News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Jackson County School System will take a new approach to teaching English and language arts.
The new curriculum will focus on a sound first approach to reading. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said the investment in the new material is the largest in the school system’s history.
“We have spent over $400,000 in the initial adoption,” Brown said. “I know we will continue to invest in professional development, printing of materials and so on. I feel like it is worth every penny if it causes our students to read at a higher level.”
Brown said she believes the investment will help Jackson County become the the number one school in student reading levels. As of 2018, the school system ranked 4th in the Upper Cumberland.
“Reading and language arts that is a foundation skill that is going to cause a higher success in anything else a student is involved in for the rest of their academic career and their lives,” Brown said. “That is why we have spent so much time in money.”
The Jackson County Board of Education approved the adoption during Thursday’s meeting. Results from the new materials will come after two or three years of instruction.
“We adopted materials at different grade bands,” Brown said. “It was based on the needs of our students and what our teachers and parents thought was the most rigorous and met the needs of our students.”
