High-Quality Instructional Materials

Why does this matter?

Curricula—often called instructional materials—are the core materials that teachers use to deliver instruction. They are designed to be used by teachers to give students access to grade-level content standards and support a coherent sequence and progression of grade-appropriate knowledge and skills. “High-quality” curricula have been vetted by the state or a designated partner against a set of standards. This process includes evidence that the curriculum aligns with the state’s student standards, helps build content knowledge, and reflects the existing body of research on reading. High-quality curricula boost student outcomes.¹ In fact, the difference in impact on student learning between high- and low-quality curricula can be greater than the difference between a new teacher and one with three years of experience.²

Why does Rhode Island stand out?

Rhode Island requires districts to select reading core curricula materials from an identified list. The state also provides guidance and/or evaluation tools to districts to aid in the selection of high-quality supplemental materials for both English Learners and struggling readers. Additionally, districts are required to publish the curricula they use, and the state provides online access to district-level curriculum information. Rhode Island also allocates funds for reading curriculum materials.

Rhode Island (RIDE) created a “Curriculum Visualization Tool” that pulls in information from EdReports to determine a quality rating for each curriculum. The tool allows users to drill down by local education agency (LEA) or school to see what the curriculum is in math and English language arts at each grade and whether it meets the expectations set by EdReports, is locally developed, or has not been rated. This makes it easy to scroll through and see, for example, the one district in the state that is using a curriculum that “does not meet expectations for high quality.”