Mississippi Welcomes Stile Education® as Essential Science Curriculum for Middle Schools

In a significant advancement for education in Mississippi, Stile Education®, a division of Curriculum Associates, has received official approval from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) as a core middle school science curriculum. This recognition is notable as Stile achieved an impressive score of 108 out of 110 in the evaluation, the highest among all programs considered. This distinction underscores Stile’s commitment to providing rigorous and high-quality educational materials tailored to the needs of Mississippi's students.

The evaluation process aligns with Mississippi's High-Quality Instructional Materials Gateway rubric, which emphasizes three main criteria: Alignment, Rigor, and Usability. Stile Education has met and surpassed these benchmarks, establishing itself as a leading resource for science education in grades 6 through 8.

More than 200,000 students across the state currently benefit from i-Ready®, another successful initiative by Curriculum Associates, which combines assessment with personalized instruction. The addition of Stile creates an integrated ecosystem of instructional materials that covers reading, mathematics, and now science, all of which are backed by professional learning support teams that Curriculum Associates is known for.

Stile Education has uniquely designed its curriculum specifically for Mississippi classrooms, incorporating elements that reflect local experiences and scientific principles relevant to students' lives. The program merges globally recognized science content with lessons tailored for the state, ensuring alignment with the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Science Standards for grades 6, 7, and 8. By doing so, it not only addresses the academic needs of students but also relates scientific concepts to their real-life experiences, making learning more relevant and engaging.

Kelly Sia, CEO of Curriculum Associates, expressed pride in this achievement, stating, "Mississippi educators have a clear vision for science instruction that is rigorous, relevant, and rooted in local experience. We are honored that the MDE recognized Stile's exceptional quality and alignment." Indeed, this approval reflects a collaborative mission to equip teachers with research-based tools that enable every student in Mississippi to engage deeply with scientific inquiry.

The curriculum framework of Stile Education is meticulously designed by educators, providing a systematic sequence of lessons that connect real-world phenomena with fundamental scientific concepts. By embedding Mississippi-specific examples alongside global STEM applications, Stile promotes an understanding of science that goes beyond textbooks, encouraging students to observe, question, and analyze their surroundings.

Moreover, Stile Education is engineered to prepare students for the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program, focusing on essential knowledge and critical-thinking skills that will be evaluated during the state's Grade 8 science examination. This preparation is crucial for fostering scientific skills and ensuring academic success as students progress to higher education levels.

Kat Gentry, the head of Stile USA, emphasized the curriculum's practicality, stating, "Stile is about making science relevant and engaging. Teachers will find a curriculum that's aligned, ready to use, and designed for real Mississippi classrooms. It brings science to life with local phenomena, strong teacher supports, and a mix of online, print, and hands-on materials that work in every setting.” This flexibility is vital for addressing diverse learning environments, ensuring that all students can thrive in their scientific education.

In summary, the approval of Stile Education as a core middle school science curriculum marks a milestone for Mississippi's educational landscape. It represents an opportunity for students to engage with science education that is not only rigorous and aligned with state standards but also relevant to their lives. As Mississippi continues to elevate its educational initiatives, programs like Stile Education will be integral in shaping the next generation of thoughtful scientists and informed citizens.