption Committee Meetings
- Staff and Community Input Sessions
- Materials Selected for Final Review
- Materials Adopted by the Board
Request to Publishers - December 2018
The following text was sent to publishers on December 2018
We are currently in a district-wide adoption process for our core course in grades 6th through 11th. We are not seeking to review materials for supplemental or elective programs that are not part of our core programs.
Courses
- 6th grade – Ancient World History and Geography
- 7th grade – Early World History
- 7th grade - Pacific Northwest History
- 8th grade - US History (Before Colonization to Reconstruction)
- 9th grade – Contemporary Global Issues
- 10th grade – Modern World History
- 10th grade – Civics
- 11th grade – US History (Gilded Age to Present)
Our Adoption Committee will be comprised of a representative group of community members, teachers, parents, and support specialists. Criteria for this request have been set by the School Board (see page 2). The adoption committee may add additional considerations in addition to the following:
Considerations in reviewing materials
- C3 and CCSS for History standards alignment with a focus on literacy and inquiry
- Capacity to support to support a flexible curriculum map that fits our frameworks
- Additional materials beyond the curriculum map to build deep and rigorous case studies (with the ability to filter results by standards, timeframe, course content, and/or course type) based on student interest
- Vetted complex texts, with at least the Lexile level for reference,
- A range of materials that that is culturally responsive
- Differentiation tools that support students to access grade level texts (including students with IEPs, in the dual language programs-Spanish and Vietnamese- and other home languages, and students that are learning English)
- Supports for best/preferred practices for inquiry-based learning in Social Studies including: primary and secondary sources, deep dives into content, mixed media texts, simulations, debates/decision making tasks, etc.
- Able to print most resources and access to it electronically
Some things you should know about our committee work and adoption process
- We are a closed district, and ask that publishing representatives not contact individual members on the committee, nor individual schools. This includes solicitations by mail, e-mail, phone, or visitations at schools. Please note that failure to comply with this request can result in having your company’s curriculum materials removed from consideration.
- The committee uses the screening tools they created to review all materials and narrow the choices to 2 finalists. We will contact the representatives of the finalists for pilot samples.
Request for Samples
- Because we do not anticipate purchasing print materials, we are requesting only online materials
- Send online access directions to lexi.samorano@highlineschools.org
- Please include a list of materials that are available in other languages, such as Spanish or Vietnamese, if any.
- We are only reviewing materials that will be available for use and/or purchase by June 2019.
In addition to the specific information and considerations listed above, the following criteria, from Highline’s Board Procedure 2020 apply to the selection of all core instructional material.
Criteria for Selection of Core Instructional Materials
Core instructional materials shall be selected based upon the degree to which they:
- A. Demonstrate likelihood of impact as shown by scientific or evidence-based research;
- B. Enable implementation of the district’s developed goals and priorities and meet state standards and College Readiness requirements;
- C. Provide sufficient flexibility to meet the varied needs and abilities of the students served;
- D. Provide clear and appropriate differentiation components for English Language Learners, students who qualify for special education, students with academic opportunity gaps, and students identified as highly capable;
- E. Where appropriate, present balanced but differing views of issues, controversial or otherwise, in order that students may develop critical analysis and informed decision-making skills;
- F. Demonstrate consideration of appropriate format(s) (including technological, visual, and/or auditory components);
- G. Support an equitable access to learning and learning materials for all students; including the provision of appropriate, high-quality accessible instructional materials to all students with disabilities who require them; and
- H. Are free of stereotyping and gender, race, class, and other forms of bias, recognizing that under certain circumstances biased materials may serve as appropriate resources to present contrasting and differing points of view, and biased materials may be employed in order to teach students about bias, stereotyping, and propaganda in historical or contemporary contexts. The Washington Models for the Evaluation of Bias Content in Instructional Materials, published by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) should be consulted in the selection process to further to the goal of eliminating content bias: https://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/InstructionalMaterialsReview.aspx
Timeline
Please have electronic access available by Monday, January 7, 2019.
Contact
Lexi Samorano Opens a New Window.
Secondary Social Studies Specialist
Social Studies Adoption Committee Members
- Jeb Binns, Teacher
- Antje Brewer, Teacher
- Judy Cullen, Teacher
- Kimberly Edwards, Instructional Specialist
- Kayla Graham, Teacher
- Anna Löfstrand, Teacher
- Edda Mellas, Teacher
- Stephanie Nelson, Teacher
- Gabriela Nunez, Student
- Lucas Peterson, Teacher
- Schell Ross, Teacher
- Sharon Schmitt, Administrator
- Kelley Schottle, Administrator
- Lan Shumate, Paraeducator
Social Studies Adoption Committee Meetings
Staff and Community Input Sessions
Staff and community are invited to an open house to learn more about the instructional materials under consideration.
- Tuesday, March 26 4:30-7:30pm, Central Office
- Wednesday, April 3 4:30-7:30pm, Chinook Middle School Library
Adoption committee members will share instructional materials being considered. Participants can ask questions and provide feedback. Feedback will inform the committee's recommendation to the school board in May. Materials will be introduced in the 2019-20 school year.
Spanish interpretation will be available. Please contact (206) 631-3182, 72 hours in advance if additional languages are needed.
Materials Selected for Final Review
Materials Adopted by the Board
6-8 Adopted Materials - May 15, 2019
- Discovery Social Studies TechBook
9-11 Adopted Materials - May 15, 2019
- ABC-Clio
6-11 Open Educational Resources Adopted Materials - May 15, 2019
- Since Time Immemorial
- Native Knowledge 360
- Teaching Tolerance
- Newsela