District 200 To Review 1:1 Technology Program For Elementary Students, Discuss Next Steps

WHEATON, IL — Community Unit School District 200 will hold a Committee on the Whole meeting Wednesday to review its 1:1 technology program for elementary school students and to discuss next steps.

The meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the School Service Center, 130 W. Park Ave., is open to the public.

District 200 kicked off its 1:1 Chromebook program for students in grades one through five in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Wednesday's meeting comes following a staff review and a recommendation to keep the program in place.

During the 2023-24 school year, District 200 incorporated Bookworms curriculum into its English Language Arts (ELA) technology. The curriculum gives students 45-minutes of shared reading and vocabulary study, a 45-minute ELA block with texts that are read aloud and a 45-minute block of differentiated instruction.

According to district documents, they are piloting a PACE reading Program for grades three through five. The PACE program integrates board-approved novels with a vocabulary program called Wordly Wise.

The PACE program has been piloted at six district elementary schools during the time usually dedicated for shared reading to "better support advanced readers," per district documents.

During the 2022-23 school year, District 200 began using Illustrative Mathematics curriculum full-time. Students have a 60-minute block of Illustrative Mathematics instruction followed by 30 minutes of fluency instruction.

In grades three through five, PACE instruction is used to support advanced learners.

Next steps for the math program include looking into how to integrate paper and pencil homework, math facts and online practice to support Illustrative Mathematics lessons.

The district will review current programs and future technology initiatives at Wednesday's meeting.

Documents show that district 200 plans to continue to streamline its digitial resources and connect with district families to share instruction plans and gain feedback about technology programming, device structure and "whether devices go home at the elementary level."