For more details on all of the below, please see EdReports Version 2.0 Tool Revisions: Frequently Asked Questions.
EdReports’ “version 2.0” Review Criteria documents are now available, covering comprehensive instructional materials for K–12 ELA, math, and science. This milestone follows many months of dedicated work by our expert teams, incorporating extensive insights from consultations with educators, researchers, nonprofits, school system leaders, and advisors from across the field.
Definitions
| Review Tools | EdReports’ “review tools” are documents used by our educator reviewers to evaluate instructional materials. Each set of tools covers a content area (for example, science) and grade band (for example, K–5), and comprises a Review Criteria document and an Evidence Guide. Access all of EdReports’ current and previous review tools via our Review Tools page. |
| EdReports’ Version 2.0 Review Tools | Each “version” of EdReports’ review tools is similar to the concept of a generation of software or technology products: that is, building on the strong foundation of previous iterations with new innovations and improvements. Version 2.0 is a multi-subject update of all review tools for K–12 comprehensive materials in ELA, math, and science, similar in scope to our 2020 version 1.5 tool revisions. |
Key Highlights and Innovations
The newly-revised, version 2.0 Review Criteria build upon EdReports’ decade of experience conducting reviews and soliciting feedback from our partners and stakeholders. They reflect our commitment to ongoing improvement, innovation, and service to the education community.
Key updates include:
- Significant enhancements to ELA criteria to ensure stronger alignment with the science of reading and structured literacy practices.
- New, multilingual learner (MLL)-specific Review Criteria for each content area to enable broader and deeper evaluation for MLL supports.
- Deepened emphasis on the Standards for Mathematical Practice in math criteria and phenomena-driven three-dimensional instruction in science criteria.
- Streamlining of criteria and gateway structures across all content areas to increase consistency, clarity, and efficiency, and to facilitate a more nimble review process.
Our updated criteria also represent continuity alongside enhancements. They maintain EdReports’ decade-long commitment to providing a laser focus on alignment to college and career-ready standards, grade-level content, evidence-based practices, and other markers of quality including teacher and student supports.
Publishing Review Criteria Before Starting Reviews
This is the first time EdReports has made criteria publicly available before starting reviews. We made this decision for two main reasons: first, to give states, districts, and partner organizations the earliest possible opportunity to consult these documents in support of their work to advise and conduct materials adoptions that align with local needs and policy requirements. Second, to provide equal access to all publishers of comprehensive, K–12 materials to inform their planning for forthcoming program revisions.
Please note that, while all version 2.0 Review Criteria represent a robust foundation, they remain subject to ongoing refinements until the publication of the first reports using the updated criteria. Over the course of the review process for each content area and grade band, we will fine-tune the criteria to maximize clarity and practical use for our educator reviewers.
EdReports’ Reports and Review Process
Our teams of educator reviewers will begin the first reviews using the revised criteria in early 2025, with the publication of inaugural reports as well as version 2.0 Evidence Guides expected later in the year.
As with all prior updates to our review tools, version 2.0 revisions apply only to new reviews starting in 2025 and do not impact any existing reports (those published in 2024 or earlier). EdReports does not retroactively update completed reports as a result of revising our review tools. We’re always willing to consider re-reviewing materials if they have been substantively updated, but that decision is prompted by changes to the materials, not to our review tools.
Each EdReports review reflects a specific point in time, using the most current versions of both the materials and our review tools. Every report that we’ve published offers valuable evidence and insights for school systems as they explore potential materials. But our reports represent a starting point, not the final word. All EdReports reviews, past, present, and future, are designed to be used as one input among several in a comprehensive, teacher-led adoption process.
Multilingual Learner Criteria and Reviews
Supporting multilingual learners is an area of critical need, today more than ever with an estimated 4.9 million children in U.S. public schools learning the English language.
EdReports has reviewed all comprehensive K–12 materials for MLL supports since 2020, and we began piloting MLL-specific tools in 2022 in order to broaden and deepen criteria in this essential aspect of curriculum quality. These tools have been further piloted and revised since, leading to the creation of dedicated, standalone MLL tools for each K–12 content area.
Starting in early 2025, all comprehensive, K–12 materials in core content areas (ELA, math, and science) reviewed by EdReports will also be reviewed for MLL supports using the relevant MLL tool. The core content and MLL reviews for each program will be separate processes involving separate review teams, taking place along similar timeframes.
MLL scoring will not impact the scores or review process for core content for inaugural version 2.0 reports. Each program’s overall series ratings will continue to be based solely on scores for core content indicators and will not incorporate MLL scores.
Serving Students, Educators, and the Field
We believe our best report is yet to be written, and we’re eager and determined to continue EdReports’ journey of ongoing learning and improvement. Through our updated review tools and resulting reports, EdReports aims to equip educators, districts, and states with the most valuable and actionable information possible.
As ever, our goal is to enable school systems to select high-quality instructional materials that deliver on local priorities and help every student thrive.
