District curriculum staff briefed the Manchester-Essex Regional School Committee on Oct. 7 about a multi-year curriculum-review plan and professional-development priorities for 2025–26.

District leaders said three formal reviews launched or will launch this year: English as a second language/multilingual learner programming and services; English (grades 6–12); and mathematics (preK–12). The district also plans a broader comprehensive health/physical-education/SEL review and will continue rolling reviews in science, social studies and the arts; staff said summary reports for social studies and science are expected later this fall or winter.

Staff described the curriculum-review process as multi-step: inventory and gap analysis, standards alignment and vision-setting, field testing of instructional materials where warranted, and formal recommendations for adoption when a wholesale curricular change is recommended. District leaders emphasized that larger adoptions will come forward to the school committee with cost estimates and formal recommendations; smaller, classroom-level changes will be implemented by schools while administrators monitor alignment.

On professional development, staff announced a districtwide AI training partnership (a multi-tier set of trainings with differentiated entry points) and said they would host modular training through an outside provider to help teachers and students use AI as a learning tool while teaching safe, ethical and evaluative use. Staff also described targeted summer PD and inter-district collaborations for arts and health teachers to help small departments scale curriculum work.

Administrators said MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support) work and proactive screening for math and literacy supports is ongoing, with special-education and intervention staff collaborating with content departments to build consistent screening, progress monitoring and intervention procedures across schools.