McGraw Hill Emerge! Formally Approved for Adoption by School Board

Seattle School district has successfully completed its K–5 ELA curriculum adoption process. The adoption committee’s recommendation of McGraw Hill’s Emerge!, was formally approved by the school board for a seven-year adoption.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the adoption committee members and field testers whose time, expertise, and dedication made this process possible. Their contributions have helped ensure a high-quality instructional resource that will benefit our students for years to come. Please join us in thanking and recognizing these individuals for their important work.

K-5 ELA Adoption Committee selected a finalist

Seattle Public Schools is pleased to announce that McGraw Hill Emerge! has been selected as the finalist for the new K–5 English Language Arts instructional material. This selection follows an extensive review and pilot process involving Seattle schools’ educators, school leaders, and families.

Emerge! was identified as the finalist because it strongly aligns with district literacy priorities and the Science of Reading. Key strengths include:

1. Strong Foundational Skills Instruction:
   Explicit, systematic phonological awareness and phonics grounded in the Science of Reading.
2. Robust Comprehension and Knowledge Building:
   Rigorous, sequenced texts supported by structured routines, close reading, and explicit comprehension instruction.
3. Consistent Writing Development:
   Daily writing across genres with modeled strategies and writing-about-reading tasks that build confidence and analytical thinking.
4. Authentic, Culturally Inclusive Texts:
   A rich collection of texts representing diverse cultures, identities, and perspectives.

K–5 ELA Curriculum Adoption, Finalists Selected

The K-5 ELA Adoption Committee is pleased to announce that three curriculum finalists have been selected to move forward in the review and evaluation process:

• Amplify CKLA
• Great Minds Arts and Letters, coupled with Really Great Reading
• McGraw Hill, Emerge!

This decision was based on a thorough review of stakeholder feedback and committee evaluations, with particular attention to strong supports for:

• Foundational skills
• Comprehension
• Knowledge building
• Writing
• Culturally responsive practices, oral language, and assessment

During the finalist review phase from December through January, 30 teachers will be field testing the resources. The adoption committee wishes to thank all stakeholders for their continued engagement and support.

The K-5 English Language Arts Curriculum Adoption Committee is committed to selecting a high-quality, equitable, and inclusive curriculum that empowers all students to become proficient readers, writers and critical thinkers. Through a multi-step process—including developing clear criteria, reviewing materials for anti-bias and sensitivity, evaluating submissions, selecting top finalists, and learning from field testing—the committee will work collaboratively to recommend a curriculum that aligns with district priorities.

The purpose of the K-5 English Language Arts Instructional Materials Adoption Committee is to thoughtfully evaluate, select, and recommend high-quality, research-based instructional materials that align with state standards and district goals. The committee aims to ensure that the chosen materials support diverse learning needs, foster student engagement, and provide teachers with tools to effectively provide literacy instruction. Through a collaborative and inclusive process, the committee seeks to identify resources that promote equity and support accessible instruction designed to develop foundational reading, writing, and language skills necessary for academic success for all students. 

• Engage district staff and community to ensure that the review and selection process includes input and feedback from multiple stakeholders 
• Draft selection criteria anchored in Seattle Excellence and Policy 0030  
• Review submitted materials for anti-bias and sensitivity 
• Evaluate submitted materials using the approved selection criteria 
• Review staff and community feedback to determine interests and priorities across both groups 
• Narrow selection of materials to be field-tested 
• Review data from field test to inform decision-making 
• Submit final selection for approval by the Instructional Materials Committee and ultimately the School Board 
• Recommend the professional development training for educators and school staff to support a successful implementation of the newly adopted curriculum