New Jersey districts are making careful curricular decisions to give students access to High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) aligned with the New Jersey Literacy Framework. To support that work, we are sharing a completed HQIM rubric for the Units of Study in Reading, Writing, and Phonics in grades K-3. The rubric is adapted from the NJTSS Tier 1 Core Analysis Tool.
The document walks through the rubric element by element and cites specific units and sessions as evidence. It covers explicit, systematic phonics instruction and decodable texts, knowledge building, assessment and responsive teaching, and support for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and gifted and talented learners. It also addresses inclusive materials and offers guidance on local context, so district teams can see where the Units of Study fit and where their own data and schedules will complete the picture.
Some elements, such as universal screening, external review, and local context, depend on decisions only a district can make. We’ve noted where district input is needed so your team can finish the review with confidence.
We encourage curriculum leaders, literacy specialists, and administrators to read the rubric alongside the New Jersey Literacy Framework and use it to inform adoption and implementation decisions.