April 23, 2025 - As we continue to grow and evolve in how we support learners and educators, we’ve taken a close look at long-standing materials. After careful review, we’ve decided to retire some of our older ESL curriculum. While it served us well in the past, it no longer reflects the most current practices or aligns with the standards and assessments we use today. Some of the materials it references are also no longer available, and overall, it doesn’t meet the equity-focused approach we strive for in our own classrooms. Curriculum that will be retired includes:

Pre-beginning ESL Curriculum

Pre-beginning ESL Story Bank

Beginning ESL Curriculum

Beginning ESL Story Bank

Intermediate ESL Curriculum

Advanced ESL Curriculum

We know this curriculum is well-loved, but after careful consideration, it’s time to remove the files from our library. For these reasons, we are transitioning to more current and aligned instructional resources:

• Outdated Content – Originally published in 2013, it no longer reflects current best practices.
• Misalignment with Standards – It does not align with College and Career Readiness Standards or the new CASAS STEPS tests.
• Lack of Equity Focus – The content is not equity-informed.
• Unavailable Materials – Some referenced texts and resources are no longer in print.

We're excited to move forward with resources that better support our learners and our goals.

Get to know our updated curriculum: English Unlocked

Our latest curriculum product, English Unlocked, addresses the challenges above while offering engaging, student-authored texts and real-life contexts that reflect learners' experiences. Since 2022, the curriculum has received a 94% satisfaction rate among educators, who appreciate its clear teacher instructions with built-in strategies for supporting and challenging students.

Here’s what teachers and administrators are saying:

“This curriculum is grounded in evidence-based practices. It’s easy to use, and the teacher support manual is fantastic. My students love the authentic texts written by and about ELA learners.”

“I LOVE this curriculum! It’s Zoom-friendly, perfect for literacy-level learners, and integrates phonics and literacy skills seamlessly. It’s especially useful for newly arrived refugees.”

“The [students] really enjoy the day to day topics. They really enjoy that the story plots are relatable to real life experiences. Most importantly because they touch on real life experiences they get to learn how to best handle situations and learn to communicate more effectively.”

Try English Unlocked for Free! Download a free unit and see the difference for yourself.

Questions about the retiring curriculum or English Unlocked? Contact Meghan Boyle at [email protected].