PLYMOUTH — Oct. 26, 2026 — Plymouth’s elementary reading curriculum has never been rated by the state, and the district is waiting to learn whether it will be on a new approved list required under the Student Literacy Act by fall 2027, administrators told the School Committee on Monday. Members split over whether the district should seek a waiver or replace materials if they fall short.
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The curriculum and instruction update said the act requires districts to adopt a high-quality curriculum by fall 2027, with three options: a curriculum from a state-approved list, a free curriculum the state is still developing, or a waiver for a curriculum the state has not rated. The free curriculum will not be fully available by fall, and some programs on earlier approved lists will not be on the new one, the update said. Plymouth’s current materials have not been rated.
Superintendent Chris Campbell said 55% of districts would be out of compliance under the list as it now stands, and cautioned against any drastic change until the financial and programmatic impact is known. The district is above the state average in ELA at all grade levels, he said.
Committee members disagreed. Paul Samargedlis said that if the district is meeting or exceeding current guidelines, it should consider staying the course and seek a waiver if appropriate. Another rejected that.
I would be remiss to encourage our district to apply for any sort of waiver for anything related to reading.
— Ashley Shaw, School Committee 1:41:04
Shaw said the science shows particular curriculums are better than others and named the Lucy Calkins curriculum as one that does not work for many readers. The update replied that the district uses revised, updated materials and that the state’s list is incomplete. Megan Parker said foundational K-3 reading skills are based on science and the district must treat them with the utmost seriousness. Campbell said Plymouth does not have a reading crisis but the state and nation do. The update said the district is piloting UFLI Foundations as part of a research study and already screens students more often than the state requires.
