"We're looking for high-quality curricular materials aligned to Massachusetts standards. Do you have any advice?"

It's an important question, and one we hear frequently. The CURATE project is the Department's response. We convene panels of Massachusetts teachers to review and rate evidence of alignment and quality of comprehensive core curricular materials, then publish their findings in user-friendly reports for educators across the Commonwealth to consult and make informed, local decisions about curricula.

Defining Core Materials

Core curricular materials are comprehensive print or digital resources covering all the college- and career-ready standards of the relevant Massachusetts curriculum framework. They are designed as standalone primary instructional materials for Tier 1 core instruction, providing a coherent sequence and progression of grade-level content and practices for a full-year course.

For ELA/Literacy K–5, core instruction must address all components of the core literacy block: foundational skills, comprehension, and writing. This can be supported through a single, comprehensive core high-quality material that addresses all components of the core literacy block or through a high-quality comprehension and writing program that does not include foundational skills paired with a strong foundational skills supplemental resource.

Defining "High Quality"

High-quality curricular materials exhibit a coherent sequence of lessons that target learning of grade-appropriate skills and knowledge through instructional strategies that are well supported by research and other characteristics, such as engaging content and inclusive design. Some factors in quality are nonnegotiable, while others vary by context: for example, compatibility with a district's technology infrastructure or cultural relevance to its student population.

The Department prioritizes CURATE reviews to identify high-quality curricular products based upon alignment to Massachusetts college- and career-ready standards. For the purposes of public reporting, products that have not yet been CURATE reviewed are considered to be "high quality" if they have an EdReports rating of "Green" / "Meets Expectations" in both Gateway 1 and Gateway 2. Note that while we might approve an EdReports or other approved gateway ratings of "high quality" for a grant prerequisite, we may hold a higher standard for materials that would be available for purchase using grant funds.

High-quality instructional materials in grades K–5 can be realized in these ways:

1. A single, comprehensive core program that addresses all components of the core literacy block and is high quality across the board
2. A high-quality comprehension and writing program that does not include foundational skills, paired with a strong foundational skills resource. Together, this high-quality package will address all components of the core literacy block.
3. A comprehensive core program that is high quality in addressing comprehension and writing but has lower-quality foundational skills. In this case, the foundational skills component can be removed and replaced with a strong foundational skills resource, creating a high-quality package.

Aligned with the DESE Educational Vision, high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) provide a strong foundation for all students, particularly students from historically underserved groups and communities, to have access to grade-appropriate content and practices that enable them to excel at grade level (or beyond) and support teachers to do what they do best: cultivate deeper learning through learning that is real world, relevant, and interactive and evidence-based practices that are inclusive and culturally linguistically sustaining.

Curriculum Ratings by Teachers (CURATE)

Current Reports

Archived Reports

Reviews and Related Information

Master Agreement

Rubrics and Other CURATE Resources

Fellowship

The CURATE Process

Additional Curriculum Review Resources

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Research

Contact Us

For questions, email DESE-CURATE@mass.gov

Last Updated: August 14, 2025