The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) is proud to announce a transformative step forward in elementary education. On April 23, 2025, the Board of Education unanimously approved the adoption of Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) - a comprehensive reading and language arts curriculum - for all kindergarten through fifth-grade students beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Unlike traditional reading programs that focus mainly on reading skills in isolation, CKLA connects reading instruction with content-rich lessons in history, science, literature, and the arts. This approach, backed by research, helps students not only learn how to read but also build the knowledge and vocabulary they need to understand more challenging books and learn new things.

This decision reflects the district's unwavering commitment to its "students-first" principle. After a comprehensive field study involving 74 dedicated teachers across all elementary grades and schools, the results were clear: CKLA delivers the powerful literacy foundation that Oshkosh students deserve.

"I didn't know how much I was going to love it," shared Kim Lotten, a fifth-grade teacher at Emmeline Cook Elementary who participated in the field test. "It lends itself to the rigor that our advanced learners have been craving, and it provides the engagement that allows our struggling learners to thrive. It can be done, it can be successful, and it is what our kids need now."

CKLA stands apart as a curriculum that truly addresses the diverse needs of students. By systematically building essential literacy skills through engaging content, it creates a pathway to reading success for every child. The curriculum's emphasis on explicit phonics instruction in early grades, coupled with rich vocabulary development and progressively challenging texts, empowers students to become confident, capable readers and writers.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the district's field study participants - students, teachers, and families - confirmed that a knowledge-rich curriculum that aligns with the Science of Reading creates the strongest foundation for literacy.

"Our goal has always been to cultivate a learning environment where every student in Oshkosh develops a lifelong love of reading and possesses the strong literacy skills necessary to thrive," said Dr. Sam Coleman, OASD assistant superintendent of instruction. "This curriculum adoption represents a significant step toward realizing that vision. As we stated at the onset of this work, we are committed to doing the hard work necessary to provide all students with access to high-quality literacy instruction and to create the conditions for every student to become a confident reader."

Taylor Thompson, a fourth-grade teacher at Lakeside Elementary in her first year of teaching, found CKLA to be both easy to use and highly effective: "My students are not only building skills, they're building confidence. It's not only doable, it's empowering for all and sets us up for success."

As the OASD prepares for full implementation in the 2025-2026 school year, the district is investing in comprehensive professional development to ensure teachers have the tools and support they need to maximize the curriculum's impact. This ongoing commitment to excellence in instruction reflects the district's dedication to continuous improvement in service of its students.

The journey to stronger literacy for all Oshkosh students is one the community takes together - teachers, families, and residents. To learn more about the CKLA field study conducted this year, including video spotlights, please visit the district's literacy webpage at https://www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us/district/school-curriculum/literacy. Additional resources are also available the district’s website, including literacy resources for families (https://www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us/district/school-curriculum/literacy/family-resources) and an Act 20 webpage (https://www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us/district/school-curriculum/literacy/act-20). 

More information will also be shared through school channels as the OASD begins this exciting new chapter in elementary education.