Springboard

by College Board

ElaGrades 6–12

SpringBoard: College Board's Standards-Aligned ELA Curriculum

SpringBoard is the College Board's comprehensive English Language Arts curriculum for grades 6-12, designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement courses and college readiness. The curriculum emphasizes standards alignment across text quality, knowledge building, and instructional usability.

Best for

Middle and high school teachers (grades 6-12) seeking a standards-aligned ELA curriculum that prepares students for AP courses and college readiness

Evaluation Criteria

2 strengths · 2 neutral · 5 insufficient evidence

Knowledge RichStrength

The curriculum appears to build knowledge systematically through texts according to standards alignment.

EdReports confirms SpringBoard meets expectations for 'Building Knowledge' through texts and includes quality text-dependent questions

Text ComplexityStrength

The curriculum demonstrates strong alignment to grade-level text complexity demands.

EdReports specifically notes SpringBoard meets expectations for 'Text Quality & Complexity' including alignment to grade-level text demands

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes adequate teacher support materials and guidance.

EdReports confirms SpringBoard meets expectations for teacher support as part of its 'Usability' rating

Direct InstructionNeutral

The curriculum provides adequate teacher support for instruction delivery.

EdReports rates SpringBoard as meeting expectations for 'Usability' including teacher support, suggesting structured instructional guidance

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

Cannot assess retrieval practice and spaced review implementation from available evidence.

Assessment practices are mentioned as meeting standards but specific retrieval practice strategies are not detailed

Systematic PhonicsInsufficient Evidence

Not applicable for this grade range, as SpringBoard serves grades 6-12 beyond foundational phonics instruction.

SpringBoard targets middle and high school students who have typically moved beyond systematic phonics instruction

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Cannot assess vocabulary instruction approach from available evidence.

While EdReports confirms alignment to standards, specific vocabulary building strategies are not detailed in the review summary

Writing InstructionInsufficient Evidence

Cannot determine the structure and approach of writing instruction from available evidence.

EdReports confirms overall alignment but does not specify details about writing instruction methodology or integration

Whole Books Vs ExcerptsInsufficient Evidence

Cannot determine from available evidence whether SpringBoard prioritizes whole texts or excerpts.

EdReports notes the curriculum meets expectations for text quality and complexity but does not specify the balance between complete works and excerpted passages

Sources: edreports.org

Review Sources

edreports

EdReports Panel

Gateway 1 Alignment:Meets Expectations
Gateway 2 Alignment:Meets Expectations
Gateway 3 Alignment:Meets Expectations
Key Facts
GradesGrades 6–12
SubjectEla
PedagogyNot specified
Faith-BasedNo
FormatDigital + Physical

Looking for something different?

If none of these options feel right, explore a non-traditional approach. Pallas Center offers a unique curriculum, or design your own with Palladay.

Data sources: edreports