A Guide to Evaluating Your District's ELA Purchases

This guide helps district leaders take a more strategic approach to evaluating ELA instructional purchases. It outlines key questions and criteria to consider before investing in new materials, with a focus on instructional quality, usability, and long-term value. Ensuring materials align with the science of reading is a crucial step toward closing literacy gaps.

Evaluation Pillars

Strategic Advantages

• Evaluate materials for standards alignment, rigor, and diverse perspectives.
• Assess instructional flexibility to ensure content is accessible for every student, regardless of reading level.
• Consider teacher usability by identifying resources that reduce the burden of creating scaffolds manually.
• Identify gaps in background knowledge-building and skill progression.
• Make confident decisions based on evidence-backed criteria and the science of reading.

Designed for: District curriculum and instruction leaders, ELA supervisors, and school administrators involved in ELA purchasing decisions.