After years of working closely with schools and districts, I’ve seen the pattern emerge again and again: districts adopt a curriculum, implement it with the best intentions, and then wait six years (or sometimes longer) to revisit it. Think about that. A kindergartner could be in middle school before a district updates its core curriculum. During that time, it’s not just the students who change, but also instructional strategies and technology.
Traditional six-year adoption cycles are misaligned with the pace of change in education. This is a massive missed opportunity to put better tools in front of students and teachers.
Take AI, for instance. Six years ago, AI in education was barely a conversation. But now? It's redefining classroom instruction and shaping student learning across the country. Innovations like this emerge and evolve dramatically, meaning materials chosen today can sometimes feel outdated long before the next official review.
When we have the data and we know what’s working, change shouldn’t come only once every six years. Shorter, more agile adoption cycles – think one to three years – would allow districts to integrate emerging best practices more quickly, respond to shifts in student needs and demographics, and make use of real-time data to guide decisions. So, how do we start acting on insight and agility instead of staying constrained within the status quo?
When we have the data and we know what’s working, change shouldn’t come only once every six years.
HMH President of Core and Supplemental Solutions
What Smarter Adoption Cycles Look Like
Adopting a curriculum is more than just a purchasing decision. It’s also a commitment to implementation, support, and student success. Smarter adoption is about building a feedback loop between the classroom and the district office that helps deliver on this promise and make sure what’s adopted is truly used, not just delivered. That means:
- Putting teachers at the center of product development. They’re the ones who bring materials to life, and their insights should guide every step of the procurement process.
- Shortening the cycles. We should be able to regularly ask, “Are we doing what we said we would?” If the answer is no, we need to be able to pivot as soon as possible, not wait until the next cycle.
- Getting clear on what measurements matter most. Are students growing? Are teachers supported? Are the materials helping to close the gaps, or are they widening them?
Curriculum decisions have long-term consequences for students, especially those furthest from opportunity. This is why more agile, well-supported Tier 1 curriculum adoption models aren’t just operationally smarter, they’re a lever for student growth.
With this in mind, district and policy leaders should work together to fund sustained professional learning to support new materials, align adoption timelines with real classroom needs, and create accountability structures that prioritize impact.
Choosing the right materials is just the first step. The real task – and the real opportunity – comes in making those materials work.
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