Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools announced plans to implement Benchmark Advance as its new K-5 English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum following a comprehensive presentation to the Board of Education on January 15, 2025. The adoption aligns with Ohio House Bill 33, which mandates that all school districts implement high-quality core curriculum materials aligned with the science of reading by June 2025.
Corey Hoynacke, Principal of Instruction, along with Katie Adick, fourth-grade English language arts teacher, and Sandra Goodin and Mandy Marlo, two of the District's instructional coaches, detailed the extensive selection process that led to choosing Benchmark Advance. The decision emerged from a collaborative effort involving K-5 grade level leads, administrators, instructional coaches, and input from K-5 teachers across the District.
"The selection process was thorough and intentional," explained Hoynacke. "Our team reviewed multiple programs, focusing on finding a curriculum that would best serve our students while providing teachers with the tools they need for effective instruction."
The evaluation team, which included ELA grade level leads from each elementary grade and special education teachers, assessed nine different curricula before selecting Benchmark Advance. The program stood out for its comprehensive approach to literacy instruction, featuring:
- Explicit instruction in phonics, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension
- Support for differentiated learning across all tiers
- Engaging materials with balanced fiction and nonfiction content
- Structured writing lessons with embedded grammar
- Alignment with existing programs like Fundations and Heggerty
- Flexibility for teacher adaptation
The five-year implementation represents a $181,575.45 investment, partially offset by $88,000 in state funding allocated for high-quality instructional materials adoption. The package includes comprehensive classroom sets with both print and digital materials, take-home decodable books, and teacher resources.
The District has outlined a detailed professional development plan beginning February 2025, including initial training sessions, collaborative workdays, and ongoing support throughout the 2025-26 school year. Regular work sessions and vertical alignment conversations will ensure consistent implementation across grade levels.
"This adoption process represents more than just selecting new materials," noted Hoynacke. "It's an opportunity to enhance our instructional practices while maintaining our commitment to personalized learning and teacher autonomy."
The implementation timeline includes:
- February-May 2025: Curriculum adoption training days
- Summer 2025: Teacher workdays and additional training
- August 2025: Final preparation for school year implementation
- 2025-26 School Year: Quarterly work sessions and vertical alignment meetings
“From a teacher's perspective, Benchmark Advance offers the perfect balance of structure and flexibility,” said Adick. “The program provides comprehensive resources while allowing us to maintain our instructional autonomy and meet individual student needs.”
“What stood out about Benchmark Advance was its alignment with the science of reading and the opportunities offered to personalize learning for all students,” said Goodin.
"The robust resources in Benchmark Advance will help us personalize learning for every student,” said Marlo. “By integrating Science of Reading-based practices, we equip students with a strong foundation in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This ensures all students develop the skills necessary to become confident and successful readers and writers, fostering lifelong literacy and learning. Its emphasis on differentiation empowers teachers to tailor instruction to meet diverse student needs, providing opportunities to challenge advanced learners while supporting those who require additional support.”
The District will also use this process to evaluate and reset its adoption procedures for high-quality instructional materials to better serve future student and staff needs, including comprehensive curriculum adoption for preschool and literacy intervention adoption for K-12.
CLICK HERE for the full Board presentation.